The Rice Pavilion

Launch party

By Jennifer Drury

Saturday August 11th was a very important day for artists of The Edible Construction Company - their public art intervention The Rice Pavilion had reached the end of its first stage.  The artists Emilia, Chris and Guyan, celebrated the occasion with a specially invited group of funders, supporters, volunteers, family and friends.

The Rice Pavilion is certainly a stunning sight and a wonderful achievement for those concerned.  The project has been two years in the making and has involved much planning and preparation.  But of course sometimes there is a difference between plans and practicalities, and the artists have had to mix very early mornings with late nights to keep the project to schedule.

This public art intervention is intended to raise awareness about world use of food resources, and it certainly has generated much discussion amongst visitors to the Jubilee Library.  How we measure values in art and aid is certainly a very valid question. But in the case of Rice Pavilion we have the best of both worlds.  When it is deconstructed the rice will be distributed to children worldwide by the charity Feed the Children.  Art and Aid - what a terrific combination.