Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery enjoy talk on food theme

Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery

Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery met on 11 July at Rochdale Music Centre, which has welcomed them whilst Touchstones is being renovated, as they persevere with their monthly programme.

On the theme of food, friendly and informative speakers gave succinct explanations and fascinating morsels without making a meal of it. It was fine dining with Friends.

For starters, the new Heritage Coordinator for Touchstones Laura Mansfield whetted their appetites with a foretaste of the new Touchstones.

The former museum part of the building (the old library of previous times) will be stripped back to high ceilings and big windows and will be designated The Dining Room. This is where a smorgasbord of artistic projects based around reaching out and coming together through food will be served, as well as other events.

The main course was served up by artist Alijah Hussain, who specialises in ceramics (other commissioned artists will work in textiles and digital portraiture).

Alijah’s work has included several interactive projects such as making food and related objects into fridge magnets, toast racks, cups, platters etc. right up to full dinner services, and even cabinets to house them.

Inspired by food utensils through the ages in the Touchstones collections from everyday items to Rochdale Pioneers’ commemoration pieces, she will develop a suspended multi-object installation for the new space. She has been encouraging local participants to freely share their ideas, stories, and objects around Rochdale’s food heritage, from the Cooperative movement to modern South Asian cuisine.