Topical Cream is a New York-based arts organization supporting the work of women and gender non-conforming contemporary artists.
Topical Cream celebrates Gretchen Bender at Red Bull Arts with Spiral Theory Test Kitchen
Published May 23rd, 2019

Topical Cream was honored to host a dinner party celebrating the life and legacy of video artist Gretchen Bender at Red Bull Arts. Provisions were provided by Spiral Theory Test Kitchen, a self-described queer cooking collective helmed by artists Precious Okoyomon, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Quori Theodor, MK, and Kaijja Xiao.


The gathering celebrated Bender’s legacy and allowed New York artists and writers who might not have been familiar with her work the opportunity to encounter her videos and installations in a gallery setting. As often happens at the best underground dinner parties, the guest of honor was unannounced: Bart, Precious Okoyomon’s pet eel, sat perched in a tank at the end of the dinner table, slowly swimming back and forth as friends and family got to know each other better.

Guests sat next to Gretchen Bender’s “People in Pain,” 1988, a large installation composed of black vinyl and blue neon featuring every movie title produced during a six-month period between 1987 and 1988.
Spiral Theory Test Kitchen served dusted red snapper. Guests ended the night with Loquat Panna Cotta with honey ants and orchid sugar served in a Red Bull can.
Dese Escobar and Natasha Stagg.
Precious Okoyomon and Quori Theodor of Spiral Theory Test Kitchen.
Rachel Hahn and Colleen O’Connor.
Lyndsy Welgos and Seashell Coker.
The final event of the evening was a private screening of Bender’s massive installation “Total Recall,” 1987.