Toronto artist Alex Dunsmuir invites visitors to revisit those memories with her new candy-inspired exhibition, Sweet Reams: Paper Candy & Confectionery Pop-up Shop, on at Northern Contemporary gallery from September 30-October 6.

The installation features hyperrealistic confections and meticulously researched recreations of the candy and packaging that defined the artist’s 1970s childhood. Featured works include retro favourites and quintessentially Canadian classics like Thrills gum, Lucky Elephant Popcorn, Pop Rocks, Popeye cigarettes, Sweetarts and Fun Dip, which have been enlarged beyond their original scale to reflect the larger-than-life place these sweet treats held in childhood memory.

Although the candy and confectionery on display looks good enough to eat, it’s all handmade from cut, layered, folded, crimped and rolled paper.

Visitors will also discover more than 100 handmade paper chocolate truffles, a nod to the artist’s French roots; candy jars filled with paper sweets; quirky vintage candy advertisements reimagined as layered paper cuttings, and a retrofitted gum vending machine that dispenses miniature prints of the artist’s works instead of candy.

The artist will be present throughout the exhibition to lead hands-on paper-confection workshops, as well as a free maker event inspired by candy-wrapper bracelets, a popular pastime in the 1970s.

Sweet Reams Paper Candy & Confectionery Pop-up Shop

September 30-October 6

Northern Contemporary gallery, Toronto

420 Roncevalles Ave, Toronto

The exhibition is open every day from 12-6 p.m.

Admission is free.