Confected Character
Vanilla Cake, Buttercream Icing, Dark Chocolate Ganache, Fresh Raspberry Compote, Etched Glass, One Hundred Forks, 14' x 1' x 4', 2011
Porcelain Pulley Pair
Porcelain, Wood Veneer, Flocking, Sterling Silver, Sugar-Encrusted Braided Rope,
6' x 2‘, 2012
Cara Long’s work is fueled by an exploration of self-indulgence and obsessive consumption in which the mechanical, the edible, and the utilitarian are united. A skilled ceramicist and pastry chef, Cara exploits the sensuality and familiarity of sugar, icing, cake, and porcelain. Sweet aromas and creamy façades offer a backdrop of enticement for the presentation of objects and images, each one pretty and perishable.
In her piece, Confected Character, a thin glass shelf displays the orderly collection of one hundred forks, each bearing a seductive mouthful of dessert; every crumb and bite reflected in its luster. Illustrating a timeline of arduous weight loss, ovular plot points -stretched and bloated- are etched into the surface of the glass. Fingerprints and sticky smudges on the utensils implicate an addict; the engraving below delivers a rhythmic diagram of slow progress and swift relapse.
Having previously presented her own chronicled effort of self-control, the artist has recently turned the mirror toward the viewer by inviting participatory consumption. Free to lick, bite, and swallow, the consequence of the viewer’s interaction leads to the ultimate demise of the artwork.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
An instinctive passion for pastries, porcelain, and all-things-pretty has guided Cara Long through a multifaceted career as an entrepreneur, jeweler, and pastry chef. After graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute, Cara became a professional studio artist, exhibiting her translucent porcelain installations throughout the country. A nagging desire to escape the comforts of the Midwest led Cara to Philadelphia in 2011 to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art.
More information available here
All photos credited to Cara Long