‘Back of the House’ art exhibit honors kitchen workers with one-day show in Bluffton

A unique summer art exhibition celebrating the often-unseen heroes of the food industry will take place Monday, July 14th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Restaurant Equipment Company of Bluffton, located at 1 Sherington Drive.

Titled The Back of the House, the one-night-only show features artwork by South Carolina artists who spent the past six months documenting life behind the kitchen door — including dishwashers, line cooks, pastry chefs, food truck operators, and others whose work typically goes unnoticed by diners.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Guests will enjoy live music by South Carolina bluegrass band Flatt Silly, complimentary refreshments, and the chance to view paintings, drawings and photographs portraying commercial kitchen life. Art will be presented in a range of media, including oil, acrylic, pastels, pen and ink and photography.

The idea to host the exhibit at Restaurant Equipment Company of Bluffton (RECOB) came after an artist approached the business with a proposal to showcase artwork depicting culinary professionals using equipment sold in the store.

“Was it a hard sell? Nope,” Danie Connolly recalled. “Once I explained that the exhibition could introduce a new audience to RECOB by having a talented group of South Carolina artists depicting the everyday life working with the exact equipment RECOB sells... [they] were in.”

RECOB opened in Bluffton 15 months ago when five longtime salespeople from Restaurant Equipment Company of Savannah — William Chavis, Carlton Parker, Lonnie Harley, David Dougle and Jeff Carey — purchased the business from its founder and relocated operations to a larger 14,000-square-foot facility. They were joined by Cynthia Cravey, who has remained a key part of the company’s customer-focused approach.

The event is intended as a tribute to the people who “create the magic” in kitchens and food service operations — from fine dining restaurants to food trucks and school cafeterias.

For more information, contact danie.connolly@yahoo.com.