Cover Photo: a plate of fruitcake
Photograph by Matthew Bietz/Flickr

Making Fruitcake for My Father as an Act of Optimism

A year in fruitcake means a year soaking in hope and optimism. Committing to the cakes meant believing that we would all see some semblance of survival.

hollow bamboo poletomato

How many years do we have left?How many more fruitcakes?

Alana Dao is a mother, writer, and restaurant worker whose creative practice explores contemporary culture, food, and identity. Her work most often takes the form of artists' books, zines, and essays. She received a BA from Smith College and an MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Born in Texas, she resides in Maine.