Pass The Plate
This interactive centers the exhibit around a shared meal that unites the history of the food on the plate with the real-time pleasure of gathering around a table to eat. We share four iconic African American meals to life to show how these food traditions evolved. Every part of the tablescape visitors touch reveals an aspect of that meal’s journey to the plate in an engagingly non-linear way–napkins unfold to reveal ingredient maps while glasses empty to show images of key people in a meal’s history.
Visitors see the hands that deliver their meal, giving them the sense that they’ve pulled a seat up to a communal table where the story is larger–and more nourishing–than the sum of individual ingredients.
A monumental quilt by the Harlem Quilters Guild anchors the exhibit. We echo its bold colors, eclectic collaging, and heirloom-quality thoughtfulness across the exhibit to create a visual design that, like cooking a meal, lovingly and beautifully combines disparate elements to elevate the whole experience.
Honoring the African roots of American cuisine
Awards
2023 Communicator Award
Distinction: General-360 Brand Experience
2023 Muse Award
Silver: Experiential & Immersive
2023 Telly Award
Bronze: Museums and Galleries - Immersive, Interactive, & Mixed