CAMPBELLS CANNED SOUP

The Campbells soup company was started in 1869 by Mr. Campbell.  It really took off when Mr. John J. Dorrence discovered a way to further condense soups, and then eventually took over the company.  After that, the Campbell company took heavily to the advertising business, becoming one of the most popular brands of canned soup even in the UK, where it was known as "bachelors canned soup".

A piece of Campbells soup in art history that is still strong in everyone's mind is that of Andy Warhall.  He took the labels off of many cans of soups, and arranged them in interesting patterns, creating one of his first silk screen creations.  

 

CORN

Corn is actually a grain, originating in South America.  After colonial settlers came to America, corn was brought back to europe as a diet staple.  Corn has to be rotated between growing fields, because of the way it depletes the soil.  The Aztecs revered corn as a holy food given to them by the gods of civilization.

Corn can be seen in the art of the Huichol people, native to mexico.  Corn is such an important part of their culture, that depicted in their art, their god of all gods, Takutzi Nakahue, is also the god that is specifically in charge of protecting corn.  

 PUMPKINS

Pumpkins are native to america.  Jack-o-lanterns were originally carved out of turnips for Halloween, but the pumpkin soon became more popular, because of its size, ease of carving, and availability.  Pumpkins are a gourd, even though the name translates to "large mellon".  Pumpkins can be cooked in a variety of ways, including being steamed, salted, sugared, or put in stews.

Pumpkins have been turned in to art for as long as the irish legend of "Stingy Jack" has been around.  The legend of Stingy Jack was the he went about tricking the devil, which angered him so much that the devil refused to take his soul when he died.  The legend says also that God, after seeing Jack trick the devil, decided that he did not want such an unsavory character in heaven either, which means that on hallows eve, the spirit of Stingy Jack wonders the world to cause havoc and play tricks, unless he is scared off by a face on a gourd or pumpkin or other vegetable with a face carved in it.  

                       

   POTATOES

Potatoes were discovered in America by the spanish, where it was brought back to Europe and became a staple food.  The played a major role in the European population boom.   Because of their lack of genetic diversity however, they are very susceptible to disease, leading to the Irish potato famine, which killed thousands of people and potatoes.

One of the most well known pictures in art history including potatoes was done by Vincent Van Gogh, called "The Potato Eaters".

ICE CREAM

Ice Cream can be traced back to the time of the roman emperor, where it was a favored treat of the emperor Nero, who specifically liked his ice cream to be topped with fruit.  The first ice cream parlor was started in New York in 1776.  Ice cream is made by literally icing cream and other flavorful ingredients, but continuing movement in it in such a way that it does not become a solid

"The ice cream dance."

Popsicles

 POPSICLES

Popsicles were accidentally created by a four year old boy,  Frank Epperson, who left his fruit juice out on his front porch with a stirring stick in it, where it then froze.  Eighteen years later, he patented the idea, and called it the Epsicle ice pop.  This then got shortened to the "Popsicle".

  TURKEY

 Turkeys DID NOT originate in turkey.  Turkeys are native to north eastern united states, and were chosen as a game bird because of their abundance. They are called turkey because of a mistake made by early colonial settlers, who thought the bird was a kind of guinea foul imported from europe, or turkey.

This is a boy eating a turkey sandwich!