Alison Pirie

Gxrl on Grill brings together the work of video and performance artists that use food as a medium in their practice to explore, challenge, and respond to a range of social, cultural, and political issues. Hosted at Honey’s Bar in Bushwick, the performers and screenings will occupy all parts of the space, creating an immersive and interactive environment that departs from the usual white-wall gallery setting. Reclaiming the metaphorical “Grill” dominated by white cis-men, Gxrl on Grill takes on a feminist curatorial mission of selecting artists that use food in non-traditional ways to open up the world of art/food/performance. 

Food, a material so familiar and often comforting, becomes charged through performance and manipulation. It can turn into a visceral and almost disturbing experience while simultaneously referencing subjects like the body, sexuality, family, culture, and place. Food, used in the ’70s as a vehicle for feminist performance art and sexual expression, has become more prevalent in contemporary performance and video. Gxrl on Grill Commemorates and continues the legacy of recently passed performers and food practitioners such as Carolee Schneemann and Suzan Pitt. 

Co-curators Alison Pirie and Christina Dietz are New York-based video and performance artists who use food in their practices to explore themes related to the female body. Initially connecting on social media over their shared love of food and performance, the artists decided to create Gxrl on Grill as a series of video and live performance events to meet and showcase other artists working with food. Their mission is to provide a platform for artists and viewers often excluded from traditional spaces and to explore how food, when charged by performance, can start discussions and foster community.