Tastefully South Jersey

FAIN: PY-258723-18

Perkins Center for the Arts (Moorestown, NJ 08057-2725)
Karen Boelter Abdul-Malik (Project Director: June 2017 to March 2021)

Three digitization days and one culminating exhibit of the materials gathered to showcase the historical and cultural foodways of South Jersey residents, to include the tools, recipes, and cookbooks they use and preserve among their families, along with an interactive storytelling concert. The digitization events would be hosted in three different counties in South Jersey, at the Burlington County Library, the Gloucester County Library, and the Homestead Youth Association in Camden County. Staff of the Folklife Center at the Perkins Center for the Arts, the lead organizer, would partner with other local organizations in the tri-county area—the Haitian Society of Willingboro, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in Glassboro, the Polish American Society, the Caribbean Festival Organization, and the Boys and Girls Club of Camden—to encourage participation among the region’s diverse communities. A digital data curator from Rutgers University Library and a folklorist and foodways professor from Goucher College would advise the project team in planning and implementing the events and exhibit.

Tastefully South Jersey Family Heritage Preservation Project and public programming explores culture through the lens of food traditions in three southern counties of New Jersey. An event will be held in each county for community members to preserve heritage artifacts such as recipes, foodways tools, photographs, documents, and pottery through digitization. Communities targeted through fieldwork are West African influenced and Southern African-American, Dominican Republican, Haitian, Cuban, Polish, Ukrainian, Turkish, Mexican, Peruvian, and Guatemalan. The project includes audiovisual documentation of stories and contextual information. Participants receive a free digital copy. Permission will be requested to exhibit digitized items at the culminating exhibition, shared on our website and be housed in New Jersey State Libraries Digital Collections. The project explores topics on the importance of foodways in expressing identity, maintaining community cohesion, and performing ritual.

Media Coverage

South Jersey Food Traditions to Be Explored at Perkins (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Tammy Paolino
Publication: Courier Post
Date: 1/2/2018
Abstract: The funding — a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Common Heritage Grant and a New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) Incubation grant — will support a "Tastefully South Jersey'' art exhibition and a workshop series.
URL: http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/eat-my-words/2018/01/02/south-jerseys-food-traditions-explored-perkins/997173001/

Perkins researching what gives South Jersey its flavor (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Kelly Flynn
Date: 1/17/2018
Abstract: Perkins Center for the Arts is gathering stories and artifacts about food cultures from around the tri-county area.
URL: https://moorestownsun.com/perkins-researching-what-gives-south-jersey-its-flavor-430abc13e00f

Associated Products

The Prosperity of Heritage: Federal and State Agencies Fund Tastefully South Jersey Project (Blog Post)
Title: The Prosperity of Heritage: Federal and State Agencies Fund Tastefully South Jersey Project
Author: Karen Abdul-Malik
Abstract: Perkins Center for the Arts is the proud recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Common Heritage Grant and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) Incubation grant for our Tastefully South Jersey Exhibition and Workshop Series. Tastefully South Jersey is an exploration into folk art and culture through the lens of food traditions in Burlington, Gloucester, and Camden. The three-county engagement will celebrate diverse food arts through African American, Eastern European, Latin and Caribbean cultures. The project is conducted by the Folklife Center at Perkins Center for the Arts.
Date: 12/06/2018
Primary URL: http://perkinsarts.org/new-year-prosperity-federal-state-agencies-support-tastefully-south-jersey-projects/
Primary URL Description: Perkins Center for the Arts Folklife Center Blog
Blog Title: The Prosperity of Heritage: Federal and State Agencies Fund Tastefully South Jersey Project
Website: www.perkinsarts.org

Grantee Spotlight WFDU 89.1 (Radio/Audio Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Grantee Spotlight WFDU 89.1
Writer: Karen Abdul-Malik
Director: Bob Mann
Producer: NJCH
Abstract: This radio segment features Folklife Director, Karen "Queen Nur" Abdul-Malik of Perkins Center for the Arts discussing the Tastefully South Jersey Exhibition, including conducting fieldwork and research for the project.
Date: 11/18/2018
Primary URL: http://https://njhumanities.org/grantee-spotlight-montclair-state-university-perkins-center-arts/
Primary URL Description: New Jersey Council for the Humanities Radio Station archives.
Format: Web

South Jersey Food Traditions To Be Explored (Article)
Title: South Jersey Food Traditions To Be Explored
Author: Tammy Paolino
Abstract: Article highlights Perkins as a recipient of the National Council for the Humanities awardee of the Common Heritage grant and discusses upcoming project plans.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: http://https://amp.packersnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/eat-my-words/2018/01/02/south-jerseys-food-traditions-explored-perkins/997173001/
Primary URL Description: Courier Post is local newspaper in Camden County, New Jersey
Access Model: Open
Format: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Courier Post
Publisher: Courier POst

Heritage Days Promo (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Heritage Days Promo
Writer: Karen "Queen Nur" Abdul-Malik
Director: Karen "Queen Nur" Abdul-Malik
Producer: Michael Clay
Abstract: A short promotional video shared on social media and Perkins Website to encourage participation in Heritage Days
Year: 2018
Primary URL: http://https://youtu.be/xyb0kqR1I1s
Primary URL Description: Perkins Center for the Arts Youtube Channel
Access Model: Open
Format: Video

Tastefully South Jersey (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Tastefully South Jersey
Writer: Karen Abdul-Malik
Director: MIchael Clay
Producer: Perkins Center for the Arts
Abstract: Video documentary of 12 featured artisans. Artisans participated in oral history recordings and had tradition heritage items digitized.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: http://https://youtu.be/j5_q_-uK28c
Primary URL Description: Perkins Center for the Arts Youtube Channel
Secondary URL: http://https://youtu.be/j5_q_-uK28c
Access Model: open
Format: Video

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