Black Sheep Heap for Just Food

Black Sheep Heap, a company committed to spreading awareness of ecological and environmental issues through good-looking design, is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based artist, Jen P. Harris. Black Sheep Heap designs are printed on 100% recycled or organic cotton tees and totes and packaged in recycled brown paper grocery bags. The graphic above was made for the non-profit organization Just Food, which works to develop a just and sustainable food system in the New York City region. (Just Food offers food education and community chef programs among other wonderful services.)

Contemporary Confections: How did the Just Food project come about?

Jen P. Harris: Just Food contacted me in 2007 after seeing someone wearing one of my "Beet the System" shirts at a [Community Supported Agriculture] pick-up. We talked and decided to print Beet The System shirts with their logo on the back. The “Lettuce Eat Local” and “Yes We Can” designs were collaborations that came later -the Lettuce shirt this summer, in conjunction with their conference in early September called “Let Us Eat Local,” and the idea for the Yes We Can shirts came after the election.

CC: What's on your plate for 2009?

JPH: In 2009, I’m planning on creating 4 new t-shirt designs, one per quarter, for my own venture, Black Sheep Heap. A sculptor friend and I are planning to collaborate on some small wooden objects, like ornaments and children’s toys/blocks printed with vegetables. And, of course, I am hoping to continue my partnership with Just Food! Jacquie Berger always has clever ideas, and I hope we’ll work on another t-shirt together next year.

CC: What's your favorite sweet treat? Is there a Brooklyn eatery that you would recommend for dessert?

JPH: My preferred sweet treat is definitely dark chocolate (70% or higher); I eat some almost every night. My current favorite is Equal Exchange's Organic (& Fair Trade) Very Dark Chocolate. For really special occasions I like to get chocolate from Jacques Torres in Dumbo.

If you're in the New York City area this weekend, you can purchase Black Sheep Heap designs at La Superette 2008, an annual sale of functional and affordable art near South Street Seaport (corner of Front and John Streets); outside the Park Slope Co-op on Saturday from 12 to 4pm (Union Street between 6th and 7th Avenues); or shop Park Slope's WearWareWhere Holiday Craft Sale on Sunday from 11:30am to 3:30pm (371 2nd Street btwn 5th and 6th Aves; ground floor).