Culinaria Opening: Drinks by Leah Brown (Angel Face) at the new Art Bar by Ben Sanders
Curated by Blake Shell
Saturday, September 22, 2018, 6 – 9pm
Photos by Sam Gehrke
A multi-colored circular art bar designed by Ben Sanders will open during the exhibition reception. Sanders is a multi-disciplinary artist who was a co-founder of Happy Hour Agency, a Los Angeles based collective, which built interactive installations that came to life as fully functioning secret cocktail bars. Leah Brown from Angel Face, one of Portland’s finest cocktail bars, will serve as the bartender in residence for Culinaria 2018-19. Brown will craft unique cocktails to be served during the opening reception as well as at future Culinaria dinners and happy hours.
Ben Sanders (b. 1989, Arcadia, CA) received his BFA from Art Center College of Design and went on to co-found Happy Hour Agency, a Los Angeles-based collective that builds interactive installations/fully functioning secret cocktail bars. His work is heavily influenced by food culture and traditions and has been exhibited internationally and commissioned by clients including Nike, Dropbox, and Bloomberg.
Leah Brown is the manager of one of Portland’s finest cocktail bars, Angel Face. She specializes in classic cocktails, and all things rum and mezcal. Leah participates in cocktail events, and holds classes on liquor history, individual spirits, and cocktail development. Leah Brown was born in 1991 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She has a scientific background, researching Glaciology, Limnology, and Marine Ecology internationally, and received her Bachelors of Science in Geography from Portland State University.