Avocados. Acrylic on unstretched canvas, 24 x 24 inches by Sarah Atlee.
The first time I cut open an avocado, I was about 5 years old. My dad built up the suspense by telling me this was the fruit wherein "God made a mistake!" What mistake? I wanted to know. He showed me the seed inside, explaining that God had made it way too big.
I can't say I mind the oversized seed inside this oversized berry. Removing the seed (using the pleasing knife-strike-and-twist maneuver) reveals a void so obligingly concave that it's just asking to be painted.
In India it's called a butter fruit, in Taiwan a cheese pear. The English epithet alligator pear was corrupted from its ancient Nahuatl name ahuacatl. I call it my favorite afternoon snack.
Sarah's Happiness on Crackers
1. Slice one avocado in half lengthwise and remove seed 2. Using a large spoon, scoop the two halves out of the skin and into a bowl 3. Drizzle with EVOO and balsamic vinegar 4. Add cracked pepper to taste 5. If you're me, take a photo of these beauties 6. Mash (if desired) and enjoy on crackers
Or are you hankering for guacamole? Illustrated Bites has a simple recipe, along with a handy visual guide for slicing avocados.
Update: Like your chips & dips more on the surreal side? PESFilm has an alternate guacamole recipe for you.
Read more about the avocado on Wikipedia.
See Avocados in Person
Avocados will be available for purchase in February 2015 at Ro2 Art in Dallas. Join us for a two-person exhibition featuring Sarah Atlee and James Isaac Zamora. Contact Ro2 Art for more details.
UPDATE: For Real has been reviewed by Jenny Block for The Huffington Post! Read the full review here: "A Hyperrealism That Questions Reality With James Zamora and Sarah Atlee at RO2 Art"