May 19, 2022 - July 22, 2022
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 19, 6 - 8 PM
228 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601

Cuttin’ Up: The Black Culinary Experience is the embodiment of food as joy, liberation, and preservation through commensality and visual art. With a focus on food, tools, and eating together, the exhibition brings contemporary art and local Black history to the table. 

Food is a necessity that many Enslaved Black Americans and Africans were denied safe access to. Even though they brought their knowledge and expertise to the land and facilitated bountiful harvests, they very rarely were able to enjoy the crops they grew in the same way the slave owners did.  Our ancestors live vicariously through every dish we make–it’s called Soul Food for a reason. The preservation of the Black Culinary Experience is vital to Black history. 

Memories are molded in the valleys of mixing bowls, friendships are forged over loaded down plates, and laughter lights up the darkest corners of the room as the cake plate clears. Good food is powerful. Good food is magickal. Good food will have you Cuttin’ Up.

Scott Alves Barton | Ewé òòò, á sà—Elogiar as folhas—Praise the leaves, (from Food for the Gods)

Alexandra Antoine | Hibiscus; Black Eye Pea

C. J. Murphy | Fruit from the Familial Vine; Salt and Sugar

Maria Geary | Generational Trauma

Ashley Johnson | Cast Iron Restoration

Lennie Vernet | Power That Be

Johnnie Stone | I didn’t know there was black rice; wildgrain

Ron Beckham | A Memory

Virginia + Co & Elan House | Cast Iron Soul

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Are you interested in supporting the exhibition financially? If so, please contact Ant by email (ant@vaeraleigh.org). The only In-Kind Donations we are accepting at this time are approved items for our donation drive.

$5500+

Any gift over $5500, you will be listed as the presenting sponsor of the exhibition and all programming. Benefits include (but are not limited to) recognition on all of the exhibitions promotional materials, including signage, program graphics, email marketing, and our website as “PRESENTED BY ______” along with Logo Lock on all graphics

What this your financial support allows us to support all programming for Cuttin’ Up: the Black Culinary Experience by:

• Allowing us to pay participating artists and facilitators equitable stipends

• Ensure planned programs come to fruition 

• Allowing planned workshops to be free to participating community members

• Expand the reach of the Black Culinary Experience

• Build a comprehensive web presence to support participating artists 

$3000-$5000 

This level of sponsorship is marked by listing you as an exhibition sponsor. Your logo will appear on all of the promotional materials that pertain to relevant programming. Any contribution within this window will support 70% of the planned programs. 

With this contribution we can pay participating artists and facilitators equitable stipends, offer all workshops free of charge for our community, and provide program participants with supplies.

$1000-$3000 

This level of sponsorship is marked by listing you as an exhibition sponsor. Your logo will appear on all of the promotional materials and webpages that pertain to relevant programming. 

With this contribution we can pay facilitators equitable stipends, offer one or more workshop(s) free of charge for our community, and provide program participants with supplies. 

$1000-$500

This level of sponsorship is marked by listing you as a sponsor of a program of your choosing. Your logo will appear on all of the webpages that pertain to relevant programming. 

With this contribution we can pay facilitators equitable stipends, reduce ticket prices for workshops, and provide program participants with supplies. 

$500-$100

This level of sponsorship is marked by listing you as a sponsor of a program of your choosing. Your name will appear on all of the webpages that pertain to relevant programming. 

With this contribution we can pay facilitators equitable stipends and provide program participants with supplies.