Tuscan Cafe, 141 E. Main St, Downtown Northville

Maria Latour – Livonia, MI

Maria Latour has a BA in Art History and a BFA in Fiber Art from the University of Michigan as well as a Master of Fine Art degree from Arizona State University focusing on both fiber and clay. Maria has taught youth and adults  at the Northville Art House since 2015. She is the lead instructor for the Art House's Summer Art Camps and After School Art Program in the Northville Public Schools.

Maria's newest series of mixed media and encaustic works feature vintage cookbook pages and food imagery, making the connection between the creativity of cooking and making art. 

"Recently I've become interested in the lives of previously unknown family members on my father's side, especially, my grandfather I never met.  I discovered my father's father was a chef in France who immigrated to Chicago and then moved to Detroit. My dad shared my grandfather's interest in cooking. Growing up my father loved to create with food, he collected every issue of Gourmet Magazine and often tried out new recipes.  After his death I found an extensive cook book collection as well as several "how to" drawing and painting books with passages underlined and detailed notes in the margins.  However, every one of dad's sketchbooks had the pages ripped out; he destroyed every attempt he made at creating art.  I realized he dreamed of being an artist but the only creativity he shared was in the kitchen, cooking for us." - Maria Latour

On view March 28 - June 5