Catalog Design: kristina Stamper, School of the arts, California State university Stanislaus
Catalog printing: Claremont print, Claremont, C a
iSbn: 978-0-9857652-8-6
Cover image: 2012-2013, Cupcake Totem #2, ceramic
Di R e CT o R ’ S Fo R ewo RD
Robyn Slakey: Cupcakes Across America, represents a chance to view the fanciful work of Robyn Slakey. as an artist, Slakey works with many medias to create wonderful works of art. These works take on a whimsical nature and create a wonderful place for the viewer to get lost in enjoyment. a few years ago the university art Gallery’s exhibition of alumni created a first place award in the exhibition. This first place award carried with it a solo exhibition in the University Art Gallery and lead to the creation of Slakey’s exhibition. Diana Daniels from the Crocker art museum was kind enough to judge and determine the first place award. I am very happy to be able to exhibit Slakey’s work for others to enjoy.
i would like to thank the many colleagues who have been instrumental in presenting this exhibition. Robyn Slakey for the wonderful experience of exhibiting her brilliant work, the School of the arts, California State university, Stanislaus for the catalog design and Claremont print and Copy for the printing of this catalog.
Gratitude is also extended to the instructionally Related activities program of California State university, Stanislaus and the many anonymous donors for the funding of the exhibition and catalog. Their support is greatly appreciated.
Dean De Cocker, Director
university art Gallery
California State university, Stanislaus
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2013, Let Go oil, mixed media, and resin
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, 100 Iconic Cupcakes, detail, ceramic and mixed media
2011-2013, Death of a Twinkie ceramic and mixed media
2012-2013, 100 Cupcakes, watercolor on paper
2012-2013, 100 Cupcakes, detail, watercolor on paper
2012-2013, Cupcake Totem #2, ceramic
2012-2013, A La Chuck Close, acrylic on canvas
2011-2012, 500 Cupcakes, ceramic
2012-2013, Cupcakes Across America, mixed media
Robyn Slakey
eD u C aT ion
2008- present- Studied with Tony n atsoulas, Sacramento, C a
2009- 2012- i nstuite of m osaic a rt- Sonia k ing, lynne Chinn, kelly k nickerbockers,
2011- m endocino a rt Center- Studied with w illiam Shinn
2007, 2005- p ilchuck School of Glass, Stanwood, washington
2010- Sacramento City College- Studied with Fred Dalkey
1992- School of Color and l ight, Fair oaks- Studied with Susan Sarbuck
1990- College of n otre Dame- b elmont, C a
1984- m odesto Junior College- studied with Dan peterson
1978- CS u n orthridge
1976- CS u Sacramento
1975- CS u Stanislaus- Teaching Credential
1974- b achelors of a rts- CS u Stanislaus
G Roup Show S
2013, 2012, 2009- California State Fair- awards: h onorable m ention, b est in Show.
June 2013 a lpha Ceramics, Sacramento
a pril 2011, 2012, 2013- b lue l ine Gallery, “ p late and Totem Show,” Roseville, C a
m ay 2008- 2013- Crocker a rt auction, Sacramento
a pril 2011- Jay-Jay Gallery, “CS u Stanislaus a lumni Show” - b est in Show - Sacramento
a pril 2011- Zeek Gallery, “ p late Show,” Salem, o R
m ay 2010-“a lpha women,” Redding C a
a pril 2007-2011 “ b ra Show,” Sacramento
July-2009- S mu D p lein a ire Show, Sacramento
June 2009 u ptown a rt walk, Sacramento
m ay 2009- Slide Show Gallery, “ women u ncovered,” Sacramento
m ay 2009- Danielle’s, Sacramento
a pril 2009- Society of a merican m osaic a rtists Salon Show, San Diego, C a
o ctober 2009- F e Gallery, “Just the Two of u s,” show with a iyana pearson, Sacramento
June 2008- u niversity a rt, Sacramento
august 2006-2008- California State Fair p lein a ire a rtists, Sacramento
august 2005, 2009 p ilchuck School of Glass, Stanwood, wa
The inspiration for my artwork comes from my desire to make the world a better, happier place. i know that i have been successful with a particular work of art when the viewer smiles while looking at it. i have moved toward “food” art for this reason – it makes people happy. i have gravitated toward cupcakes because they are inherently a happy food. Cupcakes work well artistically in three-dimensional works, especially as the subject of totems – one of my favorite types of work.
b esides creating 3-D cupcakes, i have also enjoyed painting cupcakes, especially watercolors. These small paintings of cupcakes have helped me to achieve another of my artistic goals: to get my art out around the country. i was inspired to do this after seeing the a rt from the Street exhibit in los a ngeles in 2011. i found the show intriguing and inspirational; plus, the artwork had a sense of humor, especially b anskey’s. w hat’s more, the art was public. i liked the idea of street art, but i wasn’t in to getting arrested. That’s when i started doing cupcake lawn signs. To test public response, i started putting the signs on friends’ lawns when they were at work. The response was so positive that i started to put them around more randomly. l ater, when my husband and i planned a trip to the m ountain States and to the u pper m idwest, i decided to bring about 10 lawn signs with the idea of leaving them at various tourist spots on the way. h owever, i didn’t really leave too many of the lawn-sign cupcakes because it felt like littering. i nstead, i left small cupcakes paintings all over. i started leaving them in earnest after a stop in South Dakota. we had stopped for a bathroom break and on the door to the women’s restroom was a small post-it with a printed message that read something like “ ......how about that ‘hope and change’? Remember when gas prices were $1.83 a gallon under b ush?” i t went on to say some really nasty things, outlandish statements that were mean-spirited and boarder-line racist. i got angry, tore down the postit and stuck up a small cupcake instead. From then on i secretly left the small cupcake paintings every place we went. i was amazed at the doors a small little watercolor cupcake would open.
i hope that you enjoy this show and that it makes you smile or chuckle.
aC knowle DG emen TS
California State university Stanislaus
Dr. Joseph F. Sheley, president
Dr. James T. Strong, provost/Vice president of academic affairs
Dr. James a. Tuedio, Dean, College of the arts, humanities and Social Sciences
Department of art
Dr. Roxanne Robbin, Chair, professor
Dean De Cocker, professor
Jessica Gomula, associate professor
David olivant, professor
Gordon Senior, professor
Richard Savini, professor
Dr. Staci Scheiwiller, assistant professor
Jon kithcart, equipment Technician ii
meg broderick, administrative Support assistant ii
