By Claire Kohl
Genevieve La Valle and Alyson O’Hara pose next to “A Feast for Your Eyes” at their studio in Mainframe Studios, Des Moines, IA.
Ingersoll is known for its variety of dining options, but for a few weeks this winter – visitors can also find a different kind of feast along the corridor.
Des Moines artists Genevieve La Valle and Alyson O’Hara are the creators behind “A Feast for Your Eyes,” the whimsical turkey dinner projected on the east façade of 2925 Ingersoll Avenue as part of the Ingersoll Projector Showcase.
The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand sat down with Genevieve and Alyson to learn about their motivation for the piece and the construction process. Although Genevieve and Alyson share a space at Mainframe Studios, this was the first art piece they have collaborated on.
Indulging the senses on Ingersoll
“As creative people, every aspect of our life – we want to be beautiful and like visually interesting, and I think the fact that she titled it ‘A Feast for Your Eyes’ kind of speaks to that, like (as artists) want to indulge all of our senses at the same time,” said Alyson.
“When I think of Ingersoll, it’s gathering, food, drinking, hospitality. There’s a lot of communal places on Ingersoll to gather and eat, so I think that’s why I thought this would particularly fit well in (the Ingersoll Projector Showcase) project,” said Genevieve.
Hosting, food, and gathering around a table are huge parts of Genevieve’s identity and a way she connects with her family and friends. For Alyson and Genevieve, projecting “A Feast for Your Eyes” to the public on Ingersoll Avenue is a way to remind viewers of how special it can be to connect with loved ones over meals.
Construction of the feast
Close-up of the constructed salad for “A Feast for Your Eyes”.
Impressively, “A Feast for Your Eyes” is both the most hyper-realistic papier-mâché artwork Genevieve has created and her first attempt at constructing food.
“I call myself a textile and fiber artist, but I’m also interested in 3d forms, just generally,” said Genevieve said. “I’ve just been really into papier-mâché, and I just got this idea that I wanted to make fake food made out of really inexpensive materials that I just had at home.”
The trompe-l’œil food was made from sustainable, second-hand materials: paper, joint compound, water, flour, glue and acrylic paint.
LEARN MORE: Ingersoll Projector Showcase artists & schedule
While Genevieve created the turkey dinner, filmmaker and photographer Alyson O’Hara brought the meal to life. ‘A Feast for Your Eyes’ Alyson to try something new: stop-motion.
“I think bringing in the stop motion element just enhanced some of the playfulness of the piece… We decided we wanted each piece to move on its own, as if it had its own life,” said Alyson.
“A Feast for Your Eyes” projected on the east façade of 2925 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA.
Genevieve and Alyson’s decision to have a seamless arc in their video art submission drew inspiration from curtains opening, scenes performed, and curtains closing in a theatrical production. Similar to theater, the video shows food placed on the table, wine poured, and then food removed.
Looking forward to the future
Genevieve expects to work with hyper-realistic papier-mâché more in the future.
“This is just sort of a catapult to what else is possible,” she said.
Alyson has had a love of stop motion since she was a child and has long wanted to work with it.
“Stop motion can be extremely time-intensive, so this was a great introduction,” she said.
Genevieve and Alyson are proud to share their artwork with the public on a street they love until February 19. Special thanks to Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design, 2921 Ingersoll, for sponsoring the honorarium for selected artists.
Artist Contact Information:
- Genevieve La Valle: Instagram Link & Portfolio Link
- Alyson O’Hara: Instagram Link & Portfolio Link
