Let Them Eat Cake (fair trade of course!)

Cake Britian

Here at SI HQ it would appear that we are unable to escape the Mad Hatter’s Tea party theme, literally everyone is getting involved. I thought I was over it, however, thanks to Emmy Lou Cakehead, I have happily been sucked back into Alice’s world of surrealism.

The Mad Artists Tea Party takes place The Future Gallery, 5 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7HY, 27th – 29th August. The exhibition sounds incredible as all of the art is edible, anything not eaten will be auctioned off for charity. Describing the concept Emmy Lou says “It’s a three day exhibition. We’ve paired up artists such as Stuart Semple and George Morton Clark with cakists including Crumbs and Doilies and Bea’s of Bloomsbury: the artist comes up with the concept and the cakist makes it. The theme is ‘fair’, linking in with the Fairtrade sugar by Tate and Lyle, the sponsors. All the cakes are made fresh for the event, and they’re all meant to be eaten”.

Like us, if you aren’t London based or can’t make the event, fear not as the team behind the exhibition have been touring the UK accompanied by their cupcake tree which is based on Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. Emmy Lou explains “It’s an interactive art installation that allows children to literally ‘pick’ their own cupcakes off the tree, like The Magic Faraway Tree the cupcake tree will never ‘grow’ the same cakes twice”. It is hoped that the cupcake tree along with the Mad Artists Tea Party will encourage children and grownups alike to think more about where their food comes from and also how ingredients can be used creatively in an attempt to combat the “ready meal culture” that has taken hold in recent years.

This is great news for the fair trade movement as encouraging people to think about where their food is sourced is a huge part of spreading the fair trade message.

Excellent news all round I say! Now not that you need any encouragement but I would recommend this trip down the rabbit hole for a spot of afternoon tea. Oh and if you do go along, don’t forget to feedback on your experience, let me live vicariously through you please!!