1. a list of the dishes served at a mean; bill of fare; Ask the waiter for a meny.
2. the dishes served.
3. any list or set of items, activities, etc., from which to choose; What's on the menu this weekend--golf, tennis, or swimming?
4. Computers. a list of options available to a user, as displayed on a CRT or other type of screen, i.e. a start menu
current collection...
>>10 menus (one wedding cake brochure, 9 restaurants)
my thoughts...
I've been collecting menus from local food places since the start of the school year since I wanted to remember all the places I've eaten at and what foods I liked (which is why a couple have highlight marks on dishes). I will be framing by installation with either a wooden or cardboard gateway-like structure with the title "Hungry?" on the top and an open start menu listing the restaurants/places the menus are from. Hanging from the top of the structure will be panels or pieces from the menus. The structure will be set on a table covered in a white tablecloth to mimic tables at restaurants.
On the table there will be five vertical sections. The center section will feature a laptop towards or up against the wall showing videos of people ordering from the menus or reading off the menus (making them human menus!) and will run continuously. Below the laptop towards the middle-front of the table will be a food sculpture, perhaps of sushi (since I really like sushi) with a sculpture plate and chopsticks, all made of clay or perhaps other materials. The surrounding four columns will begin with a hanging drawing on the wall of a person with the menu, perhaps holding the menu or having the menu down on a table while the person holds a spoon and fork (as if to eat the menu itself). The subsequent standing pictures or drawings will be of the individual unfolding the menu, and at the foot of the section will be the menu itself. Dispersed on the table with be plastic cutlery (spoons, forks, sporks, knives, etc) and I want to either spray a food scent on my installation or bring in strong smelling food to add a smell dimension to my project.
materials...
[ ] menus (at least 15)
[ ] cardboard/wood (gate-like structure)
[ ] string or yarn (hanging menu pieces)
[ ] paint
[ X ] paper and drawing tools
[ ] foam core
[ ] plastic cutlery
[ X ] scissors (cut menus, yarn, etc)
[ ]tablecloth
[ X ] laptop (better speakers maybe?)
[ ] clay
[ ] camera (to take picture and video)
[ X ] table (I will just use one of the classroom tables)
[ ] cardboard/wood (gate-like structure)
[ ] string or yarn (hanging menu pieces)
[ ] paint
[ X ] paper and drawing tools
[ ] foam core
[ ] plastic cutlery
[ X ] scissors (cut menus, yarn, etc)
[ ]tablecloth
[ X ] laptop (better speakers maybe?)
[ ] clay
[ ] camera (to take picture and video)
[ X ] table (I will just use one of the classroom tables)
Hi Jay. This sounds interesting. I think, in order to keep the piece streamlined and sophisticated, it will be important to keep in mind the idea of menus in every aspect--while making the sculptural elements, while choosing the text that goes along the wood structure... Also, it might be interesting to think about: what other ways do you choose and order. Maybe there are other texts or objects or experiences in your life that resemble menus but are not usually thought of as menus?
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