WESTERN FRONT – Nine Cakes for Nine Decades

Description:

A celebration was held in honour of artist Glenn Lewis’s 90th birthday, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the creative community at Western Front. The milestone occasion featured nine birthday cakes, a toast by Michael Dang, and a special piano performance by Lewis and Hank Bull. The event also included a screening of a twenty-minute video by Zoran Dragelj, which documented key works from Lewis’s artistic career, set to music by Lewis and Bull.

Presented with support from Cadeaux Bakery.

Three ornate birthday cakes and small flower arrangements sit on a table draped in pink cloth. Napkin baskets and paper plates wait on the side for the feast to begin.

Three beautifully ornate cakes sit on top of a pink table. Small flower vases stand behind the glass cake pedestals adding a pop of colour to the tabletop. Three plates with three serving spatulas are placed at the edge of the table.

Three cakes on pedestals entice the view. Bright pink and purple flowers stand on the background contrasting against the black curtain backdrop. Caramel Crunch, Lemon Meringue Tart and London Fog can be read on small labels in front of each cake.

Susan Gibb addresses the guests behind a music stand. Glenn Lewis watches her from the background, sitting on the side chairs of the Grand Luxe Hall. He looks at her with intent, listening carefully to her words.

Michael Dang addresses the guests from a music stand. He is wearing a tall black paper hat that imitates a shark fin. Glenn Lewis sits and observes with an amused expression.

Multiple guests stand around tables with pink tablecloths, clapping happily in celebration. At the front of the frame, one guest writes diligently on a small notepad.

Amongst tables decorated with pink tablecloths and colourful flowers, multiple guests raise their cups for a toast. They smile as they raise a glass in their friend's honour.

Sophie Slader holds a small plate with a cupcake in her hands. A tall lit birthday candle shines on Glenn Lewis’s face as Sophie hands him the plate. Seating on the side chairs Glenn looks at his cupcake with gratitude.

In his right hand, Glenn Lewis holds a plate of cake, while his left hand holds a fork with a large bite. He looks up at the camera with a fulfilled expression, ready to enjoy his cake.

Glenn Lewis addresses the room from behind a music stand. He is wearing a pink shirt with white thin stripes and has a severe expression on his face.

Seen from behind, Glenn Lewis reads out a poem to his guest. Placed on the music stand is a piece of paper with a carefully handwritten poem titled That old Black Magic.

Glenn Lewis reads a poem with a big smile across his face. In the background, the party guests stand around pink tables, cakes and flowers, listening intently.

Hank Bull is about to play the grand piano, sitting sideways and turning his head to look at the camera with a proud expression.

A black and white video documenting Glenn’s artistic journey, is projected on a screen on one of the side walls of the Grand Luxe Hall. Guests watching the screening are seen from behind.

Glenn Lewis is sitting amongst his guests at the side seats of the Grand Luxe Hall, holding a paper plate with cake crumbs, residues of a delicious bite. Glenn and his party guests watch with amusement at something across the room.

Glenn Lewis is conversing with his party guests. He appears to be having an excellent time and there is a big smile on everyone's faces.

Glenn Lewis and two other guests are seen from the back, staring at a framed print with hand drawn animals above collaged letters that spell DIVERSITY.

A half finished cake on a glass pedestal is seen from the side. Blurred in the background is more leftover cake. Crumbs all over the pink tablecloth show the aftermath of a celebration.

Related People

Captions:

Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Susan Gibb and Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Michael Dang and Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis and Sophie Slater at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Hank Bull at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis and Hank Bull at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Glenn Lewis at Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Nine Cakes for Nine Decades, photo documentation, Oct 24, 2025. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.