A Big Helping of Nostalgia

Art collector Tom Patchett craves American restaurant, diner and cafe memorabilia.

Last month, the Westwood resident opened “Eats: An American Obsession,” an exhibition that celebrates food and eating in America. The exhibit, which continues through July 15 at Track Gallery in Santa Monica, is an extensive display of American collectibles and fine art.

An authentic, 40-foot-long porcelain-and-stainless-steel Choo-Choo Diner car serves as the centerpiece of the 6,000-square-foot exhibit, which also features classic neon signs and stacks of chain-restaurant plate and glassware from all over the country.

Most of the items are for sale. But Patchett hopes that visitors also come away with a revealing glimpse of America’s past.

Take, for example, china from the Coon Chicken Inn, a restaurant chain that operated from 1928-57 in the Salt Lake City, Seattle and Portland areas. Many of the items are racist in nature. He says they are informative because they represent American life during these years.

“This kind of material gives you a sense of history,” said Patchett, owner of Track 16. “When you look at plates, [you] get a look at how our society functioned during the 1930s through the 1960s, what our habits and prejudices were.”

For the past four years, Patchett has gathered items from around the country. He has collected a culinary anthology dating from the 1920s to 1970s, and now he has the chance to display his appetite for all things savory.

“My passion for contemporary art and Americana came together,” he said. “There’s history, there’s art and there’s the chance to discuss both.”

Being able to exhibit his collection is exciting but not always easy, said Patchett, a television writer who has written and produced such TV comedies as the “Bob Newhart Show” and “Alf” during his 20-year career.

Taking a break from Hollywood earlier this year, he began the daunting task of sifting through his collection of more than 5,000 items. He spent countless hours organizing and arranging the exhibit so that it documented important eras of American history.

“It’s a creative process,” he said. “There are a lot of creative elements to produce a feeling or impart some knowledge.”

Items for sale in the exhibit are offered for a variety of prices: Some restaurant plates sell for $20, while a pop art sculpture of Popsicles goes for $80,000.

“People can literally walk out for $50 or just enjoy [the exhibit],” said Patchett.

“Eats: An American Obsession” continues through July 15. Track 16 Gallery and Mainspace, Bergamont Station Arts Center, Building C, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Free admission. Information: (310) 264-4678.