ART TOAST: Edible Art Project

Art Toast by Ida Frask: Frida Kahlo, Self Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser

A friend sent me a link to photos of The Art Toast Project by Norwegian artist Ida Frosk and an interview with her by Tish Wrigley.  Assembling fruits and vegetables and other food items, she recreates famous paintings using a slice of bread as her canvas.  Ida Frosk has done Van Gogh's Sunflowers, a Jackson Pollack drip painting, Munch's Scream and many more.  I was particularly charmed by Frida Kahlo's Self Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser.  It occurred to me that making art toast would be a perfect project to do with kids.  Not only would they learn about art, but in the end, they could eat their creations!  The possibilities are endless.
Ida Frosk was asked about what happens to her projects after they are finished?  She says:
I usually eat it! This is not an art project as such, everything is made to be eaten. Seems like a shame perhaps but since it has been documented, there's always the chance to experience it once more - and to share it with others. I particularly enjoyed eating the Monet toast, made with pistachio butter, apples and kiwi - so yummy and beautiful!

Me, Frida, Winner of the FOCAL Award

This past spring I had the honor to serve on the committee to select a book for Friends of Children and Libraries (FOCAL) of LAPL (Los Angeles Public Library) annual award.   The committee chose the beautiful picture book,  Me, Frida (Abrams, 2011), written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by David Diaz.  Congratulations to Amy and David! 
     The FOCAL Award is presented to an author and/or illustrator for a creative work which enriches a child’s appreciation for and knowledge of California.  In Me, Frida, the reader joins the artist Frida Kahlo on a visit to San Francisco with her husband Diego Rivera, who has been invited to paint a mural there.  We see the city through Frida’s eyes, receiving a whole new perspective both on Frida Kahlo as a person and on the diverse qualities of the city itself.  As in all the best picture books, the words and pictures of this book work together to create a unified whole that is greater than the individual parts. 
     We will be honoring the author and illustrator of Me, Frida at the annual FOCAL Award Luncheon on Saturday, January 28, 2012.  Prizes will also be awarded to children who have read Me, Frida and written an essay about the book and how it has impacted their lives.  For more information about the luncheon or essay contest, contact the librarian at your school or local library or go to the FOCAL website.