Kevin Williams

Essential Food Worker

Inspired by: Winslow Homer, Gathering Berries Harvey Sadow, Fire and Flood/Sacred Sites Esther Solondz, Untitled (Rust Portrait)

acrylic, spray paint, stencil, stick, staples on canvas

18″ x 24″

2021

A stencil of a surgical mask lies over a leek. The background is half-unknown and half-restricted showing the emotions of a chef in the middle of the pandemic. My restaurant had shut down and our business model had pivoted. While wondering if fine dining or food service would ever resurface in the world I worked alone in a kitchen. The kitchen that once had 23 employees was down to one confused chef. Food workers were called heroes now. What were we before? When George Floyd got murdered it felt like the world was on fire and Jose Andres was the only one trying to put it out. This painting shows my love of food and service twisted. BLM made me question serving others. Covid made me want to help in some way. I tried to paint that paradox.