“Edible Art” display to open in Lynchburg

By Aimee Norton

Published: March 6, 2008

Christina Marsh stacks pancakes inside a house made of Aunt Jemima packaging.  It’s edible art, with a message. 

“I really think the work begins a starting point for having conversations,” said Marsh.

About race and growing up as a person of color.  Marsh says the Aunt Jemima house is to show how African-American images were used to sell things after slavery ended.

“You’re Aunt Jemima, you’re Cream of Wheat, your Uncle Ben’s and things like that were basically depictions of domestics that were put on boxes and all of these items were made so it would help a lot of people in their households,” she said.

There are also glasses of milk with different amounts of chocolate. Marsh is a quarter Cherokee Indian, but on the surface, she says she’s considered black.

“For a very long time and even in a lot of reading that you do, you see that you are either of color or you’re not,” said Marsh.

She says the exhibit is only about her experiences, not those of every African-American. But, she thinks it’s a good coincidence that people in Lynchburg are talking about race.

“I think it’s very proactive that Lynchburg is interested in having dialogues,” said Marsh. “I think that’s a very positive thing.  This work can begin to start to speak on an experience that is outside of Lynchburg. These are things that are going on everywhere.”

An edible exhibit from Colorado, making a statement in Central Virginia.

The exhibit will open Friday at 6 p.m. at the Riverviews Artspace on Jefferson Street. That’s in downtown Lynchburg.  The exhibit will be open through April.