Immortalize the Food You Love the Most

I met artist John Tebeau a few weeks ago when his wife, Colleen Newvine, interviewed me for the University of Michigan alumni magazine. Of course we talked about food, including fond memories of Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger, which has been an Ann Arbor institution since the early 1950s. When the conversation got around to discovering specialties and best places that serve them in a particular place, I suggested that one good way to do research was to ask someone who once lived there but no longer does, “What do you miss the most?” Colleen wrote this morning to say that the conversation helped inspire John to commence a project of 30 paintings in 30 days, the theme: “Things We Love to Eat and Drink.” John is soliciting suggestions: “What goodies would you like to see memorialized as art? What’s your favorite comfort food? Your most-loved childhood treat? If you moved away tomorrow, what local specialty would you miss the most?” If you have a favorite you’d like painted, you can contact John by writing to john@tebeau.com or by visiting his blog. Pop Corn, depicted above, is the first in the series.