Identity Final

Artist Statement

This picture reflects upon the idea of “identity”, and how it relates to more than the name of a person. Identity is a convergence of many things, from geographic location to cultural traditions. Specifically, food can be a defining aspect a a cultural or personal identity for many people. Regionally specific spices and herbs offer distinct flavors to unique dishes as well as common ones, and often the place of origin for a cultural dish can be determined by what spices it uses.

In this picture, a jar of Old Bay; a classical Maryland spice created by a Jewish-German immigrant in 1939, named for the historic Norfolk to Baltimore “old bay" shipping line, is shown as a reference to the distinct culinary traditions of the Chesapeake bay, where I grew up and currently live. The jar is shown tipped over and the spices spilling out form the shape of a heart, to symbolize the attachment many people feel to their own local traditions and culture. A plain white background is used to give maximum contrast, so viewers can see all the different herbs that comprise Old Bay as well as to give maximum contrast to the bright and vibrant colors of the spice and container it comes in.