Sunny Bank Mills To Host International Supper Club

Sunny Bank Mills Gallery in Farsley, Leeds is set to host a unique pop-up supper club during its latest exhibition, "Don’t Play With Your Food." This event promises a dining experience that merges art and culinary creativity in an extraordinary manner.

An Invitation to Rediscover Food

The "Don’t Play With Your Food" exhibition aims to inspire visitors of all ages by encouraging them to rethink their relationship with food. This exhibit showcases how food can be used as a medium to reflect society and create meaning from everyday items.

The exhibition features works that turn common foods like bread, milk, and cabbage into timeless pieces of art. The collaboration between artists, chefs, and craftspeople in this exhibition highlights the playful, gross, and delicious aspects of food.

Anna Turzynski, the Arts Director at Sunny Bank Mills, expressed the motivation behind this exhibition:

"It’s summertime and we wanted our latest exhibition to inspire visitors regardless of their age. Don’t Play With Your Food is an exhibition born out of many conversations and is an invitation to reconsider your relationship to food."

Blurring the Lines Between Art and Cuisine

Turzynski has long been intrigued by the intersection of art and food. She invited various creative individuals to explore themes of eating, cooking, and food origins. The exhibition includes whimsical installations such as melting ice cream sculptures, surreal cutlery, noodle soup portraits, and a giant sandwich. The Edible Playground Supper Club extends these playful ideas into a unique dining experience.

Helen Russell Brown, an artist, chef, and academic, created Edible Playground as a playful rejection of conventional table manners. Diners are encouraged to embrace the joy and nostalgia of food, inspired by Helen’s personal food memories from childhood and beyond.

This experience includes both familiar treats and innovative culinary experiments, all served at a sculptural tablescape that blurs the lines between food, art, and playgrounds.

A Nostalgic Culinary Journey

Helen Russell Brown elaborated on the inspiration behind Edible Playground: "We always seem to be looking for the next adventure, experience, or undiscovered place - how nice to sink back into nostalgia and rediscover the sticky memories of our younger years as a source of comfort and delight. Join us for an edible journey inspired by memories of classroom games, building sandcastles and a healthy obsession for knickerbocker glories."

Helen’s background in culinary arts and her passion for playful food projects shine through in this event. Her creations aim to connect people to both their internal and external worlds. Edible Playground, specifically created for Sunny Bank Mills, marks the debut of this concept in the UK. Helen will be joined by Talita Perfect, her culinary partner from the studio Imaginaria, to bring this imaginative dining experience to life.

An Unforgettable Plant-Based Dining Experience

Arts Director Anna Turzynski further detailed what to expect from the Edible Playground Supper Club: "Edible Playground will welcome people into the Gallery after hours to enjoy a three-act meal like no other. The menu that Helen and her team have put together is totally plant-based and unlike any dining experience I have ever had. It’s going to be a great evening of mischief and finger licking!"

The Edible Playground Supper Club will be held for two nights only, on Friday 12th July and Saturday 13th July. The event features a completely plant-based menu, offering a distinctive and memorable culinary experience. The "Don’t Play With Your Food" exhibition will be open from Saturday 6th July until Sunday 1st September.

For more information and to book a place at the Supper Club, visit Sunny Bank Mills.