Men in the Kitchen

Circa 1954, Betty is in the kitchen, apron tied just right.  Pearls in place.  She’s the queen of her domain turning out pineapple upside down cakes while her hubs brings home the bacon (for her to cook).In most cultures throughout history, the heart of the home has been a woman’s domain.  Even today though roles have shifted and functions of the kitchen have changed, it’s the woman who usually makes the decisions when it comes to the kitchen.  I say USUALLY because even 10 or 15 years ago the man of the house only had a voice when it came to his office or his bar, now he is collaborating on the design of the kitchen.  It was going to happen sooner or later.  According to this article by The Wall Street Journal, the men are catching up and we're letting them.  I wonder why it is that the upper echelons of “chefdom” belong to men but the foot soldiers of meal preparation are the women churning out meal after meal in middle America and beyond? Perhaps it's time to sit back and let the boys pamper us.  Truth be told I have always aligned myself with men who know their way around the kitchen.

 

 Now that I've got your attention, over the next few posts we will be examining the elusive phenomenon known as  "men in the kitchen".  We will look at a man navigating the challenges of a tiny city kitchen, the suburban family guy in the kitchen, the Gen Y bachelor  and even and up and coming professional chef !  Good?  Yes I knew you were in the mood for something completely different. Oh and by the way if you like the photo above it's available as wall paper here and is courtesy of wallsave.com. Next Up: How a man cooks in the city that never sleeps...

10 Etsy Treasures For Your Kitchen

In case you enjoyed a fabulous holiday weekend and are finding the Monday grind somewhat anticlimactic, I thought we'd have a little fun today.Recently I wrote about the value of “the handmade” and the Arts and Crafts Movement of the turn of the last century.  (If you missed it, it's right here.)  It must be a part of our American cultural DNA, we like to make stuff and we like to have stuff people made.  Think of the wedding quilt made by your great grandma or even the home cooked meal.  Anything made with love is imbibed with soulfulness.   The website phenomenon etsy.com is evidence of this love affair with hand crafting.  I’ll be the first to admit you have to wade through a lot of “kitsch” to find the treasures but they can be found.  SO just for you, my peeps, I have uncovered ten treasures for your kitchen.  The Holidays are but a distant memory.  Maybe it’s time to treat yourself or a loved one with something beautiful, original and handmade just "because".  What are your Etsy favorites ?   PS  Unfortunately I have been in no way compensated or influenced by any of these shops.  I just give them my "cool" stamp of approval.  I have however, in the past, been a customer of Pats Pottery and probably will be again in the future, just in case you're wondering. 

Women, Art and Kitchen Anxiety

    Jackie Tufford is a  beautiful young woman with her own style.  She also has a distinctly vintage air about her, a Mid-Century yet very modern woman adorned with strands of pearls replete with stockings and high heeled, patent leather pumps.  I had the pleasure of hearing her speak recently at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach.  She was the guest speaker at the monthly Art, Women & Culture Art Salon.Jackie's artwork, to quote her website, " balances delicate grace and antiquated feminine styles with suggestions of awkwardness, sexual vulnerability and domesticity to suggest sculptural narratives about the possible unspoken expected social roles of women."  I could leave you to decipher the meaning in those words but better yet I'd rather show you a couple of her creations that speak to the heart of  a woman as she relates to the heart of the home.   I sometimes refer to the intangible elements that are associated with the kitchen.  When we remodel we strive to replicate the positive feelings and associations that are attached to our experiences of the kitchen.  Today, perhaps more than ever, we use our kitchens for multiple tasks and interactions.  Historically the kitchen has been the domain of the woman of the house.  Although that is frequently no longer the case residue lingers.This piece of installation art was created in Jackie's own kitchen.  She is making a statement about being overwhelmed, a woman overwhelmed in her kitchen.  I get that.  However there is more.  To understand this piece is to know that it is also about something called Celiac disease.  Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.  The installation was created using domestic items such as bed sheets, buttons and thread as well as packaging from gluten free products and rice.  The latter two items are a reference to Celiac.   This second piece definitely elicited a response from this viewer.  Art is supposed to do that, no?  It is entitled "Dinner is Served".  It is all about a very specific kind of kitchen anxiety, that which comes with entertaining!  Ever get "entertaining anxiety"?  I do and you know what?  This made me feel connected to all the other souls out there (probably women) who get it too!  Here I thought I was the only one.  It's made out of plastic plates, utensils table cloths etc.Jackie also has created an amazing collection of dresses made of Romex Wire (another domestic reference) and an intriguing video short called Metanoia which is all about transformation. You can check it all out at her website here. 

Palm Beach Fine Craft Show

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the last big show of our season at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, along with Art Palm Beach are my favorites. The Fine Craft show has nothing to do with crayons and paste (not that there's anything wrong with that!)  but is a juried show featuring the work of fine artisans from all corners of the United States. Their art is beautiful and functional.  A hundred years ago, or so, textile designer, writer and artist William Morris said, "“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Morris is credited with pioneering the Arts and Crafts Movement at the turn of the 20th century. The exploding industrial revolution resulted in mass production of everyday items. As it turned out, this was a double edged sword. Now the masses were able to afford clothes and household items, but at a price. Quality was often sacrificed, labor exploited and disposable goods were born. The proponents of the Arts and Crafts Movement sought to preserve the beauty and art of an object made by the hand. There was a belief that the artisan left a little soul in each creation. Such objects were treasured and kept. They contained a story. I'm happy to say the tradition lives on.  The irony is that the time, love and effort that goes into these creations can never be accurately accounted for and even still the prices are out of range for the average individual.  Still we can dream.  The show gave me a chance to connect with these exceptional artisans.   Christine Davis took these amazing photos for me to share with you .        In addition there was exciting and original jewelry and clothing on display.  If you're ever in Palm Beach in March take a break from the beach and check out this show.  You will leave inspired and something might even come home with you ;)

Mad For Mid Century

If you're a Mid Century product of Florida, like me, you probably grew up in what's fondly known as a "ranch style house".  Our friends over at Wikipedia define the ranch abode as " a domestic architectural style  originating in the United States. The ranch house is noted for its long, close-to-the-ground profile, and minimal use of exterior and interior decoration. The houses fuse modernist ideas and styles with notions of the American Western period working ranches to create a very informal and casual living style."   In addition to the above, the Florida ranch house  usually came in pastel colors with what we call a "Florida room".  This is kind of like a family room with lots of windows. 

Modern Living Room design by Atlanta General Contractor Cablik Enterprises

 Although not as grand as the house above, my childhood home shared several elements.  Our Florida Room ceiling had a similar wood treatment and it also had a stone feature wall.  We had lots of green and brown and that EXACT furniture.  The authentic flooring would have been terrazzo, like ours.  I never knew it was cool then but now it's all the rage.  Think about it, there are lots of these houses still around!  Mid-Century has firmly established its niche in design history and has left its mark on our culture.  We've got MadMen, Modernism Magazine, the website Atomic Ranch and numerous blogs. If you're looking for that 50s vibe in the kitchen, keep it simple.  Door styles were just flat and were either a warm wood finish or painted.  Guess what? Wall ovens with a separate cook top were much more common in the typical Mid Century kitchen.  Today most homes have ranges.Throw in a little atomic patterning and you're there.  If you are really embracing this you can get the vintage look for your refrigerator.Elmira Stove Works has introduced the latest addition to its retro Northstar collection, the French-door refrigerator.  By combining iconic 1950s-style with the modern amenities of contemporary appliances, this new model is larger capacity than previously available in the line.  It comes in a full-depth model as well as counter-depth.  You don't have to get red.  It comes in nine standard colors OR you can even get it custom-colored (for a price, I'm sure). 

Art Palm Beach

The highlight of the “season” for me in South Florida is not all the crowds, traffic and long lines, although I am grateful for the prosperity it brings to our parts.  The high point is Art Palm Beach.  My pal Vicki and I make a practice of attending the opening reception every year.  This year was double the fun as I went back a second time with my sis and bro-in-law visiting from NY and my son.  The event is always held in January and the venue is the beautiful Palm Beach Convention Center.  This year it was held January 25-28^th with a preview evening on the 24^th.  The focus of the show is contemporary art (my fave).  Sixteen years ago the first show focused on art of the 60s and 70s. Today the focus has expanded to include all forms and periods of contemporary art.  In addition to an international assortment of  exhibitors there were an impressive array of lectures available to attendees.  I’m already planning to focus on these next year.  It is said that the venues such as the Palm Beach County Convention Center create more jobs nationally than the auto industry! It is estimated that Art Palm Beach adds about $800,000 to the local economy in just four days!  In addition it takes 300 people to make it happen.  Enough about logistics, let’s talk about art! I took these pix just to share with my peeps here at Kitchens for Living.  These were some of my favorites.