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Recipes for Life: The Cultures of Food in Okinawa exhibit is open through February 8 at the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery

January 29, 2025

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Live cooking demonstration alongside the art exhibit.
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Keiko Tsukayama, a teacher of traditional Ryūkyūan cuisine, with Cowell Provost Alan Christy.
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The Recipes for Life: The Cultures of Food in Okinawa exhibit is now open, offering visitors a unique exploration of Okinawa's culinary traditions and cultural heritage. Sponsored by the Okinawa Memories Initiative, the Humanities Division, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the exhibit runs through February 8, 2025, culminating in a closing reception from 2–5 p.m. on February 8.

Okinawa, now one of Japan's 47 prefectures, has long been shaped by diverse influences from East and Southeast Asia. This blending of cultures is often described by Okinawans as champuru—a word derived from their signature stir-fry dishes, symbolizing openness, a sensitivity to environmental diversity, and an embrace of cultural differences.

Guided by Keiko Tsukayama, a teacher of traditional Ryūkyūan cuisine, the exhibit highlights how Okinawan food has developed across three key settings: hospitality, ceremony, and daily life. Visitors will discover how food plays a role in welcoming guests, honoring ancestors, and maintaining health—reinforcing the idea that food is not just sustenance but also "medicine for life" (nuchigusui).

Alan Christy, provost of Cowell College and director of the Okinawa Memories Initiative (OMI), emphasized the exhibit's role in deepening understanding of Okinawan food traditions. "This exhibit is about more than just food—it's about history, resilience, and identity. Okinawan cuisine carries the stories of generations, shaped by the island's unique environment," Christy said. "At OMI, we see food as a way to connect with the past and understand the present, especially as Okinawans navigate the rapid changes brought by industrialization and globalization."

This immersive experience invites guests to reflect on their relationship with food and its power to nourish both body and community.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore Okinawa's rich culinary traditions before the exhibit closes!