My thesis will be the social deconstruction of my family’s recipes represented by still life. Time, with my family, is important. We don’t always spend every moment together and not because we don’t want to. My father was in the Marine Corp, which meant moving around and sometimes being separated from each other. It was difficult growing up especially when you are a small family and away from other family members such as grandmas and grandpas. We kept strong and made each second spent together worth it. When we spent time together, it was usually over a meal or even drinks. When it comes to food, we gather together to cook, eat, and try new foods when we could. It is the same with drinks, by trying different teas and as I got older the different cocktails. When my family cooks, we all gather into the kitchen to talk and absorb. There would be times when it was just my mother and I, and other times when it was just me and my father. During these moments I learned to cook different things. From all the times I spent with my family, I have learned to cook and learn what, as well as how, the ingredients go into my family recipes. From my father, I learned to bake. My father’s side of the family are excellent bakers. One recipe I cherish is baking cookies. From my mother, I learned more savory dishes. This ranged from soups to simple sandwiches. Unlike my family, the way I make anything in the kitchen is by gathering all the required items and prepping them. This includes the gadgets to combine them such as a pan or utensil. It is the way I ensure the recipe comes out the same. Each still life will reflect my method of gather the ingredients and how I combine them not with new gadgets to cook, which will be combine with older items to reference my family.
(c), 2015, Rodriguez