Monday, December 6, 2010

Framed

During my years in medical school, our Associate Dean for Student Affairs was Dr. Andrew Seal, a general surgeon by trade who is considered by many to be quite a Renaissance man, with diverse interests ranging from the history of medicine to music and to painting. In fact, if you lurk around the ground floor of UBC Hospital, one of his canvases might still be gracing the hallways.

Dr. Seal's Retirement cake - surgeon & painter

My fondest memories of Dr. Seal involve his role as patron of the arts at UBC Medicine. At a time when I was suppressing my creative tendencies in order to concentrate all my energy on scholarly pursuits, participating in the UBC Medical School Choir, Jazz Band, and Spring Gala concerts was a true highlight of my four years (admittedly, I am just a band geek at heart). Without Dr. Seal's influence, I doubt that the arts would have flourished as they did at UBC Medicine.

Dr. Seal's Retirement cake - closeup of incision

And so, to be asked to create Dr. Seal's retirement cake was a huge honour and conceptual challenge. Much time was spent brainstorming how to combine general surgery with painting in cake form without being too literal. The challenge was even greater because it has been over 10 years since I have been in a non-ophthalmic OR using those gigantic needle drivers and 1-0 sutures. Congratulation Dr. Seal on your well-deserved retirement!

16 comments:

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

I love it!!! I'm assuming you made the frame out of gumpaste? Maybe fondant... would love to hear more about it.

:)
ButterYum

Stephanie said...

What a wonderful tribute to this man. The cake is amazing in its detail. Nice work!

Unknown said...

That is amazing detail! I love your blog!

rlbates said...

This is marvelous!!!

Irmina Díaz-Frois Martín said...

Fantástica, de un realismo tal, que es el instrumental que conozco por mi trabajo.
Mis felicitaciones, eres una artista.
Un saludo.

Jabulani said...

Another marvellous cake!

Charmaine said...

ButterYum: Everything was fondant!

Sharla Greenway said...

Wow what a wonderful cake, almost too good to eat!

Angela said...

Wow!! Your cakes don't even look like cakes.
They truly are works of art!!!

Trinda said...

What a nice blog to come upon. Lovely cakes. All the best to you and I hope you get to share your gift with many more visitors and clients alike.

Stephanie C said...

I came across your blog while searching for Miga cake ideas. Your work is amazing!

My husband funny enough is in UBC Med right now.

twilightcupcake said...

Charmaine I love your blog.
I'm a GP in Vancouver and remember Dr Seal well from school and also on call during our gen surg rotations at VGH. Lovely cake.
I have a baking blog too - nothing as gorgeous as your stuff but thought I'd share. I'm sure we know people in common. I'm UBC class of 2001.

buy rift platinum said...

WoW! amazing masterpiece.. the details so perfect.=)

Suzanne said...

What an amazing cake! So detailed and beautiful!

tapping technique said...

Wow. Artistically made and very appropriate for the Doctor that this cake is made for. Wonderful!

Karin said...

I'd have the hardest time slicing into this - what a fantastic piece of art!