Serving Up Platefulls of Art, an interview with Megan Fizell

A&L: Do you remember when you first started to pay attention to art and photography?

MF: I had a wonderful French teacher at school that used to incorporate art into our language lessons. Due to this exposure I began to study fine art during my final year which prompted me to enroll in an Art History course during my first semester of university. From that point on I never looked back and devoted all of my studies towards all forms of art.

My father studied photography at school and growing up I used to spend time with him in his darkroom and was completely mesmorised by the images appearing as if by magic. From these early experiences I have always had an interest in the medium.

A&L: Why are still-life paintings so important?

MF: I love still life paintings because they are so much more than a simple picture of a couple of apples. Often they are saturated with iconographic meaning and in the past were used to depict nationalistic pride. With food and cultural identity so closely intertwined the appearance of food throughout visual history is not surprising.

A&L: How would you describe your photographic style?

MF: Focus on light, clean lines, and symmetry. I work with a small depth of field setting to place the focus on the most important part of the composition.

Images provided by Megan Fizell.

MF: My favorite photographers are Aya Brackett, Marian Drew, Martin Parr, and André Kertész. Artists would have to be Edouard Manet, Frida Kahlo, and the paper cutting art of Peter Callesen.

A&L: Name three things that are always in your refrigerator.

MF: Seeded mustard, Byron Bay Green Jalapeno Chilli Sauce with Coriander, and dill pickles.

MF: My love of food is thanks to my wonderful roommate Cassie. She was always experimenting in the kitchen and I found myself wanting to learn. It helped that London has amazing restaurants and markets – I was a regular on Brick Lane haggling prices and negotiating free bottles of wine. I would give anything for a really delicious pot of clotted cream, the dairy here in Australia doesn’t compare.

A&L: What is your favorite music to listen to while cooking?

MF: I listen to a lot of jazz – Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald during meals but while cooking I usually have an episode of the Splendid Table on in the background.

A&L: You work part-time as a gallery associate in Sydney, run your own freelance photography business, Tres Jolie Studios, and publish a blog. Was it hard to learn the rules of business, while working, and blogging at the same time?

MF: I find that I struggle with balancing my time the most. More often than not, I spend more of my day than I would like in front of a computer, especially since I recently increased my hours at the gallery. I have to make a point to not blog or spend the evening focusing on my business and instead enjoy the beautiful Sydney summer.

A&L: Can you describe your typical day?

MF: I walk to work and spend the majority of my day working at the gallery hanging art, working on the website, and photographing new paintings. Depending on the weather I will either make a quick dinner and work on my own projects, researching and writing for Feasting on Art or processing images for Tres Jolie Studios, or head out for dinner with my partner and a quick walk down by the beach. At this point in my life I find that I never have enough hours in my day!

A&L: What is your favorite Feasting On Art recipe and why?

Enchiladas, Megan Fizell, photos displayed with artist’s permission.

MF: I had a hard time deciding my favorite recipe from Feasting on Art. It was between the coconut milk ice cream (inspired by my favourite Frida Kahlo painting) and chipotle chicken enchiladas. I finally decided on the enchiladas simply because it is the only recipe I have made more than once – it is my favorite winter dish and although I tend to add a bit too much chili, it is always disappears very quickly when I make it for friends.