By Sarrah Peters, News Editor
Local cake decorator Christy Hormel recently traveled to the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show at the Tulsa State Fair to assist in building a “Peace Train.”
The “Peace Train” was a sugar art installation inspired by the Cat Stevens hit song of the same name. Hormel was invited to participate by Kerry Vincent, the Sugar Art Show founder, after she asked her about the competition through Facebook. She and her husband drove 12 hours to attend.
About 20 artists spent two days building the 45-foot long train. The train was 12 feet wide and seven feet tall.
“What drew me most to the piece was the idea behind it,” said Hormel. “It was all about treating people with kindness and not having hatred. I just think the message behind it is really meaningful to me, and that is one of the main reasons I really wanted to participate in the project.”
Hormel was also touched by the train car dedicated to Ovarian Cancer Awareness, a cause for which Vincent is a big advocate.
Hormel worked with Jojo Maguire, who has competed on a Halloween episode of Cake Wars, on the engine portion of the train. Hormel says that she learned “a lot of cool techniques” from the project and her partner.
Hormel has been doing cake decorations for about 12 years. She got her start when her best friend had a baby shower, and she decided to take care of the cake.
“I was going to order it, but then I said ‘I think I can do it,’” said Hormel.
She was ambitious and made a three-tiered cake. Hormel began teaching herself and attending classes. A few years later, she was offered a job decorating cakes at a Publix in Florida, where she lived at the time. After deciding to move, she moved to the Oxford Publix and then the Rainbow City store, where she currently works.
Hormel’s next career step is to enter the cake competition next year. She is currently searching for a picture to use as her theme inspiration, which will be displayed with the completed cake.