Morgan Wegner

Americana

I am a BFA Studio Art major. I mostly work with the subject of food in my artwork; food is of particular fascination for me due to my struggle with an eating disorder that causes me to constantly think about food and its importance in my life. My artwork revolves around food culture in America. My pieces reflect upon the values and purpose of food in American society. With social media and advertisements, food has been magnified and brought to public attention. Now, it is not only used as sustenance, but as entertainment. As a society, we are driven by consumption through the process of eating, buying, and the visual consumption of hundreds of pictures each day. American overconsumption of food has reached enormous magnitudes which has also lead to food waste. My art serves to emphasize the effects of societal values on the presentation of food in the form of associations, assimilation, and waste. Most of my current works are paintings and sculptures. Inspired by artists such as Claus Oldenburg, my food sculptures tend to be oversized and a reflection upon daily consumption. I use my sculptures to try to bring into view issues within American food culture by literally magnifying them and urging a closer inspection of the artwork and the viewer’s own food practices. My work with painting is largely inspired by artists such as Wayne Thiebaud and Sari Shryack, who elevate everyday objects into fine art via painting. My use of paints serves to emphasize the importance of everyday consumption and association.

This piece focuses on Americana culture and nostalgia through food. Through the inclusion of common american foods and elements of americana diner culture, I play on the nostalgia of Americans who view the piece. The inclusion of various styles in the painting (realism and flat cartoon) reflect on the use of nostalgia in advertising to sell products and ideas.