Slide Show: Sugar transforms to sea motifs

By NATALIE MIKLES World Scene Writer - 10/14/2009


Correction
This story originally contained icorrect photo captions. Edith Hall's cake (far left) won third runner-up and Amelia Carbine's cake (left) won fourth honorable mention. The captions have been corrected.
The theme "Of Sea and Shore" inspired intricacies never before seen at the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show.

Winners were announced at the close of the show last week, and those who took the cake each showed excellence in turning sugar into lifelike coral, sea shells, mermaids and tropical flowers.

Cake decorators from across the country came to the show, which is held in conjunction with the Tulsa State Fair. Here are the cakes voted into the top tier.

The comments are those of Kerry Vincent, Sugar Art Show director.





SUGAR ART SHOW

GRAND PRIZE

Mercedes Strachwsky
Orlando, Fla.

This year’s theme was made for Strachwsky, who has a sugar coral panorama on display at the Orlando Science Center. A first-time competitor, Strachwsky was considered the dark horse of the show.

“Nothing was left to chance. Every detail was pretty much perfect, even to the embellishment on the edge of her cake board. Truly worthy of being in a museum.”

FIRST RUNNER-UP

Robin Van Hoozer
Oklahoma City

Some cakes are a hit with the judges, others with cake fans. Van Hoozer's cake was both.

"It was everything a modern bride would love for a destination wedding — soft colors, pretty pearl details. The mermaids are just outstanding, subtle, expressive, and the facial painting is exquisite. Faces and eyes are tough to execute, and her work expresses complete control."

SECOND RUNNER-UP

Flora Aghababyon
Las Vegas

"The judges loved Flora's work, especially the intricate detailing on the seahorses and the fine piping highlighting the airbrushed surfaces."

Cake show fans were impressed by the shell base.

THIRD RUNNER-UP

Edith Hall
Hallsville, Mo.

The most striking element of Hall's cake was the piped coral between each cake layer.

"Edith brought incredibly fine details into her showpiece."

FOURTH RUNNER-UP

Amelia Carbine
Salt Lake City, Utah

"Amelia has a real talent in written script, which is not always easy to do on a cake. She definitely captured the essence of sea and shore with a bit of adventure and, to that, added striking color with tropical flowers."





Slide Show



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To see all of the Tulsa World slide shows, go to tulsaworld.com/photos.

Natalie Mikles 581-8486
natalie.mikles@tulsaworld.com


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Claudia Butler, Grove (10/16/2009 8:13:11 AM)
Natalie, this is wonderful to see the top four winners published. The cakes were outstanding. The overall fair numbers may have been down, but the people viewing the cakes was huge. Thanks to you and the World for helping to get the word out. Claudia

Kerry Vincent, (10/15/2009 11:07:43 AM)
Natalie, the cakes look fabulous and the winner will be ecstatic to see her cake in print this way. Thank you for letting all of the folks out there know who the winners were. Sea and Shore really took the competition to another level. I also hear Mercedes saying that she will be back next year -- bet that will create some adrenaline! Kisses, Kerry.



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