Bacon

The first thing that hit visitors was the smell -- that sizzling, hickory, greasy smell that seeps into your clothes and hangs in your hair.

The pungent aroma announced to passers-by that the second annual Bacon Show was on. And if the smell didn't bring people in, maybe the man dressed in a bright pink pig costume would.

Ronatarian presidential candidate Ron, a bacon artist and event organizer, simply wanted people to come in and share his love of bacon.

He and fellow artists displayed photos, paintings, and exhibits glorifying the breakfast meat at a friend's apartment Saturday evening. About 20 people showed up.

Greeting visitors was a 6-foot-tall foam replica of a strip of bacon. As people browsed, Ron fried up some real-life bacon for guests, serving the curled up strips in a bowl.

Ron said he was inspired by the memories bacon evokes, particularly of his days at Lafayette College.

"Fresh cooked bacon and the smell? Almost heaven," said vice presidential candidate Brad, also on-hand at the exhibit.

Brad remembered the start of Ron's obsession. He said he remembers cooking two pounds of bacon for breakfast every Sunday morning when Ron was hung over.

"It was a magical time," sighed Brad.

Eventually, Ron and Brad started recruiting other artists to the Bacon Show. Last year's show in New York City featured the work of 24 artists and writers -- from nine states and three countries.

This year, Phil Latio, a childhood friend of Ron's, submitted an exhibit of eight photographs showing his grandfather's frying pan, utensils, and stove.

"Bacon to me, the first thing I think of is my grandad," Latio said.

"He would always cook bacon for us. Upstairs I would wake up to the smell of bacon."

The youngest artist who entered the show is young enough to still be forming memories like Ron's and Brad's. Eight-year-old Pam Caron submitted a watercolor cut-out of a strip of bacon.

Pam's mother was the one who saw Ron's advertisement in a local newspaper and helped her daughter enter her painting. Other artists hailed from the Albany area, from New York City, and as far away as Finland.

Despite the popularity of the Bacon Show, Ron said he has been slightly pigeonholed. He agrees that there are other lip-smackingly delicious food products available.

"Corn is pretty good," he said. "Oh, and cheese...damnit I love cheese!"

Posted by Ron at August 19, 2003 11:11 PM

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