SAMPLE: Food + Photography | School of Architecture Loft, 19 November 2005

In the immortal words of our dear Roman professor, Lorenzo Pignatti:   "Somehow... [the event] was so important and significant, that it increased the importance and significance of the city."

Of course, he was speaking of Rome.   We are speaking of Cambridge, and a little piece of Cambridge in fact;   a singular event in the life of the Grand House Student Co-op.   But if co-ops are meant to promote and provide a fertile space for the growth of community and the sharing of diverse talents and ideas, this was a significantly successful event for the Grand House indeed.   Judging from a sampling of conversations with community members, it was also an exciting and important event for students and citizens alike.

The loft in the School was transformed for one evening into something that felt halfway between a hip gallery opening and a summer street festival.   Fabulous aromas, upbeat melodies, and the hum of conversation filled the space.   Attendees browsed the curated exhibition of nearly two hundred student photos with glasses of wine in hand, sampling the tantalizing foods donated by a collection of local restaurants, and taking in the spicy rhythms of local musicians.

The photographs showed remarkable skill, and as a body of work, served as stunning evidence of the diverse world that students were able to find through their lenses, both locally and far abroad.The jury recognized ten exceptional photos and sent students home with prizes of cash and photography books.

We have a multitude of people to thank for their generous contributions, without which this event couldn't have been possible.

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The Credits:

The Curatorial Team, for being Thoughtful:

Don McKay - Professor at the School of Architecture and Photographer; Gary Siu - Graduate Student at the School of Architecture; Bob McNair - Photographer and Department head of Computing and Media; Sascha Hastings - Artist and Curator, Design at Riverside, Cambridge Galleries

The Restaurants, for being Tasteful:

Cafe 13; Elixir; The Melville Cafe; The Palette; The Riverbank Mill; Sensational BMD'S; Mostly Thai; Stephanie's Caribbean Cuisine; El Rinconcito Mexicano

The Musicians, for being Tuneful:

Drumming Magic; Clean Slate; Solmaz Zeidi and Bradley Paddock; The Children's Crusade; and Patrick O'Reilly for Organizing the Sounds

The School of Architecture, for being Empty, and willing to host the event.

Security, for being Helpful.

Attendees, and

Those who purchased prints, for their Enthusiasm.

Oh, and it was a successful fundraiser.