ABOUT THE WORK AND THE ARTIST

During the pandemic, baking became something that many people did. In both Sweden and the United States, the debate over face masks was highly agitated. Vandenberg has been employed in phrases such as "home sweet home" as well as in issues related to migration and cultural heritage. In the history of his own family, the artist has a connection to Sweden and to the bread (loaf) that the relatives baked. Vandenberg has experimented with different sourdough recipes and come to master the baking art something that was necessary to be able to design the sourdough works with precision. This was possible through the meeting with Värnamo residents' bread stories, which also gave many other impressions for the artist.

Hösten 2019 hade Melissa Vandenberg möjlighet att besöka Värnamo för att genomföra ett konstnärssamtal samt även för att orientera sig i stadens dynamik och historia. Det gav konstnären möjlighet att knyta an till olika personer som hon skulle arbeta med då hon återvände sommaren 2020. Arbetet låg klart men i mars 2020 tog Region Jönköpings län beslutet att på obestämd framtid skjuta på projektet. I juni kom beslutet om framåtrörelse igen, men då som ett hybridprojekt. Konstnären fick delvis tänka om igen. Vad skulle fungera i den nya tiden? Delar skulle utvecklas lokalt och annat i dialog med Melissa. Under sommaren trycktes vykort upp som bjöd in Värnamobor att dela av sina brödminnen. Dessa utgör nu ett arkiv och installerades tillsammans med gestaltningar av Vandenberg. Verken är gjorda i blandtekniker där garn och knäckebröd samt fotografier av de säregna brödmaskerna.

Melissa Vandenberg lives in the state of Kentucky, USA, where she also works as a professor of art. She would have worked in Värnamo during May-June 2020. Instead, the country and the world were shut down due to the pandemic. A reality that we all had to relate to. The interpersonal distance that DISTANCIO revolves around was given another bottom, created by what came to be called social distancing.

Exhibition: Blickfånget, Gummifabriken Värnamo, Sweden

Period: October 22 - November 22, 2020

Further reading about the process and the artist >>>

ABOUT THE WORK AND THE ARTIST
During the pandemic, baking became something that many people did. In both Sweden and the United States, the debate over face masks was highly agitated. Vandenberg has been employed in phrases such as "home sweet home" as well as in issues related to migration and cultural heritage. In the history of his own family, the artist has a connection to Sweden and to the bread (loaf) that the relatives baked. Vandenberg has experimented with different sourdough recipes and come to master the baking art something that was necessary to be able to design the sourdough works with precision. This was possible through the meeting with Värnamo residents' bread stories, which also gave many other impressions for the artist.

Hösten 2019 hade Melissa Vandenberg möjlighet att besöka Värnamo för att genomföra ett konstnärssamtal samt även för att orientera sig i stadens dynamik och historia. Det gav konstnären möjlighet att knyta an till olika personer som hon skulle arbeta med då hon återvände sommaren 2020. Arbetet låg klart men i mars 2020 tog Region Jönköpings län beslutet att på obestämd framtid skjuta på projektet. I juni kom beslutet om framåtrörelse igen, men då som ett hybridprojekt. Konstnären fick delvis tänka om igen. Vad skulle fungera i den nya tiden? Delar skulle utvecklas lokalt och annat i dialog med Melissa. Under sommaren trycktes vykort upp som bjöd in Värnamobor att dela av sina brödminnen. Dessa utgör nu ett arkiv och installerades tillsammans med gestaltningar av Vandenberg. Verken är gjorda i blandtekniker där garn och knäckebröd samt fotografier av de säregna brödmaskerna.

Melissa Vandenberg lives in the state of Kentucky, USA, where she also works as a professor of art. She would have worked in Värnamo during May-June 2020. Instead, the country and the world were shut down due to the pandemic. A reality that we all had to relate to. The interpersonal distance that DISTANCIO revolves around was given another bottom, created by what came to be called social distancing.

Exhibition: Blickfånget, Gummifabriken Värnamo

Period: October 22 - November 22, 2020

Further reading about the process and the artist >>>

DISTANCIO has been developed in collaboration with the cultural administration (alternately): Cecilia Gustavsson, Gro Knutsen, Lars Alkner and Region Jönköping County: Mike Bode and Märit Lundsten. Curator: Anna Viola Hallberg. Collaboration also took place with Värnamo Hembygdsförening, Historiska Sällskapet Gamla Wernamo.

Comments to slide shows:
1. Melissa Vandenberg's work series Breadworm , photography ( sourdough, cotton ribbon). Complete info, download to-do list.
2. Melissa Vande Berg's works series crispbread , mixed media, crispbread, embroidery yarn. Complete info, download to-do list.

3. Installation pictures from Blickfånget, Gummifabriken October 21, 2020

4. Invitation card to share bread memory. The cards were in various places in the public space and were also handed out by summer working young people. During the exhibition, the collection of memories continued: bread, Värnamo and Covid (integrated among Vandenberg's works)

5. The rubber factory and the road to the gallery The eye-catcher installed with Värnamo 100 years, with the works (Värnamo 100 years + cottage on crispbread) made by Gro Knutsen (curator (and Eva Thörn (assistant to the artist) and collected material on three themes: Värnamo 100 years, Covid, bread )
6. Unpacking of works shipped from Kentucky Photo: Gummifabriken.