Steak Night: Marinate, Tenderize and Grill,
Maria Cristina Jadick
Artist Statement
The mixed media installation "Steak Night: Marinate, Tenderize and Grill," includes a performance video of the Artist wearing
'Jerry's, Butcher's coat,' while tenderizing beefsteaks precisely cut to match the border outline shapes of specific middle eastern countries:
i.e. Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria etc. that were later placed on a "gridiron" over hot charcoal to cook. The video shows the Middle Eastern country steaks in various stages of being grilled, (ie. raw, rare, medium, well, on fire, burnt to a crisp and ultimately branded with a USA branding iron.) Individual still photographs from the performance video of each of the grilled country steaks were framed and displayed.
As the definition of a "gridiron" is: "something marked off by squares or a grated iron utensil used for broiling flesh or fish over coals," and football fields are sometimes referred to as "gridirons," the implied metaphors within a U.S. foreign policy context are telling. On opening night Jadick offered the public, grilled, Iraq-shaped, steak burgers to eat, along with fixins' and sides, within the context of a convivial football tailgate party. She engaged in conversation with Gallery visitors (i.e. How do you like your Iraq burger, rare or well?) eliciting spontaneous commentary.
Maria Cristina Jadick
Artist Statement
The mixed media installation "Steak Night: Marinate, Tenderize and Grill," includes a performance video of the Artist wearing
'Jerry's, Butcher's coat,' while tenderizing beefsteaks precisely cut to match the border outline shapes of specific middle eastern countries:
i.e. Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria etc. that were later placed on a "gridiron" over hot charcoal to cook. The video shows the Middle Eastern country steaks in various stages of being grilled, (ie. raw, rare, medium, well, on fire, burnt to a crisp and ultimately branded with a USA branding iron.) Individual still photographs from the performance video of each of the grilled country steaks were framed and displayed.
As the definition of a "gridiron" is: "something marked off by squares or a grated iron utensil used for broiling flesh or fish over coals," and football fields are sometimes referred to as "gridirons," the implied metaphors within a U.S. foreign policy context are telling. On opening night Jadick offered the public, grilled, Iraq-shaped, steak burgers to eat, along with fixins' and sides, within the context of a convivial football tailgate party. She engaged in conversation with Gallery visitors (i.e. How do you like your Iraq burger, rare or well?) eliciting spontaneous commentary.
"STEAK NIGHT: MARINATE, TENDERIZE AND GRILL," 2010, MIXED MEDIA INSTALLATION,VINTAGE KITCHEN CABINETS, MISC. VINTAGE MEAT TENDERIZERS, VIDEO, TV, TV STAND, RUG, BASKET, HOMEMADE APPLE PIE WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT CUTOUT PIE CRUST AND BUTCHERS COAT, DIMENSIONS: 8'W 7'H X 2'D.
"STEAK NIGHT: MARINATE, TENDERIZE AND GRILL," 2010, (DETAIL.)
"Steak Night: Marinate, Tenderize and Grill," 2010 (detail.)
"Steak Night: Marinate, Tenderize and Grill," 2010, (detail.)
"STEAK NIGHT: MARINATE, TENDERIZE AND GRILL," 2010, (DETAIL,)
"Iraq Burgers," 2010, mixed media interactive performance.
"IRAQ BURGERS," 2010, MIXED MEDIA INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE