From Produce to Production: New Traditions in Bay Area Food Culture, Sat, Feb 19, 2011 — With so many fields relying on technology and invention for progress, the food culture in and around San Francisco is largely connected through notions of preservation. And in the Bay Area, 'preservation' is more than just canned goods and dried fruits. From the ecological activists who strive for sustainable agriculture, to the local homesteaders who work to preserve their own heirloom produce, the landscape is rich with foodies dedicated to preserving both environment and tradition. In this first BAN6 conversation, YBCA welcomes three local food luminaries, Bryant Terry, Leif Hedendal and Novella Carpenter, to shed light on the culinary culture around us. Bryant Terry is an eco-chef and activist from Oakland whose work and writing reconciles contemporary thinking with old practice. His recent book Vegan Soul Kitchen re-examines soul food traditions with innovative recipes and political grace. Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City, is a journalist and farmer, who for ten years has been transforming her Oakland vacant lot property into a flourishing urban environment. Leif Hedendal is chef and founder of Dinner Discussions and Secret Dinners, Bay Area culinary events which combine art and food. About BAN6 Conversations: The unusual concentration of intellectual curiosity and creative energy in the Bay Area has fueled experimentation and innovation in a number of fields that have had significant impact on contemporary culture. For the sixth anniversary of our triennial — Bay Area Now 6 — we highlight six areas of influence — Food, Futurism, Community Activism, Radical Identities, Environment and Technology — through a series of roundtable conversations hosted by YBCA between February and June of 2011. Various 'experts' have been invited to participate in a public conversation with the BAN6 artists and YBCA curators. The public is also invited to observe and participate in a broader post-event conversation with the artists and guest speakers.