When you hear of a cake gallery, the first thought that comes to mind is a cake sculpture you can walk right through. Like that of a gingerbread house.
The Break Bread art exhibit at the Think Tank Gallery , created a walk through installation with the collaboration of two artist who had a very personalized concept through their visions in art. Now, initially from what I had seen on social media, I imagined myself eating myself through a cake maze, but my imagination ran a little wild before I could gain a better insight as to what was inside the minds of these two men, Keith Baker’s Son and Scott Hove.
I invited my friend Lauren, The Leaux Project , to this gallery expecting a day of cavities and calories in Downtown Los Angeles right in the heart of the fashion district. Of course on a Saturday afternoon even as early as noon, the streets were crowded and the parking was ridiculous. I chose to take advantage of the beautiful day and park in one of my secret parking spots free of charge with unlimited hours and walking distance only 20 mins out of the way. Once we arrived, we walked into a building and up a flight of stairs to a space of several rooms each used for the purpose of sharing the ideas and creative concepts that gave you a reason to think. We were met by a young male, Jacob, who greeted each guest. As we thought we would have to check in with our confirmed attendance, the gallery was open for any and all who had curiously arrived. Not seeing what I had initially envisioned, which was a room made up of edible cake and even better than a candy store, we walked back into the front as he gave us a more insightful breakdown about the gallery and how they cleverly used the space for other purposes in order to attract an influence an audience.
Unfortunately, I didn’t grasp a thing he had said because I was just focused on him.
I just decided to use my thoughts and perceptions while we walked back into the first room that looked like a memorial made up of stuffed animals and a remembrance of a lost childhood.
On the wall, I found intriguing and questionable drawings identifiable by an ethnic background and tone. I failed to piece together that the man sitting inside the cardboard ice cream truck just so happened to be the artist himself. He was not only the artist behind the memorial, but also everything that had been drawn including the art piece he was sitting in while drawing his next added collection.
Keith Baker’s Son, explained that many of his pieces tell a story from his childhood and the memories he’s collected along the way. Growing up in a family of talented women with a background in the bakery business, they became the inspiration in his life where he began crafting his ideas through images and paint. The name alone shows the admiration he holds for the very reason that he is the artist that he is today. Baker’s Son has become a well respected artist by the way gallery attendees credited his work and with exposure through this month long exhibit, I see him telling more to the story of his life. @Bakersson
In the next room, we found a more haunting tone that was not expected for something that excited my senses of having a sweet tooth. Molded cake sculptures with beastly fangs protruding gave a grizzly image of what dreams and nightmares could be made of when baked together. A twisted idea of being devoured by the very same thing we would consume without any given thought that it would and could kill us in return; Diabetes, cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, became my interpretation of these ghastly images that surfaced from an innocent mental picture. Just a food for thought.
Literally
Aside from these sculptures, a more political stance from this visionary thinker came about. One that might question the artists thoughts which he’s explained through a deeply rooted Q&A from a Scott Hove mentality as he breaks down his images and how he sees the world capturing it through his art. Eccentric, maybe, but a clever influence, absolutely. One who can speak so powerfully without words and to allow you to open your mind in order to train it for thoughts that you might not be accustomed to, is an ideal artist to me.
In the rooms across the way, Scott further engaged us with his 3D effect of a cake installation piece with frosted sculptures resting on mirrors that gave the illusions that they were a tall tower of cake batter and frosting.
As myself and other guest questioned if the icing and cherries were real, we were impressed by the many angles we could see ourselves in even though it made it impossible for a captured photo without a peek-a-boo or photo bomb in the process.
We continued into a hallway of mirrors which lead us into what appeared to be a cannibalistic jail cell. A pile of bones and hidden writings on the walls with faint noises in the background. Could’ve been anything you’d find in a haunted house or behind the scenes of a horror flick. I didn’t get it, I didn’t try to, and I just carried on into the next room.
A room that too had a similar 3D effect using a background of fire and rain. Lauren and myself wanted to use this opportunity to take multiple photo shoots in front of the digital backdrop, just as long as we kindly did the same for other guest. Two young women traded places with us just as soon as we striked our poses effortlessly.
Although it only left everyone’s after shots with visions of shadow images, the look came out perfect seeing the ideas that individually crossed each persons mind and how they related to what we considered art. His art became our own and with each guest that entered that room, we took advantage of it. I found that piece to add a feeling and not necessarily something to think about. Not speaking for every guest, but it was rare to find a person standing in thought pondering what the fire meant or how the rain would feel on ones face.
We each just reacted in a way of feeling happy and free in doing whatever felt natural in that very moment.
After exiting, we noticed a small house propped up on the wall. Lauren had drawn to the conclusion that we were inside the house that we were looking in. Kind of like a dollhouse; and when you look through the windows, what you walk through, is what is revealed behind the windows. Growing up I use to be in love with the idea of a doll house and being able to be the eyes looking in while controlling what the eyes were seeing; so even though to many it might seem like just something to look at, it brought back childhood memories for me. Yet just a tad bit more eerie.
In the middle of the room which I first ignored was a large bed that other guest had taken photos on as a group.
I decided to casually use it as my secret Boudior even though I had to use a little more to my imagination. I didn’t think twice about where it had been and how many people had sat there before myself, but I quickly became lost in my mind of Marie Antoinette and then jumped up to dust myself off and walked into the last room before other guest saw me making myself far too comfortable. Then again, what do I care.
Unfortunately, Scott was not present even with the thorough help of those working the gallery, but I admire what he’s done and look forward to seeing more of it especially since we share similar morbid fascinations in the way that we think.
The last room wasn’t art at all or so I thought. A young Brazilian woman greeted us with bite size treats from her native home in Brazil which she described as Brigadeiro from her Bbrigs candy shop. Samples of small bite chocolates covered in sprinkles. If you enjoy the sugary taste of milk chocolate, then you’d enjoy these small treats.
The idea of her Brigs treats were perfect with the coffee stand that was complimentary to guest. Although the small treats were delicious, I had lost my appetite from the monstrous cake sculptures in the other room, but once I regain that craving again, I’ll be sure to buy a box.
B was even sweeter as she showed Lauren and I a new trick to use for our photo taking which I care not to share, but lets just say I twirled under a room of stars. I was able to have such a simple moment captured that allowed me to enjoy the experience even further. @bsbrigs
More is to come in the following month with a schedule of pop-up supper clubs, comedy shows, theater performances, speakeasies, (my favorite), boozy brunches, live music and more to be expected.
While what we had expected might have been a little fa fetched, it still brought a decent crowd of curiosity; and although we might have left with an empty stomach, we still enjoyed ourselves in the small moments that were sweetly created.
Xox
