Untitled  from A Decadent World, Topiary Garden | Sublimation Print on Aluminum | 24" x 30" | 2014

Untitled from A Decadent World, Topiary Garden | Sublimation Print on Aluminum | 24" x 30" | 2014

Artist Statement: I am at once perplexed by and in awe of the relationship between animals and humans and the myriad ways human cultures use, abuse, fear, love, and revere animals. From the absurd to the divine, I explore the relationship of human to animal to ponder the human connection to nature. I sculpt with confectionary materials to explore the transformative relationship that exists between culture and nature—sugar is grown (nature), processed and transformed (culture) into symbols of decadence, frivolity, abundance and celebration. The forms I create begin with rice cereal treats that I mold into animal and topiary forms. I cover them with royal icing and fondant, and decorate them with more royal icing. I paint/frost the skies using royal icing and a spatula. I use green sanding sugar to make the grass, and pipe royal icing to make hedges and leaves that become topiary creatures. I arrange the animal forms on a miniature tableau, carefully light, sometimes add fog using a fog machine, and then make the photograph with a 4x5 camera with a digital back.