Food Envelopes: Ruoyi Shi
In many cultures, people insert letters or objects in food and use food as an envelope for secrets, or transform a regular message into a revolution: mooncakes, fortune cookies, king cake, or new year dumplings. In Food Envelopes, our first Welcome (M)Artist Rouyi Shi used food to deliver messages. By presenting video installations along with edible objects that contain letters inside she retold the "fish story" in Cincinnati at The Welcome Project for the first quarter of 2022.
The storefront was transformed into a museum of "food envelopes". It was a space that mixed fantasy and reality. Shi creates objects with edible materials and ceramics to showcase how people have historically used food to transport messages. A Small post office was set up at the entrance, and everyone who entered the space could use the food Shi prepared to send a hidden letter to their friends.
Ruoyi Shi is an interdisciplinary artist working with objects, writings, performances, and video installations. Inspired by folklore, oral history, mythology, and personal memory, she combines humor and fiction to construct her own poetic narratives. Shi was born and raised in Nanjing, China. She is a recent MFA graduate from the California Institute of the Arts (2021) and received her BFA degree in Sculpture from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in 2019.
Food Envelopes was open January 15th through March 26th, 2022.
Welcome (M)Art is a new program that blurs the lines between art gallery, grocery, and dinner party; providing a unique opportunity for social discourse in Cincinnati.
Welcome (M)ART was generously funded by the Carol Ann and. Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.
The Welcome Project is located at 2936 Colerain Ave. and is open Wednesday – Saturday 11-6pm
IF YOU GO
What: Ceramic Dumpling Workshop
Attend ceramics class and learn to make ceramic dumplings with Ruoyi Shi, which will become part of the exhibition at The Welcome Project
When: 10am-12pm, Saturday, January 8th
Where: Wave Pool Wood Shop
Admission: FREE, Proof of Vaccination Required
What: Opening Reception
When: 5-8pm. Saturday, January 15th
Where: The Welcome Project
Admission: FREE, Proof of Vaccination Required
What: Edible Dumpling Workshop
Learn to make traditional Chinese dumplings with Ruoyi Shi
When: 6-8pm, Wednesday, January 19th
Where: The Welcome Project
Admission: FREE – RSVP via Eventbrite, Proof of Vaccination Required
What: Ceramic Figurine Workshop
Attend ceramics class and learn to make ceramic figures with Ruoyi Shi, which will become part of the exhibition at The Welcome Project
When: 10am-12pm, Saturday, January 22th
Where: Wave Pool Wood Shop
Admission: FREE, Proof of Vaccination Required
What: Cincinnati’s Table Dinner
Enjoy dinner made by chef Dora Cheng of Yee Mama
When: 6-8pm, Sunday, February 6th
Where: TBD
Admission: $5 – RSVP via Eventbrite, Proof of Vaccination Required