When you hear the word jawbreaker, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? If it’s Willy Wonka’s everlasting gobstopper, you’re not alone. However, if you’ve see the latest exhibit at the FAC, your thoughts probably jump to Terry Maker and the beautifully colorful art she’s created in Reckoning. Using resin, Maker incorporated jawbreakers into many pieces that would fit seamlessly in Wonka’s factory.
Resin is liquid plastic that is mixed and casted to harden and make a permanent shape. In her work, Maker places jawbreakers and other common items into the mix. Once the mixture has hardened, Maker uses a saw to slices the piece, exposing layers that create interested patterns and display a variety of colors.
Jawbreakers are made using a hot pan process. This process puts single grains of sugars into a revolving pan that adds color, flavor, and other candy ingredients. This is done over and over again until the desired size is created.
Depending on the size of the jawbreaker it can take an estimated 14 to 19 days to completely eat. With one slice from Maker, a layer can show all the layers of sugar to the center of the jawbreaker and save you a trip to the dentist.