FOOD IS AN ESSENTIAL DAILY MOMENT THAT WE USE TO GENERATE A CENTER FROM WHICH TO SHARE AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER; FROM THE MOMENT WE BUY THE INGREDIENTS, COOK, SUMMON THE PARTICIPANTS AND PREPARE “THE TABLE”, UNTIL FINALLY WE ALL BECOME DINERS.
During the 4th edition of the “Repas de Quartier” (“Community meal”) of the École Supérieure d’Art et Design de Valence (ESAD Valence), guest artists Fanny Maugey (plastissière) and Clara Maseda (urban scenographer) co-dynamize and lead a community meal between the new students of the school and the inhabitants of the suburban area of Fontbarlettes.
Fanny Maugey mediated the cooking, generating “edible architecture” with the students and neighbours, mixing local recipes with new displays.
Clara Maseda mediated a “town crier performance” through the neighbourhood to invite everyone to the event and collect memories and stories of the local people; as well as the co-design of “the table” (scenography).
SELF-MANAGEMENT
There are groups in charge of covering different needs: a market group, cooking group, scenography group, photography group, etc.
LOCAL ECONOMY
On Tuesday, all the food is bought in a local market, thus contributing to the local economy.
MEETING SPACES
Regular meeting spaces in which each group shares its development and needs in order to co-organise the party that is to take place.
CONNECTIVITY
“Town crier performance” calling everyone to the party: “Jeudi 19h!” (“Thursday at 19h!”). The main local representative accompanies us during the tour, guiding us along the best route through the neighbourhood.
ACTIVE LISTENING
Compilation of memories and stories of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood transformed into graphic brochures for the event.
COLLECTIVE BUILDING
Co-design and co-construction of the scenography. A group of students decides to develop a video, an audio track and a photography presentation to show during the event.
EXHIBITION AREA
Showing of eatable architecture experiments, food sculptures done by local children and brochures with neighbourhood memories.
“AUTO-SAVON” TROLLEYS
“Self-cleaning trolleys” to keep the party tidy! Generating a self-organisation of the space.
MAIN EATING TRAIN
Arrangement of the food made during the workshop by the students and inhabitants of the neighbourhood, ready to be eaten!
TABLE SITTING AREA
For a confortable resting and eating area in small groups.
FLOOR SITTING AREA
For a closer communication environment and the projection of the film of the workshop week.
DESSERT TRAIN
Coming out at the very end, with a cello playing performance and all the desserts, guiding people outside to eat them and finish the party.
JEUDI 18h! REPAS DE QUARTIER!
The students of ESAD Valence and the inhabitants of the Fontbarlettes district, where the school is located, get to know each other actively, through the daily gesture of eating together, integrating their mutual role as neighbours. We end the week with an open, inclusive, warm and attentive space where we not only share a communal neighbourhood meal, but build community together.
