Exhibit opens

Chocolate grenades and aprons from various decades dating back to the 1940s were just a few of the things visitors experienced at the opening ceremonies of “Key Ingredients, America By Food,” Saturday.

The traveling Smithsonian Institute exhibit, currently calling Eastern New Mexico University’s Golden Library home, celebrates food and how it has shaped American culture. It also deals with how the food we eat and the way it is prepared and processed has changed over the years.

The exhibit and the events surrounding it are co-sponsored by ENMU, Roosevelt County Extension and the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce.

Poppy Renvall-Johnson who started out as one of the organizers of the events surrounding the exhibit’s visit was called back to her native British Columbia before the plans were complete but she was in town for the opening and said the events on slate surpass her hopes.

“I would say that is a result of the amount of hard work on everyone’s part,” Renvall-Johnson said. “Everybody was so receptive and easy to get to volunteer. I really felt like I needed to come back and be with all the people I love.”

People began browsing the panels of the exhibit even before even co-chair Connie Moyers, ENMU President Steven Gamble and Portales Mayor Orlando Ortega Jr. cut the ribbon.

“Anytime we can partner with the Smithsonian is a good day, in fact, it’s a great day,” Gamble said as the exhibit opened. “We think ‘Key Ingredients’ will be a wonderful six weeks for us.”

Coinciding with the opening of the exhibit was the opening of an ENMU student art show titled “Food Poisoning.” To be included, student’s pieces had to have some connection to food. Art student Wesley Canada had to massage that limitation a bit to get her piece, titled “Cheeto.” which won second in the juried show.

The interesting, smooth wood sculpture resembled a Cheetos cheese snack but Canada admits she didn’t start out to create a Cheeto, instead she gave it that name to get it into the show.

“It was just a design with spirals and upward motion,” Canada said. “I really liked the piece and wanted to get it in the show so I named it Cheeto.”

Another show-stopping creation, meant to be consumed was a large bowl full of realistic looking hollow chocolate grenades made by Greg Senn. The grenades were passed out to patrons as indulged in a variety of appetizers provided by members of the Family and Consumer Science Department at Eastern. Decorated cake, created by Marge Blatnik was also served.

“I love it because it’s very beneficial to our department,” said FCS student Andrea Neufeld as she went through the appetizer line. “Through it (Key Ingredients) we hope to get our name out there and let people know what we’re all about. We’re excited to share this with the community.”

Upstairs was an exhibit of aprons and bonnets from local homes, showing the styles through the decades.

Rebecca Gossett, a student in ENMU’s FCS Department gave a demonstration of recipes using sweet potatoes.

“The programs are what is going to bring everybody together,” Renvall-Johnson said. “It’s like food — it brings us all together.”

The exhibit continues through April 4 with events planned each week.

This Week's Events:

Today

• 7 p.m. Movie and Discussion: “Like Water for Chocolate” Rated “R”

Location: Golden Library, Room 141

Monday

• Display of second and fifth graders food art pictures, library foyer,

Schools: Portales, Texico; Farwell

• 7 p.m. Free movie “Ratatouille” Rated “G”

Location: Golden Library, Room 141

NM Ag Expo Feb. 26-27

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Roosevelt County Fairgrounds

Tuesday

• 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Presentation and Exhibit: “Antique and present Peanut Digger/Harvest Machinery”

• 11:00 “Eat Smart Cooking” Cooking school with samples

Location: Jake Lopez Building

• NMSU Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum and Chuckwagon

Cooking & Samples, ongoing

• Antique tractors and farm equipment exhibit, ongoing

Wednesday

• 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Presentation and Exhibit: “Antique and present Peanut Digger/Harvest Machinery”

• Antique tractors and farm equipment exhibit, ongoing

Thursday

• 7:00 p.m. “Our Gift from Spain: How Mediterranean Plants and Foods Came to New Mexico” Slide Presentation.

Location: Golden Library, Room 141

Friday

• 7:00 p.m. Portales City Library, meeting room. Introduction of One Book: One Town — “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.”

Saturday

• 1:30 p.m. Tours - “Early History Food and Food Procurement”

• Tour: Blackwater Draw Museum

• Tour: Blackwater Draw Archaeological site

• Tour: Miles Anthropological Museum

Location: Meet at Golden Library Lobby