New York City overtime has become a huge hub for new and innovative cuisines. The result of that has lead to a diversity of cultures in the city, and an increase in the popularity of "street food" and "to-go foods". Food and the concept of dining has always brought people and communities together. Restaurants, food halls, markets, food festivals, and even street carts are constructed environments in which many gather and meet. However, the common trend in the food industry, specifically in NYC, has been to stereotype appetite based on how much you can pay. Furthermore, a lot of the real estate in NYC is dedicated to the food industry resulting in classism and inequality. We believe that food should be accessible to everyone, as it is a fundamental human necessity. Our goal is to target and deconstruct the concept of food “stereotyping” as well as increase the social mobility and awareness of food equality. This public installation, through accepting donations of recycled materials and waste will celebrate inclusivity and equality. All metals, paper, and plastic materials are accepted; The donations will be exchanged into a new form of currency which will grant the user access to a “special” menu item, to redeem at one of our partnered food vendors. Through partnering with different local food vendors and chains, we aim to grant more food access to the public and encourage recycling and sustainable ways of disposal.
The target location is the Flatiron District, from 18th street through 30th street, spanning across Lexington Avenue until 6th Avenue. The Flatiron district is a dynamic hub for retail, business, and restaurants. It is one of the central meeting points in the city where communities come together to enjoy its amenities. The area houses all types of restaurants ranging in prices, from Eataly to Trader Joe’s, McDonald's to Shake Shack, Sarabeth’s to The Taste of Persia.
Our target audience are the general local residents and employees of the Flatiron District, individuals with a limited access to food such as the homeless and underprivileged, food activists, social programs and organizations, environmentally aware individuals, and so-called ‘green’ people that are fighting and promoting recycling. We seek to involve our target audience to help us realize this project. Potential valuable participants are artists working with waste as their medium. An example would be the Brooklyn Arts Council, they offer a surplus of found recycled materials for artist use. Furthermore, Sure We Can is a homeless-friendly can redemption center that seeks to eliminate the hardship that homeless canners face every day. Sure We Can is our potential participant as it shares a similar mission.
Sources :
(food organizations in new york)
Mission statement - We stand by restaurant workers, owners, and consumers and respect their dignity, human rights, and contributions to our industry and our nation – including immigrants, refugees, people of all genders, faiths, races, abilities, and sexual orientations. We have zero tolerance for sexism, racism, and xenophobia. We believe that there is a place at the table for everyone.
https://foodfirst.org (Social movements fighting for food justice and food sovereignty around the world)
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