Campuses:
The grocery lists and dining tables of people around the globe are the subject of a provocative exhibit called “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats,” which runs until next May at the Bell Museum of Natural History.
Based on the national best-selling book by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Alusio that explores the dinner tables of families around the world, “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats” combines mesmerizing photos with hands-on displays that explore issues of food in the 21st century —what people eat, how much it costs and where it comes from—as well as learning how different cultures approach the growing and processing of food and eating it.
The Bell Museum’s exhibit focuses on 10 cultures, many with ties to Minnesota, and lets visitors “shop” for global produce from world markets and track that food as it travels from field to fork. The exhibit features special sections on the rise of fast food culture, the evolution and history of food plants, current and ancient agricultural methods and the practice of raising and eating meat.
Menzel’s large format photos of outdoor markets, restaurants and kitchen tables from around the globe also provide the backdrop for displays of real food products. Museum visitors also can contribute photos of their own family dinners for posting on a digital display within the exhibit.
Every Thursday evening during the exhibit’s 26-week run, the museum will host a range of provocative programming on the topic of food — from panel discussions on food-related topics in the news, to presentations by university experts and local food gurus, to tastings of locally produced foods and beverages. Thursday evening programming is free with museum admission.
The Bell Museum is located at 10 Church St. S.E. in Minneapolis.
