70 x 7 The Meal Act XLV, Harewood House
Date:
2023
Materials:
Table setting for 200 guests, Royal Limoges porcelain plates (Ed 200), printed canvas table runner (Ed 50m)
Dimensions:
An open-air lunch in the grounds of Harewood House
Exhibition history:
2023 Harewood House, Leeds, UK
Courtesy:
Lucy + Jorge Orta, Leeds 2023 Year of Culture and the National Lottery Heritage Fund
70 x 7 is one of Lucy + Jorge Orta's most celebrated projects. From biodiversity and environmental themes to the security of food supply chains, the Meal brings these conversations to enact change. Each Meal is actively shaped by the local community through workshops that discuss the importance of food and the rituals which surround it.
The 45th activation of 70 x 7 The Meal, Act XLV at Harewood House brought together 200 people from across Leeds and was devised with representatives from the diverse communities surrounding Harewood. This act is inspired by the artists' Seed Manifesto, drawing from the metaphor of cultivation, growth and life cycles. Seed dispersal is the key motif of the newly commissioned edition of Royal Limoges porcelain plates (ed.200) and the table runner, which is printed with images and text collected from the community engagement sessions. Inspired by the manifesto, art students from the University of Leeds designed the napkins, and the menu prepared by students at Leeds City College as part of the concurrent workshops.