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Food Network Star Paula Deen Inspires ‘The Real Women of Philadelphia’

Jenny Drumgoole
Jenny Drumgoole Photo: Jenny Drumgoole

Jenny Drumgoole, a Philadelphia-based multimedia artist whose work integrates photography, performance, video and actions inserted into the real-life public, debuts The Real Women of Philadelphia tonight at the Levy Gallery at Moore College of Art. The exhibit features her video-based performances that revolve around a recipe contest sponsored by Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Paula Deen, where contestants submitted videos via the web. “I’m not really a Paula Deen fan and I don’t care about cream cheese,” Drumgoole told Grub Street. “But a lot of my work is about food and the idea of heroes and celebrities.”

Drumgoole explored these subjects in earlier works, one of which she posed as a Wingette — the typically scantily clad woman that escort competitors to the stage — at Philly’s annual Wing Bowl. The Paula Deen fixation that runs through the series of sometimes hilarious and sometimes disturbing videos stems from her mother’s appreciation of the Food Network star and desire to have her autograph a cookbook. Drumgoole’s exhibit at the Levy Gallery will feature nine video submissions to the recipe contest, including one where she makes a talking Rambo cream cheese mould, plus a music video inspired by the contest and some other surprises. “It’s crazy because it’s basically a year of my life,” Drumgoole said. “A year of trying to get that cookbook signed.”

The Real Women of Philadelphia opens tonight and runs through March 15. Watch the video below.


Food Network Star Paula Deen Inspires ‘The Real Women of