kitchen comics

PI Kensinger created a new elective, GDES491: Kitchen Comics in Spring 2024. The goal of this course was to introduce Intangible Cultural Heritage to GDES and VCUQ students and to cultivate an interest in Design & art for Cultural Preservation using comic narratives, co-mentored by Leland Hill and the Comics Lab. Kitchen Comics was a success. Including a field-trip and food tour of Souq Waqif and student led presentations to Liwan. The class culminated in an exhibition that part of Liwan’s Open Day in Fall 2024. On display were postcards and books from 17 VCUArts Qatar artists & designers showing their personal narratives and connections to different spices. The works highlighted intangible and tangible heritage through oral histories and personal narratives of each spice, including recipes, rituals, feasts, celebrations, superstitions and grandmothers’ advice.