Alison Miller

Alison Miller is a fine art photographer based in Virginia Beach. Her series, Food for Thought: Origins, explores the symbolism and significance of food in the American culture.  In imitation of Renaissance and Dutch paintings, she depicts American “staple foods,” understanding that depicted food is symbolic of the country from which it originated.

Food for Thought: Origins explores American culture through its cuisine. This project was inspired by conversations with my children about how heritage and traditions are not only passed from generation to generation but have adapted to conform to society standards.

I have curiously observed that much like the American individual, majority of the cuisine has heritage stemming from other countries and cultures. In realizing how young America actually is and with quick technological advancements, several aspects of life, including meal rituals have had to keep up.  Think about it, mealtime is not quite the same as it was a century, a decade, or even a few years ago as our daily routines were disrupted during the pandemic.