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In the May 2008 issue of canvas magazine, writer Elyce Neuhauser’s thought-provoking article entitled “Conscious Consumption” has had a particularly strong impact on my relationship with food.

Food is a subject that borders on obsession with me, and from the proliferation of cookbooks, culinary magazines and newsletters, and cooking shows (not to mention an entire network) that exist, I know I’m not alone. We foodies are everywhere—virtually all regions and cultures share a common interest in what we consume, and have put their own spin on creating concoctions out of essentially the same general categories of ingredients. There is an unmatched level of pride and personal identity attached to food, which interestingly is a common thread spanning the globe throughout history. Food defines us, whether it’s what we cook, or what we choose to eat.

I spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about food: cooking, eating, reading and writing about it, watching it being prepared (I can’t get enough of Giada or the Barefoot Contessa and yes, I’ll admit that while reality TV is not usually my cup of tea, I’m hooked on Top Chef, too). Dinner is a main topic of conversation with my husband, and when we are eating we tend to talk about what the next meal will be. Add the fact that my brother is a chef to the mix, and you can imagine what my conversations with him revolve around, too.

But despite all this attention I pay to this humble subject, Elyce’s article shed new light onto my fixation: how often do I really savor each bite? Focus on the flavors, textures, aromas, colors of what I’m eating? Truth be told, unless it’s a particularly delicious dark chocolate truffle—which I’ve always eaten in tiny bites, letting each one melt on my tongue until fully dissolved—I really don’t pay as much attention to my food while consuming it as I do thinking about it the rest of the day. So thanks to her, I’m actually taking more time to enjoy what I’m eating. Just now, for example, while writing this blog, between sentences I’ve been sipping a particularly delicious cup of Darjeeling tea, forcing myself to stop and really taste it rather than simply swigging it while I type. It starts off flowery, then gets deeper and stronger as it passes over my palate, then has a lingering finish that leaves such a pleasant, delicate herbal flavor behind.

Have you ever noticed that no two cups of tea taste exactly the same? Or have you ever wondered, as I have, about how we all can follow the same exact Toll House cookie recipe and no two person’s version ever tastes the same?

Do you obsess about these things, too? We’d love to know what your relationship with food is. Do you eat simply to put hunger at bay, or take time to plan your meal, and truly focus on it while you eat it? We want to know! Please post your comments below.

-Diana Murphy, canvas editor in chief

Saturday was the Artists Reception and Opening of our Eco Art Exhibit. The works are phenomenal, the crowd was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and supportive. Once again we renewed old connections and made new canvas connections. If you didn’t get a chance to see let us know and come to check it out - You won’t be disappointed! You can see some photos of the works here Eco Art taken by Alex Wolff of Alex Wolff Photography. Cherie Via of Ripe Art Gallery did a fantastic job curating the show, we’re very proud to host it. Whole Foods Market once again provided great treats for the approximately 100 attendees.

Tom Pellicane - Publisher, canvas Magazine

Kermit the Frog coined the phrase “its not easy being green.” He’s right!

Through out the morning already I’ve seen news casts about Earth Day, special sections in print publications about Earth Day and being “green.” I’ve seen ads touting various companies’ levels of greenness. When I worked in the Hispanic market I witnessed the same phenomenon when the 2000 census was released extolling that Hispanics were the largest minority in the U.S.

Before Hallmark or Corona take over Earth Day, like they have other holidays such as Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo, I want in. Maybe I can develop a corn syrup beer bottle that when you’ve finished drinking your six back you can unroll the bottles, flatten them our and have a preprinted sentiment card on the inside. Or maybe in honor of Earth Day I can develop straws that are planted standing up in the soil after use and morph into a tree.

Don’t get me wrong—I think Earth Day is an important day, but as a teenage young lady in my church said this past Sunday, “we should think about the Earth every day, not just on Earth Day.” The intent of Earth Day was just that: to spark a movement and concern about the earth. Not to spark an interest in commercialization and hijacking of another day on the calendar by big businesses looking to make a buck.

Mind you this is not a rant. It’s an observation; it’s a plea to them, to all of us.

We are asked all the time if canvas is a “green magazine?” To the questioners dismay we say NO! Green is part of who we are. It’s not what we are. We try to employ practices to the best of our ability to limit our footprint and help others limit theirs.

Every day, each of us should try to make an effort to lessen our footprint. Why? It’s a step in the right direction, and we have an obligation to do so. As much as I would like to have their Earth Day ads appear in canvas, we shouldn’t need Hallmark, Corona, or any other company to remind us about protecting the Earth, we have a moral responsibility to remind ourselves.

Happy Earth Day!

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

I don’t like chain emails and I generally delete them before I even read them. I wish I didn’t receive most of them. However today my wife sent one that really touched me, it brought a tear to my eye. The subject is patriotism the email is below. What powerful images what a powerful message. Theres a line in the email that says wear blue “…until the troops all come home…” For me that can’t be soon enough.
Tom Pellicane - Publisher, canvas Magazine

International Picture of the Year
Here are two very touching photos honored this year

First Place :

First Place Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey’s body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

Read the rest of this entry »

Artists have been loading in for our Eco Art Show all week. They have some great pieces!!! It’s going to be a great time for those that come, we’re adding music for the opening to compliment the art. The opening is April 26, 5-8pm open here for the invite eco-art-show-opening.pdf

It will be a great opening and we couldn’t have put this show together without the efforts of Cherie Via of Ripe Art Gallery, who curates the canvas Gallery for us. A show this large and working with a small company like canvas can be a challenge at times. Thanks Cherie for putting together such a cool, yeah I’m old, show.

Tom Pellicane - Publisher, canvas Magazine