COLORING THE MEAL
“Coloring the Meal” reimagines the children’s dining set as a vibrant canvas for fostering creativity and interaction during mealtime. This table, crafted from recycled books sourced from libraries and a local elementary school, not only embraces sustainability but forms a tactile and visual storyscape that invites children and adults alike to engage in playful exploration. In creating a sense of wonder, this project rejects the sentiment, ‘don’t play with your food at the table,’ as it recognizes the inherent joy in blending the meal with imaginative expression and storytelling.
Featured in the Michael Owen Jones Exhibition: Almost Useful, winter 2024.
The collection of books pieced together to form the tabletop is carved away to embed the place settings and reveal the hidden section of the book pages. Through its colorful covers and varied textures, the table becomes a dynamic surface where each book becomes a canvas, and the pages, a medium for artistic expression, fostering uninhibited creativity.
Table Iteration Model
Stack of the Carved Book Remnants
“By reimagining a children’s dining set, this work goes beyond being merely supplemental to the culinary aspect of a traditional table. The choice of books as the primary material introduces an unconventional and richly symbolic element to the craft. The sustainable aspect of the project is evident in its commitment to repurposing discarded books, offering them a second life as a functional and artistic playscape.”
Coloring the Meal, Gallery Tag
Photo collection of the table on display.
location: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, US
materials: Recycled Books, Wood
timeline: Fall 2023
project by: Thomas McCloskey and Chloe Politte