From STAFF REPORTS

VIENNA — “You’ll never think about food the same way again,” according to an advance press release concerning the Smithsonian exhibition, “Key Ingredients: America By Food.”

The traveling exhibition will debut in Vienna on Friday, June 27.

Vienna’s Historic Preservation Society, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and the Georgia Humanities Council will host the local showing of the exhibition.

Key ingredients delves into the historical, regional and social traditions that merge in everyday meals and celebrations of the American table. The exhibition will be on display at the Southwest Georgia Business Development Center beginning June 28 and continuing through August 9.

“Key Ingredients” is part of Museum on Main Street (MOMS), a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and The Hearst Foundation. MOMS is a national/state partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations.

Vienna not only was selected as one of twelve rural communities in the state of Georgia to host the traveling exhibition, but has the honor of being the first community to introduce the exhibition to the state.

“We are very pleased to be able to bring ‘Key Ingredients’ to our area,” says Janet Joiner, community development director for the City of Vienna. “ We hope that it will inspire many to become even more involved in the cultural life of their community.”

Curated by Charles Camp, “Key Ingredients: America by Food” explores the connections between Americans and their food traditions with an interactive collection of artifacts, photographs and illustrations. The food on the American table may not define exactly what the nation is, but the traditions surrounding American foods speak volumes about who the people are.

“A broad array of programs and local exhibits are being planned to supplement the ‘Key Ingredients’ exhibition adding local flavor by examining the food traditions and festivals of our own community and how these things help define who we are,” said Diane Couch, VHPS president. “Local exhibitors are still signing on, but here is a sampling of what we will have,” she said.

Food festivals in the area that will be featured include Vienna’s BIG PIG JIG State Barbeque Championship Cook-off, Cordele’s Watermelon Days Festival, and Warwick’s National Grits Festival.

Vienna native and contemporary artist, Jim Burton will have one of his paintings on display. “My work is most definitely about this struggle between my longing for this simple Southern life, the internal moral conflicts I feel with regard to certain aspects of the culture, and a sort of loving ‘poking of fun’ at the way I grew up,” Burton says.

In addition, a local youth group will demonstrate what they have learned about Georgia products from their visits to Jimmy Carter’s boyhood farm in Archery. Historic Westville in Lumpkin will have a display featuring popular foods & recipes from the 1800s.

One local food business, Stripling’s Sausage Kitchen, will also have a display. Stripling’s was named a finalist in the recent Georgia Family Business of the Year competition in the Small Category (fewer than 50 employees).