“Potluck,” a public student art project on the first floor of Penfield Library, shines a light on SUNY Oswego‘s SHOP (Students Helping Oz Peers) on-campus services and support in addressing food insecurity.
The installation depicts hunger and nourishment by showing five large plates ranging from empty to full. The food across the five bowls shows items that are available to those who use SHOP services, such as beans, mixed vegetables, pasta, and rice.
In addition to non-perishable food items, SHOP, located in the basement of Penfield Library, provides toiletries, personal health products, and professional and winter apparel.
“Potluck” started as a commission by SHOP organizers with art faculty member Benjamin Entner to bring attention to their services as well as the pervasive problem of food insecurity. Entner chose to turn it into a learning opportunity for students in his intermediate sculpture class.
This collaboration, as well as the idea of building community, reflects the work’s theme. An artist’s statement notes that a potluck is, “about having a meal that brings any food and anybody together.”
