Ampersand Awards
2024
As part of the exhibit Growing Resistance at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Spatula&Barcode collaborated with H.J. Bullard, Arjit Sen, Michael Carriere and Simone Linhares Ferro to plan and host an awards dinner for “community guardians”--longtime leaders and activists engaged in food sovereignty and other forms of community empowerment.
The meal prepared by Yusuf Bin-Rella featured a Three Sisters Stew, Wild Rice Jambalaya, Cornbread with Cranberries, Millet and Black-Eyed Peas Salad with Mixed Greens, and Corn Chia Pudding. In addition, Spatula&Barcode baked ampersand cookies and commissioned ampersand medals In this context, the ampersand recognizes the “something extra” that these guardians bring to the daily life of their communities.
After participants visited the exhibition, socialized, received a portrait by Alvin Connor and ate together (with ambient improvisational dance throughout), the program consisted entirely of the attendees celebrating each other. In pairs, they learned about each other’s work and contribution to the community, and then celebrated each other and ceremonially bestowed the ampersand medallion.