UPROOT: BIPOC Visions of Our Food System
Summer Event Series: July – August 2024
Communities, organizations, food system practitioners, advocates, and the general public gathered on July 13, 2024 for the Opening Ceremony of Art as Method’s summer event series, UPROOT: BIPOC Visions of Our Food System. Created in collaboration with DurmPAC, participants from around NC came together to view and interact with how innovative storytelling can acknowledge perspectives that highlight challenges around the food system, build community, and inspire institutional shifts in how we view research and artistic expression.
UPROOT celebrated and acknowledged the perspectives of BIPOC community voices within the food system that have previously been excluded in research and data gathering efforts.
During the opening ceremony, attendees explored the journey of Art as Method. The opening ceremony also debuted and hosted a selection of the UPROOT Art Exhibition. This was one of two art exhibitions, with the second being held at Northstar – Church of the Arts in Durham, NC.
As an initiative that focuses on uplifting and amplifying opportunities to support local food ways, artistry, and community organizations, we collaborated with local businesses and organizations to source food, entertainment, music, and activities for this event.
All food was prepared by The Palace International of Durham, NC which sourced ingredients from NC food producers for a farm-to-table communal meal. The Black Women’s Art Collective facilitated art-inspired activities for all ages. Lastly, TapRoot Culture Troupe of The North Carolina Climate Justice Collective (NCCJC) provided music and a theatrical presentation that highlighted impacts of climate change, those impacted, and what we can do to shift legislation and resources to vulnerable communities who are closest to the effects of climate change.
