Hand Painted Cake for Sugar Art for Autism Collaboration Cake

I created this hand painted cake for the Sugar Art for Autism Collaboration using the artist Katrienraw' who is autistic. Her special gift is painting and I used it as my inspiration piece to create awareness for this special cause.

Welcome to Sugar Art for Autism 2017, a group of confectionery artists from around the world who have come together to honor the 1 in every 68 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and to raise awareness during this Autism Awareness month.

Did you know that every 1 in 68 is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Well, now you do. What is Autism?

Autism refers to a range of conditions most characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.  There are many types of autism. The most obvious signs tend to appear as early as 18 month but mostly around 2 to 3 years of age.

Individuals with autism have many strengths but they rely on acceptance and sometimes guidance to pursue opportunities. They especially need empathetic supporters.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism prevalence as 1 in 68 children.  You can read more about autism here - What is Autism.

Sugar Artist from 21 countries used their talent to shatter misconceptions and bring awareness to Autism

What happens when nearly 100 cake artists from 21 countries come together to raise awareness for Autism? They create something utterly amazing, heartfelt and meaningful. Something that proudly honors those with Autism and their loved ones. Through our endeavors, we hope to shatter misconceptions and bring awareness to Autism.

A cause close to my heart

It was an honor to be asked to create a cake for the Sugar Art for Autism Collaboration.  The collaboration is led by two really strong women I admire very much Dina Nakad of Miettes and Suzy Suada Marisenoj-Khalaf of Slice of Sweet Art New York 

Not autistic but my Rhea is a child with special needs and we go thru some similar struggles with her. So, I can say I feel the pain these parents go thru. It's a hard struggle in every way, emotionally, mentally, physically and Financially but mostly socially.

It's not fun to go to a play ground and watch your kid singled out because she's different.
Nor is it fun when you have to stay home and not participate in social gatherings because you know everyone will make you feel different and your kid will not understand why?

Wouldn't it be nice if society accepted these kids as kids first then paid attention to the fact that they are different. Often children with special needs don't need more than for you to smile at them and make them feel welcome in that social gathering.

Any parent feels defeated most when they don't know how they can help their own child often because there is not enough resources and help available. There are many children in the world that go thru life not getting the right treatment and help either because it's not available and sometimes because their own parents refuse to accept that their child is special. Often these children grow up as normal kids without the help they need struggling hard to fit in.

How can we all help?

No! I'm not asking you to give money.  The help I'm talking about means a lot more than money.

1. Awareness is Acceptance - First, let's all become aware. When we become aware we change our behavior and attitude. We learn to accept. With our behavior and acceptance others around us start becoming aware and this starts a chain reaction.
   The people who learn the most by our example are our kids. When we raise our children with a sense of awareness we send them out into the world with the right behavior and attitude.
2. Every little helps - Sometimes we can use our talent and expertise to help a special cause - sometimes directly and some times indirectly. I'll give you a few examples.
   1. My husband Ziv - if you have been following my blog then you've already read what he does. He works as a CEO and Consultant for start up companies. And because the cause of these children with special needs is so close to his heart, he offers his expertise is a different way.
      He leads the entrepreneur program for Rhea's School for Special Children 'Bet Issie Shapiro'. These special group of entrepreneurs want to create something that will make the lives of these children a little better. Sometimes it's thru a special technology, a special  learning application on an I pad or a special feature for a wheel chair etc. These entrepreneurs have ideas but they need guidance and help.
      That's where Ziv can help. With his leadership and network abilities he helps them build the right strategy, sometimes to find the right partner, find the right investor, make a business plan. etc.
   2. Our Rhea goes to a very special psychiatrist called Shay who has helped her very much, in many ways. If we had to pay for his services it's would be almost impossible for us to manage financially. But he volunteers some of his time a few times a week for these children with special needs and that's how Rhea can benefit from him.
   3. I have always thought the people who work with these children are very special. Not just because they choose this profession (some just volunteer) but also because you need lot of patience and will power.
      It's a lot of hard work, mentally, emotionally and physically and yet they do it with love every single day. So I wanted to do something for them; to bring a smile to their face.
      I send each one a small cake as a gesture of thanks for their hard work on their birthday. A small 7' or 8" cake decorated with flowers sometimes into a tea pot or similar. That is my way of helping make a difference.  As a business I usually only take wedding and big orders so most of my small cakes are done for this cause. I don't mention the purpose when I share the cake but just sharing it here as an example to help inspire.

So you see, we all can help a special cause in every little way that matters to us. This cake was made to raise awareness for autism but your cause can be different. It doesn't matter.

Inspiration for the cake

My inspiration is the art work of the artist Kirtenraw from Malaysia. I feel in love with this painting and instantly knew I wanted to design something inspired from this painting on my cake. The mountains and thickness of this image reminds me of the highs and lows of the mind.

So this is what I created. Of course trying to create something similar would not be possible for me. So, I went with the  flow of what my mind came up with when I saw this painting.

Of course, I also wanted to stay true to my own style as a cake artist. I love wedding cake style tiered cakes and I love sugar flowers so that's what I created on this cake. An Elegant Hand Painted work for the Sugar Art for Autism Collaboration.

You can see all the amazing work from all the other cake artist on our Facebook Page here - Sugar Art for Autism 2017 . You will be amazed at all the beautiful cakes created from these painting and art work we got to use as inspiration.  Each and every artist created something unique and special from what she or he got out of this inspiration.  You can see some of the original art work on their official Facebook page The Art of Autism 

Awareness is acceptance

I do hope you like my hand painted cake for this special cause.  If the next time you find a child with special needs and you will look at her with awareness and acceptance remembering this collaboration then I thing we have in a small way made a big difference with this cake.

Wish you all a lovely day.