Karen and I visited the
Rice Show at Wesleyan University's Zilkha Gallery
yesterday. This is a very unique installation/performance by
Stan's Cafe ofBirmingham, UK. The exhibit consists of mounds of rice that depict the
difference between various statistics.
Interested in the number of people killed in Rwanda vs the number
of UN Peacekeepers deployed? The results are displayed as mounds of
counted rice grains. The displays are at times grime and sometimes
humorous but the best part is that at the end of the exhibit the
rice is donated to soup kitchens.
Or Children Soldiers vs children in a local school system? The exhibit
puts a graphic and physical sense to the sometimes mind-numbing
numbers we encounter as we sort through our own life priorities.
The huge pile in the rear left represented the number of viewers
for this seasons American Idol premier.