cakes

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Beaded cake, 1940
oil on canvas with glass beads
34" X 20"
SOLD

Button cake, 1949
oil on canvas with buttons
34" X 20"

Collage cake, 1935
oil on canvas with collage
34" X 20"

Embroidered cake, 1940
oil on canvas with embroidery
34" X 20"
SOLD

Glitter cake, 1950
oil on canvas with glitter
34" X 20"

Ribbon cake, 1950
oil on canvas with ribbon
34" X 20"

Satin cake, 1944
oil on canvas with satin
34" X 20"
SOLD

Golden cake, 1946
oil on canvas with gold leaf
34" X 20"
SOLD

Sequin cake, 1941
oil on canvas with sequins
34" X 20"

Lacey cake, 1943
oil on canvas with lace
34" X 20"
SOLD

This series began when I found a box of old photos of my father and his sister, Kay, as kids. In their family, it was mandatory that they have their
picture taken on their birthdays, holding their birthday cake. Their mother, Lydia, was a consummate dessert lover who baked wonderful cakes.

I was drawn to the photos for several reasons. I thoroughly enjoy seeing my father as a kid. He looks just the same as now -- same body
language, same smile. And while painting this series, I became quite familiar with what he looked like, what he wore, where he lived, who his
friends were. It created a link between me, and his past.

I loved that the tradition was carried through without fail year after year. There are pictures of my father and his birthday cake from age 1 to age 18.

Finally, I loved the idea of documenting not only the birthday, but documenting the cake as well. The cake plays a major role in each photo. Cake
baking and cake decorating are part of the body of domestic arts -- such as sewing, embroidery, flower arranging -- that are rarely recognized for
their contribution to the art and beauty of our lives. I have been drawn to cake decorating since I was a kid, and saw this as a great opportunity to
pay homage to my father and his family and to the domestic arts, which we take for granted.