Jon Gray - “The Plate is a Passport”
Shownotes
ON THE COUCH's first-ever guest is Jon Gray — co-founder of Ghetto Gastro, the Bronx-born collective that uses food to spark conversations about culture, race, power, and belonging. Jon calls himself “the dishwasher,” but his work has moved from the block to the museum to the boardroom, merging food, art, fashion, design, and music into a cultural movement. What many people don’t realize is that Jon doesn’t think of food as his product — he sees it as his medium, using it to tell stories that will make you rethink every meal you've ever eaten. In this episode, he’s seated on a foam couch by John Chamberlain — the perfect setting for a conversation about making art from everyday materials.
Follow our host: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrafairweather/
Follow our guest: https://www.instagram.com/ghettogray/
Stay up-to-date with the John Chamberlain Estate:
- Follow the John Chamberlain Estate: https://www.instagram.com/johnchamberlainestate/
- To learn more about the work and mission of the John Chamberlain Estate, visit: https://www.john-chamberlain.com/
- Media inquiries: [email protected]
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Timestamps:
00:20 Introductions
1:51 Origin story of Chamberlain’s Shelter Island studio
2:51 Jon’s early discovery of art
4:32 Jon’s dream place to live
7:20 G SPOT, Jon’s new gallery project
9:29 How to make museums more accessible
11:17 Jon reflects on his residency at The Met
13:38 How Ghetto Gastro came to be
17:54 What’s next for Ghetto Gastro?
18:21 The Bronx in three words
19:26 Jon’s riskiest early-career moves
22:23 How the matriarchs of his family influence Jon’s work
24:57 Chamberlain's work as a hairdresser in the Motown era
26:48 Jon on being honored by the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
28:00 Little-known stories from Chamberlain’s early life
29:07 The best meal of Jon’s life
32:53 The unique history of gumbo
35:03 The legacy Jon wants to leave
39:51 Chamberlain’s restaurant on Shelter Island
40:47 Jon teases his new concept on sushi
41:32 The best piece of advice Jon received in his youth
42:08 Making art that’s hard to define
45:52 Bringing back play
47:00 Lightning round questions
48:35 Outro & Credits
Stay up-to-date with the John Chamberlain Estate:
- Follow: https://www.instagram.com/johnchamberlainestate/
- To learn more about the estate’s work and mission, visit: https://www.john-chamberlain.com/
- Media inquiries: [email protected]
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