By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Western MA) The Rachel’s Table Teen Board is asking for submissions for ArtsFest21. This year, the submissions should explore the relationship between health and food insecurity. Between now and March 10 artists of any age can submit paintings, graphic art, poetry, songs, small sculptures, storytelling, dance, photography, or CANstruction inspired by the theme. The Teen Board has also partnered with the University of Massachusetts nursing students to create educational resources that build awareness to food insecurity. Artwork will be judged by a panel of community leaders and artists and will fall into categories of under 13 years old, 14-18 years old, and over 19 years old.
Rebecca Mitrani Marmor, Director of the Teen Board since August 2020, said she hopes this year’s theme will inspire awareness and change throughout the community.
“We hope that this will facilitate dialogue on how food insecurity and hunger can have detrimental health effects, and hopefully, will inspire some to continue learning and help to create change,” said Mitrani Marmor.
Mitrani Marmor said the relationship of racial and social inequality and food insecurity has come up in the Teen Board meetings and she hopes to bring further awareness to those issues in particular.
“Some primary struggles, in my opinion, in terms of getting food and staying healthy, are societal factors such as racism, classism, and unequal opportunity to nutritious foods. This, in turn, effects bodily health, and thus there is a resulting disparity in health conditions among majority black and brown populations. This is a societal issue and not an individual issue,” said Marmor.
CANstruction in particular turns function into art. Mitrani Marmor said CANstruction allows participants to set up a food drive and subsequently create a sculpture from the nonperishable foods that are collected. A photograph of the sculpture is then submitted for judging.
“There is so much power in art to make a difference, as viewing art can help raise awareness as well as educate others,” said Mitrani Marmor.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on the number of children in Western Massachusetts that have become food insecure, increasing the numbers from one in seven children to one in four. The disenfranchisement of certain populations and the lasting impact of food insecurity has made those populations more vulnerable to COVID-19, according to Mitrani Marmor.
“One clear way that we see food insecurity, health, and COVID-19 interact is the disproportionate way in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected black and brown communities. Black and brown people in the United States are more likely to experience food insecurity and other struggles due to social, economic, and political disenfranchisement. Food insecurity, as discussed before, has a direct effect on health, often leading to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, among other conditions.,” said Mitrani Marmor.
Submissions for Artfest 2021 can be submitted electronically here or by emailing Mitrani Marmor at rebeccam@jewishwesternmass.org. One submissions is permitted per artists and three winners will be selected, one from each of the three categories. A virtual ceremony will take place on March 21 to announce the winners.