Closed Loop Cooking Weekly Newsletter 2.17.23

February 17th, 2023Hi friends,Thinking on the rise of art activism and the importance of creative work for a sustainable future. As an impressionable youth launching my high school’s poorly attended eco-club, I wonder how the validation of #ecotok could have improved our numbers. (If you’re new here, I was *terribly* cool in school.) Accessibility of a now-familiar movement could have drastically changed social patterns, but in the spirit of circularity–we’re in the revolution now. It warms my tepid heart to see the resiliency of today’s makers, creating art for art’s sake. Aesthetics that support sustainable livelihood and a conscious existence.It took me many years to fully understand the power of this work, diving into plant-based, low waste media. And I’m grateful for the understanding that this drive to make is central to monumental shifts. So to all my fellow artists, creatives, makers, questioning the worth of your practice–it is INVALUABLE. Keep creating and sharing thoughtful, slow work because those ideas will carry us.and as always,Stay hungry,Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

Scrap Supper, circe 2019.

The dish >>

• Portland food friends - tickets are live for the Winter Waters Scrap Supper relaunch, Saturday Feb. 25th! Testing dulse + chocolate babka tahini as we speak. 

• Ruth Reichl’s Food and Country documentary is premiering at SXSW, an intimate look at our nation’s food producers during covid.

• Would absolutely take a dozen purple cabbages over 12 red roses, next time Valentine.

• V excited for Cherry Bombe’s newest podcast launch - The Future of Food with Abena Anim-Somuah. 

• Salty sweet squash seed granola is on my mind. Hot from the oven, it’s a perfect cold weather warm up or not-so-secret late night snack.

• Olfactory dinner. Don’t make me give up my spaghetti water food candle.

• Reminder.

On the farm with Zumwalt Acres. 

Essay by Maia Welbel.This week, we wanted to share some beauty and inspiration from visual artists we admire, who also share our passion for the wellbeing of Planet Earth. We hope it brings some hope and delight to your day. --

I took my first dance class at three years old and basically never stopped. Dance as a physical practice and an art practice has threaded throughout my whole life, for better, and at times for worse. The classical disciplines in which I was trained attempt to regulate and take possession of one’s body. Rejection is constant. Competition between peers is expected. All this led me to a relationship with the artform that, by the time I was in my twenties, felt more adversarial than fulfilling. There came a point at which I wanted to actively unlearn the oppressive aspects, and decouple them from the creative nourishment that kept me coming back to the studio all this time. 

(I don’t rely on dance as a source of income and those who do unfortunately often don’t have the privilege of embarking on this journey, but that is an essay for another day). Central to my work was recognizing how much the creative process energizes me. Not just the completion of a project, but the making of art for art’s sake. By moving away from self-doubt and comparison, I could focus on what I wanted to express and what brought me joy as an artist. 

In 2021, I joined the team at UneARTh Arts Collective, an organization that seeks to support creatives whose work is in conversation with the climate justice movement. We’ve collaborated with makers of all mediums from all over the world, all of who share our belief in the ongoing necessity of art amidst environmental crisis. The time I’ve spend engaging with this community has only deepened my conviction that it is so. 

At the risk of being nauseatingly cliche, I will say that art really does bring people together. And if there’s one thing we need to bring about a livable future on this planet, it’s collective action. Humans are motivated by beauty and intrigue. We’re moved to act by emotion. And perhaps more pertinent here — we derive pleasure and vitality from creating things and sharing in the creations of others. 

I know I’m not alone in feeling deeply, existentially exhausted by the past few years. And with countless global injustices competing for our attention, it’s hard to think of art as a priority. But as cynical as we all can sometimes be, I know the work of artists is essential. Whether it’s going to a dance class, or building a movement phrase, or reading a novel, or visiting a museum, I’m always reminded of the galvanizing and unifying effect of creative expression. 

Press ReSet - UneARTH Arts Collective

Burcu Koleli

Burcu Koleli is a visual artist and freelance illustrator based in Washington. Her painting and illustration is inspired by intersectional eco-feminism and celebrates women and nature. We love the vibrant colors and peaceful vibes of this jungle lady.

Sol Weiss

Sol Weiss is a queer visual artist and cultural organizer crafting mixed media art that explores land, justice, tradition and mysticism. They work as an illustrator, graphic designer and facilitator, using ritual, art, song, creative strategy and experiential education for healing and cultural change. Appreciating the salt of the Earth energy throughout this piece. 

Erin Wallace

Erin Wallace is a first-generation Chinese American illustrator and artist living in Seattle. Her work floats between the cute and whimsical, with notes of flowers and food and rainbows. This delightful kimchi print is as bright and zingy as the real thing.

Nancy Pappas

Nancy Pappas is a freelance illustrator, designer, and South Korean adoptee based in Brooklyn, New York and Seoul, South Korea. Her approach to her work is the result of her travels, filled with connection, culture, and food. Every one of the gorgeous vegetables in this painting look good enough to eat!

Nicole Kelner

Nicole Kelner uses watercolors to communicate complex, systematic challenges in climate and present them in a beautiful and accessible way. We’d like to live in this environmentally responsible utopia, please.

Taehyoung Jeon

Taehyoung Jeon is an Illustrator and printmaker based in Seoul, South Korea. This gorgeous, psychedelic inspired print is giving major foraging vibes.

Hawnuh Lee

Hawnuh Lee is the founder / editor of Closed Loop Cooking. A self taught chef her illustration work is inspired by regenerative practices, vibrant palettes, and what's for dinner. Inspired by these *must touch dirt* feels.

Thank you to all our incredible artist contributions! And hey, if the creative juices are flowing — please send us your artwork (kitchen experiments definitely included)! We’d love to know what keeps you creating.

A call to action for Portland, OR residents around environmental railway safety.

Newsletter read prepping 5-minute hemp seed mylk for aforementioned granola...

Love this newsletter? We do too. Share the love with a friend y’all <3

CLC might make a small commission from links in this newsletter. So we can keep crafting rad content for free!

>> New here? <<

Have an idea we should feature in the newsletter? Want to work with us? Drop a line at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see what y’all cook up next! #closedloopcooking