Artist’s work explores significance of cake

The inaugural project, RESIST, is an installation by local artist Beccy McCray, an enormous garishly decorated five-tiered ‘cake’, which will be visible from May 11 to June 7.

McCray’s installation plays with the ambivalent feelings associated with cake.

Cakes are very much embedded in our cultural traditions for marking special occasions but over-consumption can lead to feelings of excess and guilt.

Researching her ideas for RESIST, McCray has led community workshops in St Leonards – at the Women’s Institute and Healy House, a centre for the visually impaired. Participants shared their stories, family traditions and memories of cake, from the everyday to the once in a lifetime. Christine Gist, artist and project co-ordinator commented: “Thanks to Network Rail, artists have a new location for experimental projects and can continue to reanimate St Leonards urban environment.

“The SPACE has also been fortunate to receive funding from The Seedcorn Fund through Sussex Community Foundation and a Community First grant through Central St Leonards Forum which will allow local residents to participate in artists-led workshops and talks.”