Starting October 23, MARCH (info@marchsf.com) in San Francisco is presenting “Bodegón,” an exhibition of Paulette Tavormina’s exquisite still lifes, inspired by the great 18^th-century Spanish painter, Luis Melendez.  The show opens October 23 and continues through December 15, 2014.

The new Bodegón, or “from the pantry,” series reimagines Melendez’s eloquent groupings of humble kitchen objects.  To create her dramatic images, Tavormina collects, creates, stages and photographs an assemblage of props, including fruits and other comestibles, at the peak of ripeness, evoking the still-life vernacular.

“I initially became intrigued by the rustic compositions, subtle color palette and passionate rendering of Melendez’s work,” said Tavormina.  “However, in researching this series, what eventually became so poignant for me, was the idea that the food he captured in his work, is food we enjoy 300 years onwards. The quince, melons, figs, cauliflower and chocolate, are delicious links to the past.”

Tavormina’s photographs are in museum, corporate and private collections and have been exhibited all over the world, including shows in New York, Paris, London and Moscow.  They have been featured in The New York Times, National Geographic, ARTnews and Martha Stewart Living.

Tavormina was the winner of the Grand Prix at the 2010 International Culinaire Photography Festival in Paris.  She lives and works in New York City.