NIAD Main Gallery Exhibition // “What’s Cookin?!”

On view in NIAD’s Main Gallery November 4 through 26.

About the exhibition

Food, cooking, and togetherness have always been a part of the NIAD community over the years while working alongside Andres Cisneros-Galindo and Kim Huhta.

I’ve learned a lot, have taken those things, and prior experience of cooking with my mother and grandmother since the age of 9 years old, and have kept the tradition going.

When the virtual studio started in 2020 due to the pandemic, we all put our heads together about how we were going to make the virtual studio feel as “in-person” as possible. I took a look at the Zoom settings and decided to turn one of the little Zoom boxes into a “corner” of the studio for cooking. “Cooking Corner” took off running, allowing me to cook in my kitchen from home, and teach artists how to prepare snacks and meals from my own recipes and theirs. We also celebrate different food cultures and holiday-themed cooking corners.

Cooking Corner is a place where artists can share artwork, make art, share food ideas and recipes, and interests they have in cooking, and also cook along with me from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Since we have returned to being on site, Cooking Corner has made its way back to the 23rd Street NIAD studio, where myself and a group of artists meet weekly, and come up with recipes to prepare, prep, cook and serve to the NIAD community.

In the exhibition What’s Cookin?!, you will see food, art and creativity from various NIAD artists. So feel free to pull up a chair in your mind, take a seat at our dinner table, and see what’s cookin’!

About the organizer

I was born in Sacramento California and raised in Oakland. I have a deep love of all things art. In my spare time I practice makeup artistry, cooking, and jewelry-making. Working at NIAD for the past 10 years, and now as Community Studio Manager, has been a blessing to me. The creativity and artwork created by artists is a beautiful sight to witness and support each day. NIAD is not just an art center to me, it is a second home.

Related Events

Friday November 4 // NIAD Annex Gallery Exhibition Crossover on view through November 26

Thursday November 10, 1:00PM // Virtual Artist Talk + Curator Walkthrough with ASL interpretation provided.

Saturday November 12, 1 to 4:00PM // Gallery Reception + Cooking Demonstration + Studio Sale at NIAD Art Center

Participating Artists

Saul Alegria

Vanessa Bravo

Heather Copus

Alycia Cowen

Carlos Fernandez

Heather Hamann

Shirley How

Rebecca Jantzen

Samantha Kershnar

Shawna Kinard

Erika Martinez

Ann Meade

Michelle Nonnarath

Maria Radilla

Shantae Robinson

Esmeralda Silva

Jonathan Valdivias

Christian Vassell

Jonathan Velazquez

Cassara Wong