The flowery dessert tray depicted here both appeals and appalls as it calls forth a disturbing succession of associations beneath its pretty exterior. The first in a series of pastry sculptures, this piece is dedicated to linguist Caitlin Hines, whose astute analysis of the “Woman as Dessert” metaphor rocked the Berkeley Women and Language Conference more than a decade ago.

NFS. Collection of M. Katy Macdonald and Jean Jacques Prizmich.