Food, Photography, Gardening: Meet the Dynamic Artist & Chef Melina Hammer
Not to mention metalsmith, writer, stylist- what can't she do?!
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Hello dear readers! Thank you for being here. I am writing to you from the coolest room in my house, my bedroom. My husband, pup and I live in an old ‘historic’ house which offers a lot of lovely charm and also means that our air conditioning is located just on the top floor of our two story home. On the hottest of summer days, we all end up spending a lot of time upstairs (Zadie is curled up at my feet currently snoozing away). Today marks the summer solstice, the brightest, longest day of the year. What an abundant time it is, when everything pops in bloom and color and is bathed in the long lasting light. Solstice time is a time of new beginnings, an opportunity to leave behind what is no longer serving or lighting you up. It is a time to embrace what brings excitement, adventure and inspiration. What are you shedding on this longest day of the year, in order to embrace what wants to grow forth? What internal creative fire are you feeding?
Personally, I’ve been moving through so much transition over these past few months (as have so many others I know!). A project I had devoted myself to for over a year suddenly fell away, and it took a few months for me to find my footing again. Now I can say with a real sense of groundedness that I am feeling the awakened potential of new opportunities before me. Not to mention the incredible growth, knowledge and skill I learned by going through a difficult process. Often (if not always) life doesn’t turn out as we think it will, and I have become more and more comfortable with allowing the unknown mystery, taking it to be my ultimate guide with curiosity and trust. Really deciding to surrender to the unknown is actually just believing in magic, isn’t it? Who doesn’t want a magical life?!
Speaking of magic, and beauty (which i think the two go hand in hand)- I am excited to introduce you all to the incredibly talented Melina Hammer (
). I had the honor to meet Melina a couple of years ago when my husband and I stayed at her home Catbird Cottage in upstate New York. Melina cooked us some incredibly BEAUTIFUL meals and showed us around her dreamy garden. I’m so excited to share her story with you here. Please feel free to leave any questions and/or reflections in the comments below.
In your own words, can you tell us what you do for a living?
I am a cookbook author and chef, and with my husband, I host travelers from near and far at our home, Catbird Cottage in the Hudson Valley, NY. I also lead foraging and cooking classes for all ability levels, and have worked as a food stylist and photographer for Row 7 Seeds, Food52, and The New York Times, among others. Hosting for over 5 years, we have sought to offer guests a restorative, nourishing respite from the fast pace of current living rigors. A great benefit of doing so has meant we are building more humanity. Guests almost always add my curated 3 or 4 course seasonal dinners to celebrate their stays. These meals are an adventure in dazzling, layered eating. I harvest the best from my wild landscape and gardens and create ferments, breads, syrups, pickles, and many other staples to preserve the season, and transform them into dynamic dishes. Linking everything together is the joy I experience when I spend time in nature. The more I can weave nature into my daily life and share its layers with others - knowing how much it's impacted me - the happier my life becomes.
When did considering yourself an 'artist' begin for you? Did you feel like an artist as a child, or was it something that you came to when you were older?
From a very young age, I made things. Both of my parents were creative: drawing, painting, producing photography, and making things. I was always encouraged in that way, too. My mother enrolled me in weekend ceramics classes from the age of 8 or so, and I can positively say I've always gravitated to physical making.
What is your favorite medium/artform to create with?
These days it is definitely food, paired with capturing food in images. I have also fallen in love with growing foods, and flowers of many kinds. I often marvel at plants in their stages of growth - how a plant evolves so it can proliferate, how particular growth habits define how a plant must be cared for, the glee-filled discoveries of first blooms and ripened fruit. Creating in this way has also brought me closer to the human stories of heirloom ingredients, as well as specific flavor (or textural) traits I want to add to my dishes. When I was producing A Year at Catbird Cottage, I grew so much: there was the months-long process of testing the recipes which made it into the book, which involved deciding why they were relevant and what they added. Then came the equally long process of creating a rhythm through the pages, capturing scenes over the seasons, and trying to highlight various dishes in a way that could offer meditation - or leap off the page - or compel someone to make a recipe. It was one of my favorite projects ever! Much later after the book had been published, it was a special affirmation to win the IACP award for the most beautiful book of 2023, given that I'd styled and photographed it myself. I've since begun my newsletter, Stories from Catbird Cottage. It carries the same stories forward in how life is now in a monthly format, with delicious discoveries and recipes that highlight the season's magic.
How did you first get into the work that you do? How would you describe your niche, and how did you find it?
After briefly attending an Ivy League university (I did not think I would become an artist for my career at that time), I decided to pivot and apply to art school. There, I studied metalsmithing and graduated with a BFA. When I graduated I pursued metal work as a gallery artist - I loved creating elaborate, slow process-driven pieces that were inspired by ancient cultures and mythology. It was only after a move to post-9/11 NYC - a far less creative moment in a once great city - that I found myself continuously making compromises to be able to do my work. Over time, those trade-offs didn't add up. After a hard look at my possible future, I pivoted to become a food photographer, naively thinking a brief background in fine art photography, my general art background, and my love for food could carry me. After creating some pretty bad work initially, I found my "voice" and have drawn out that vision ever since.
Do you have a mentor? If so, how has that support helped you get to where you are now?
When I began this new career, I didn't have discernment. I worked in some niche, trend-setting restaurants so I was exposed to exotic ingredients, but I was no cook. At the time, I didn't understand the differences between heirloom ingredients and polished up (often literally) supermarket fare. As I explored food photography and styling I came under the wing of two greats in the world of food, and found myself being mentored by Betty Fussell and Jon Rowley. Betty is a multi-time author who brought farm-to-table eating into focus before it was popularized, and was a friend to Julia Child. Betty's eyes would glitter with delight as she described the joy in resourceful, elemental eating. She knew how to wring magic from scraps, and lauded how high quality, simple food could deliver immense flavor if we knew what to do, to coax forth satisfying groans. She helped me think about food in many ways I had not conceived of. Jon was also a friend of Julia's and in fact was the one to introduce me to Betty, at a special oyster dinner hosted by Chef Peter Hoffman, at his Savoy restaurant in Soho. Jon was a decades-long salmon fisherman, turned all-around food expert and consultant. He shared with me the incredible peaches from Frog Hollow Farm back in 2011 or so, which now are world-renowned for their gold standard fruits. He educated me about oysters and other seafood, showing me what truly fresh fish should look and feel like, and basically ruined me for anything mediocre ever since.
Who are some artists/creatives/change makers that inspire you?
I am grateful for many inspiring people in the world. For his unfussy and elemental food and intimate storytelling, I admire Nigel Slater. Alan Bergo, the Forager Chef, for his infinite and compelling vocabulary of wild foods. Sarah Owens for her expansive experimentation in sourdough and fermentation. From my earlier days as a metal artist, Andy Goldsworthy's lyrical artforms in nature and Tone Vigelund's timeless repetitive forms in metal sparked magic. For her fanciful, child-like stop-motion films crafted in felt, Andrea Love ("Andrea Animates"). And to lace in the perspective of everything being political, Bree Newsome for her fearless, critical read of the American empire, and Noura Erakat for her in-depth, sharp analysis of imperial power structures worldwide and the struggle for the people of Palestine.
When you are struggling to find your creative voice, what are some practices that bring it back for you?
I go out foraging, or into my garden. Doing either brings me into the present moment, my stresses recede, and I get reacquainted with discovery. In these moments, I almost always find a new idea - whether because I've just harvested something beautiful, or because the background stream of consciousness surfaces an idea I'd forgotten about, or something else inspiring emerges.
What advice would you give to someone trying to become a professional artist?
It has never been easy unless you don't have to think about money. The US doesn't support artists unless their work can be monetized, so it is essential to understand how to market yourself to be visible (and ultimately viable). I think we're in a moment of pronounced consolidation, and it is concerning. The two most obvious choices are: marry into money, or work a steady gig and pour yourself into your creative pursuits in the margins. A third option is to hope you can remain nimble without a safety net, and reinvent yourself as needed. As someone who chose the third option I am growing tired of having to reinvent myself, and wishing for more stability as I age.
Please tell us about what you are working on currently, and if there are any upcoming happenings/events/etc.!
I am always working on a variety of things. On June 29th I am hosting a hybrid workshop-immersive day called "Grow with Me". This experience offers people the opportunity to meander with me through Catbird Cottage gardens, learn the processes that have brought me success in growing food and flowers - as well as ways to identify wild foods on the landscape - and how to prepare them. The immersive day continues with a cooking class: we'll make a 3-course feast together, including the handmade cecamariti pasta from my book. The day culminates in a leisurely feast, getting to know one another better. Click here to sign up.
There is another very exciting event in collaboration with friends Hort & Pott on August 3rd, titled "Everlasting Mystique, a Feast in the Canopy". It will be an evening like no other. They are crafting a ceramics collection for people to eat from just for the event, concrete urns and forms to dot a fantastical floral scape which will surround guests, and other moody, late summer delights. I will be going all out, creating a 3-course family-style feast: it begins with a handmade cocktail and aperitivo hour, paired with delectable nibbles. As guests migrate to the dinner destination, they'll dine on a bountiful feast featuring the juiciest summer produce with lots of bright, zesty eating. More details and to reserve a seat, here.
At the other end of the spectrum, I've just launched a sandwich popup featuring some handsome homemade focaccias I've loaded with local ingredients, now available at a local specialty market. It's a way for people who aren't already familiar with my food to pick up something easy and delicious, and a delightful intro to how I see nourishment.
Please join me for more adventures! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram.
Current Inspirations and Musings…
Wiser Than Me has a new season out and I’ve been bingeing all the episodes with such joy (Gloria Steinem is a particular favorite episode). Listening to older women talk about their lives is so incredibly inspiring and humbling.
I just finished reading All Fours by Miranda July and am blown away by her writing and bold story telling around a woman moving through the middle of her life.
I have two new prints out in my online shop! Check them out here!
Little Gem Salad + Persian Breakfast Spread, 18x24" prints Happy Summer Solstice to you all. May the long light of this day help you to find the inspiration and energy to keep moving forward in abundance and love.
