FRESH Voices Take On Subject Of Race And Food

A small group of youth working with FRESH New London is no stranger to the active role in growing food and educating others about nutrition. In their latest activity, however, they took a more expressive route and also explored the subject of race.

FRESH Voices, a group of about six or seven young people, began in the fall as a way of incorporating student leaders in the mission of FRESH New London. The organization promotes a sustainable and healthy food system through education, community gardens, and other initiatives.

Chelsea Cleveland, a coordinator with FRESH New London, said she and youth coordinator Jessica Cartagena came up with the idea of incorporating an art component after FRESH Voices participated in an essay contest. The theme of the contest, put on by Growing Food and Justice For All, was race from the perspective of food. They decided to carry over the idea into a series of art classes.

“You have to be really personal with art, so we wanted them to use art to connect to these facts they were learning,” said Cleveland.

FRESH New London found allies in two downtown art galleries. offered 10 free art classes, and the offered space for an exhibit. On Saturday, the Provenance Center hosted an official opening for the artwork. It will move to the Pigeon Hole gallery, at 19 Union Street, for the New London Art Night festivities running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

Cartagena said the participants were excited to not only get involved in art, but have their work displayed in a gallery. She said the group has done visual presentations before, but that they had more range in their messages and the mediums of expression for this exhibit. She said the Pigeon Hole show will showcase more pieces, including stencils, collages, and spoken word.

“It’s really amazing, really inspiring, because you don’t see too much of that in New London Youth, stepping up to say what’s on their mind,” she said.

The pieces of Bella Valesquez, a student in the program, included a tranquil garden scene and a face devoid of color except for the eyes, with the caption “Just Another Number.” She said she enjoys art, but until the display had not used it as a way to convey a message.

“I fell that’s very important, because words can only go so far,” she said.

Cartagena said the connections between food and race include racism, such as the stereotype that races favor certain foods. Nadesha Mijoba, director of the Provenance Center, said the first of the classes raised awareness of issues such as health and economic disparities and the impact of social stressors on race.  She praised the use of symbolism in the artwork.

“To me, you can se the growth,” she said. “You can see the process they went through.”

Cleveland said she hopes to continue the relationship with the art community, including inviting artists to volunteer on the FRESH New London farm at the Waterford Country School. Guido Garaycochea, director of Expressiones and teacher of the art classes, said he felt the students became more immersed in their work over time.

“For sure, this is just the beginning,” he said. “I think it’s the very beginning of something more wonderful that’s coming.”