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The first thing you will ask when you see the screenprinted tortillas (yes, you read that right) being made into tacos on Cherokee Street next week is, “what do those designs taste like?”
Like nothing, explains Firecracker Press head honcho Eric Woods. Woods, in collaboration with artist Kim Wardenburg, is using natural, flavorless dyes to print cool designs onto the flour tortillas. The brightly colored wraps become part of a three-taco meal called the "Printmakers' Special," on sale in front of the Carniceria Latino Americana grocery store (2800 Cherokee Street at California Avenue) from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 18.
The designs, in images and text, tell stories of residents of Cherokee Street. “We asked people who live and work here questions like ‘Is language a barrier? What’s your favorite aspect of Cherokee Street? What was your first impression of Cherokee street?’” explains Woods.
The answers, in various interpretive forms, were cut into silkscreens, and the tortillas are silkscreened outdoors next to the taco cart, so you can watch the whole process.
Believe it or not, Wardenburg, a graduate of Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, has made silkscreening designs onto bread something of a specialty.
“She has also silkscreened stories collected from Palestinians onto pita bread,” explains Woods.
The Cherokee Street tacos come with your choice of chicken, pork, beef, and possibly tongue and fish, says Woods.
The dinner coincides with the big SGC International Conference for printmakers in town, and at the same time, just down the street, Firecracker Press will display metal typefaces that were cast and designed in 19th century St. Louis, and feature a one-night-only performance of the band “Manual Feed,” consisting of musicians using printing presses in operation to make percussion-based music.
Ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-…
