It's all about craft at Carnegie's 'Art of Food'

Warren Trefz, director of the Art Academy of Cincinnati's River City Works, shows the secret to his eye-candy glasses & goblets. The stem screws off so candy can be strung onto it.

Trefz' colorful glasses & goblets are as beautifully crafted as they are clever.

A trio of Phil Taylor's glass "lunch sacks."

Friday night's opening of the annual Art of Food exhibit at The Carnegie was so jam-packed that I took another spin by the art center Monday to reshoot some of my photos. Food was foremost on everyone's minds at the opening as people table hopped from chef station to chef station tasting everything from alligator to chocolate.

This time around craft is showcased in wonderfully inventive glass by River City Works (the Art Academy of Cincinnati's hot shop), practical tableware by members of the Clay Alliance (they're everywhere!), a suite of collages by Randel Plowman so remarkably affordable that half had sold by Monday (and this is his first foray into food as a theme in his adroitly composed works) and whimsical creations by the staff of the BonBonerie bakery that include vibrant, pouchy handbags by cake decorator Angela Hurtte and exquisitely sculpted, hand-painted marzipan by pastry chef Richard Prince.

I've spent enough money on Richard's beautiful pieces over the years to vouch for their tastiness, as well as their wow-factor in a Christmas stocking or Easter basket.

Richard Prince's spring marzipan line includes glowing Easter eggs (bottom) and hams (far right) with the realistic touches of scored skin, rows of "cloves" and a "center bone."

Slouchy handbags by Angela Hurtte mix and match fabrics and are embellished with beads, flowers, ribbon, etc. Her day job as a decorator at the BonBonerie is evident in the "Bags Boutique" on the pedestal, which is constructed of cookies & icing.

"Pairs" (2009) by Randel Plowman, collage on paper, 11" x 11."