Rhynie Woman
Cooking the Landscape
2014
The Rhynie Woman is an artist collective formed by Deborah Beeson and Daisy Williamson, who are based in Rhynie, a small town close to Huntly. The collective create food based events as a way of framing an investigation into local heritage. Their creative approach to hospitality provided us with sustenance for both the mind and body throughout the year of 2014.
Rhynie and the surrounding Strathbogie area is steeped in history: Rhynie Chert, Rhynie Man, Tap o' Noth, pictish and neolithic sites and Alexander MacKay to name just a few references. Through an investigation into local food heritage, the Rhynie Woman question how food can be used to re-engage with a landscape and its history?
The Rhynie Woman's project explored local social history through hospitality; using food as a means of bringing people together—through a 'field to table' approach, utilising foraging, honouring local food, traditional recipes and celebrations—to create a platform which promoted dialogue, skill sharing, and the exchange of ideas. As a starting point they looked at the heritage of food in our geographic area: local food sources, longevity and preservation, as well as portable methods of preparation and delivery.
The Rhynie Woman created a series of food "pop-ups" in Huntly, Rhynie, and elsewhere, which ran alongside Deveron Arts' curated projects throughout the year. Their extremely inventive and resourceful approach to food, and to event hosting, helped us continue our investigation into hospitality: What does it say of the host when served stinging nettles for tea; hidden inside a cream cake, their threat to sting ones tongue still present, lurking.
