Fish.taco.ponic is a mobile, living art installation growing many of the ingredients to make fish tacos. By showing one instance of a symbiotic relationship found in nature that is beneficial to fish and plants, fish.taco.ponic explores a "sustain-able" alternative for local food production in desert climates where water is scarce, but it also raises awareness about how food is produced and processed before reaching the table.
The first installation and performance of fish.taco.ponic took place on June 4 at Glasbox in downtown El Paso. With a minimum, but wide variety of ingredients, avid cook, Robert Ardovino and Christine Foerster served up a "fresh" take on fish tacos.
Fish.taco.ponic.II was integrated into the art and science curriculum of La Fe Preparatory School in Segundo Barrio, where, during fall, 2011, the fifth graders raised and cared for the fish and plants. See blog
Now, for fish.taco.ponic.III, in collaboration with Robert Ardovino, a group of the La Fe Preparatory School fifth graders will help harvest the tilapia and prepare mini fish tacos for tasting on the opening night of the UTEP Faculty Biennial on January 26th at the Rubin Center.
Fish.taco.ponic was made possible by an Idea Fund Grant and an Artist Incubator grant from the Museum and Cultural Affairs Department of El Paso. Special thanks to: Robert Ardovino and Ardovino's Desert Crossing, La Fe Preparatory School, Damon Seawright, Sasha Pimentel, DIY Aquaponics Forum, Juan Ferret, Eric Pearson, Dean Bannon, Norma Ojeda and José de Piérola