A recipe for ‘haschich fudge’ appears in the first published in 1954. The recipe was given to Alice Toklas (1877-1967) by her friend, the British-Canadian artist, Brion Gysin (1916-1986).

Made from spices, nuts, fruit, and cannabis, ‘haschich fudge’ quickly became a sensation in its own right. Toklas described it as ‘the food of paradise’ and ‘easy to whip up on a rainy day’. She advised that it would produce extensions of anyone’s personality on ‘many simultaneous planes’.

As a result of her cook book’s success and this recipe’s infamy, Alice B. Toklas’ name became synonymous with, and slang for, marijuana.

An earlier prototype used an alternative slang term 'Mary Jane', and called for the legalisation of Marijuana. The image was of 'Freddie' a classic evocation of hippy look and lifestyle.

operates on multiple layers of meaning. The text itself, ‘I love you, Alice B. Toklas’, is taken from a 1968 film of that title starring Peter Sellers. The film’s title refers to the Toklas recipe, which plays a pivotal role in the film’s madcap plot:



The text can also be read as a tender tribute from the artist to Alice B. Toklas and her wife, the great American experimental writer, Gertrude Stein (1874-1946).

Firrell has said, ’I was born in Paris all over again when I discovered 27 Rue de Fleurus and the extraordinary lives and work of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.’

In many ways, this final artwork in the series can be seen as the public repayment of a debt, a way of saying ‘thank you’ for the inspiration of the Stein/Toklas marriage and the determination of these women to make their lives and their works on their own terms, regardless of the judgement of others.