Food for Thought is an artwork about gratitude, labor, and community. It honors the people who grow, prepare, and share our food, from farmers and farmworkers to market vendors and restaurant staff. Through a black-and-white comic-book style scene, the installation invites viewers to reflect on the care and effort behind every meal.

We created this piece with a deep sense of appreciation and concern. Many families in our local communities continue to struggle with food insecurity, and Food for Thought brings attention to that reality. The artwork is built in part from actual cans of food, symbolizing both the need and the hope of nourishment. These cans will be donated to a local food bank.

The farmers who grow our food also work under incredibly difficult conditions. Long hours in the sun, physically demanding labor, and often sub minimum wages are part of their everyday lives. We intend to recognize their strength and dignity, and value the hands that feed us.

Food for Thought was created by Master of Fine Arts Graduate student Elisabeth Koss with Bachelor of Art students Ari Granados, and Laura Rubin – three artists from San José State University collaborating together under the umbrella of the Fung Collaboratives. We are grateful to the San José State University Art & Art History Department for providing a special grant to assist with this installation. The artists will post times when they will be present to invite visitors into the Art Kiosk to fully experience Food for Thought.