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CWC-JACKSON ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF COLLABORATIVE COOKBOOK

CWC-JACKSON ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF COLLABORATIVE COOKBOOK

A female culinary student slices a loaf of bread in a kitchen

Central Wyoming College-Jackson is proud to present Inspired Kitchen, a work of art which combines the talents of local culinary, visual and written artists into a beautifully written and illustrated cookbook. To showcase Jackson’s artisan culture and creativity, selected pieces from the cookbook will be displayed in the Center for the Arts theater gallery Oct. 20-Nov. 5. A public art opening celebration on Friday, Nov. 2 at 5:30 pm, will feature these works of art, antique kitchenware loaned by Joni Upsher, Susan Ericksen-Meier and others along with refreshments crafted by the culinary art students. Cookbooks will be available for purchase, the proceeds of which will support community cooking classes and dinners, CWC scholarships and program development.

Inspired Kitchen features original recipes from CWC’s culinary arts students, graduates and instructors. The book includes insights into what inspired their creations. Paired with the recipes is artwork by three local artists: Jenny Dowd, Cal Brackin and Jocelyn Slack, and a local writer, Connie Wieneke, who spent time in the kitchen with the students to gain inspiration for their illustrations. The goal of this project is to recognize the mutual creativity in the arts while establishing CWC-Jackson as Jackson’s hub for the culinary and traditional arts.

We strive to inspire educators to integrate the arts into their educational programs to engage students in project-based learning. ”

The exhibit and opening will be during CWC’s annual Jackson Hole Culinary Conference which hosts secondary instructors from Wyoming and outlying school districts in Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Montana.  Inspire is the theme of this year’s Jackson Hole Culinary Conference and will host a presentation about this project-based approach of integrating the visual and culinary arts. The JH Culinary Conference was established six years ago to provide much-needed education and training to regional culinary instructors and aspiring chefs.

“We want to thank our partners, Wyoming Lodging Restaurant Association Education Foundation and Wyoming Department of Education,” Madera said.

The Inspired Kitchen project was conceived by Susan Durfee, director of Central Wyoming College-Jackson and Madera, with the goal of building culinary inspiration, creativity and education in the region.  

“We intend this celebration to inspire and create an appreciative and thriving community through food and arts,” Durfee said.

Proceeds will benefit CWC scholarships and programming as well as community cooking classes which feature demonstrations of nutritious food preparation with ingredients provided by the local food bank and rescued food by local resort chefs. These spring classes are offered in collaboration with One22, JH Food Cupboard and Hole Food Rescue. In addition to collaborating with individual community members, CWC-Jackson also supports the goals of the Wyoming Lodging Restaurant Association, Wyoming Department of Education, Teton County School District, Hole Food Rescue and Vertical Harvest. The creation of Inspired Kitchen is supported through generous grants from the Wyoming Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Center of Wonder’s C-3 grant program, Arts for All! grant and 4JH Jackson Hole Lodging Tax.

About Central Wyoming College

Central Wyoming College is one of seven Wyoming community colleges with the main campus located in Riverton, Wyoming and a branch campus located in Jackson, Wyoming. Central Wyoming College-Jackson serves the needs of the local community by offering affordable, quality education. Classes are available to upgrade job skills, train for technical careers, prepare for bachelor’s degrees as well as non-credit classes that enrich lives.

Flagship programming in Jackson includes an accredited culinary and hospitality program that has an impressive 100 percent employment rate upon graduation. This degree is uniquely tailored so that students gain real work experience through internships and become a part of Jackson’s local business community during the high tourist seasons. CWC also offers excellent nursing and health science programs.

For a full list of degrees, certificates and classes available in Jackson, visit www.cwc.edu/jackson/jackson-credit-programs/