Biography
An ardent health foodie from the Garden State, Erica is passionate about observing and understanding human behavior, promoting positive behavioral change, and clean, nutritious eating. Pursuing this thesis as a minor in Studio Arts has given her the opportunity to combine and explore her interests in the arts and behavioral sciences, informed by her Psychology and Economics majors.
Artwork: Whole
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Artist Statement
To put it simply: I love food. I think food is beautiful. There is not a single food I discriminate against – you name it, I’ll try it, and I’ll probably like it. The food that I am talking about is the food that comes directly from nature, in its unprocessed, whole self.
Whole is an exploration of my relationship with whole foods and clean eating, something that has become a central part of my life over the past few years. Eating healthy does not have to, and should not be, torturous, distasteful or restrictive. Recognizing and appreciating the refreshing crisp of a cucumber, the sweet zap of a clementine, the umami savor of an onion, or the comfort of a creamy cashew is a life changing experience.
My goal is to showcase the inherent beauty in the whole food. I want to portray the full capacity that the food holds and evoke an appreciation for clean eating and nutrition. I chose to fulfill this goal through photography, a hobby of mine since I could hold a camera. By utilizing a large glass slab, I take advantage of the natural light of the sun to highlight unseen elements of the food, and of the sky to harmonize the food with nature. The food I photograph is fresh, unprocessed and minimally manipulated with a kitchen knife. The food is the art.
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere”
Vincent Van Gogh
