When I first began planning dinners, I thought of each event not just as a place where food is served but as a sequence of moments that could shape attendees’ experiences. Courses were not just about nourishment, but doors into shared experiences.
Each plating frames conversation, encourages the exchange of ideas, and reflects my practice as a socially-engaged artist who weaves hospitality, performance, and art. My research into relational aesthetics has encouraged me to think about placemaking in and of itself as a medium. I have drawn inspiration from anthropological writing on rituals, where courses might serve as a transition marker and shape bonds formed among strangers.
Dinners begin with more general questions as participants take their first seating for the evening. New questions are presented as new courses are presented, providing not only a culinary journey but a curated social odyssey that encourages participants to share stories and connect on deeper levels typically experienced at networking events. At my dinners, I look to foster dialogue as diners discover shared experiences. Seating arrangements are not fixed, and participants are led to different areas in the room.
As with any conceptual plan or live event, adjustments must be made, and a flexible mindset must be embraced. Whether unexpected happenings occur at the venue or I am faced with sudden changes of attendees, I have come to recognize that the space surrounding the promise of serendipity is permeable. Often, I must negotiate between my own artistic intentions and logistical feasibility, but this is where magic often rests.
Often, the most “perfectly designed” dinners evolve from imperfect conditions. Those unpredictable dynamics that are inevitably triggers when strangers come together to share a meal is what makes each event unique and impossible to replicate. The act of showing up authentically is the aim, and sometimes, theory and practice align. As attendees browse menus, I watch my work take shape — the art of introductions and cultivating relationships.
