These Groceries Are Made of Felt
And artist Lucy Sparrow is opening an entire bodega full of them
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There's nothing like some fake food to make toddlers—and adults—smile. Something about the packaging and the whimsy of pretending to assemble a meal evokes an emotional reaction. But there's no reason kids should have a monopoly on imagination, and artist Lucy Sparrow puts a delightful spin on mundane-seeming packaged foods by rendering them in felt. Now, reports Sarah Cascone for artnet, she's going even further, creating an entire bodega filled with felt food.
"8 Till Late," which opens at the Standard, High Line on June 5th, will look and feel like the classic convenience store. With a twist, of course: Everything inside will be made by Sparrow. From a faux meat counter to shelves packed with familiar boxes and cans, the colorful corner shop will feel familiar to anyone who's dropped by the local bodega to pick up essentials.
Sparrow made her name with an exhibition called "The Cornershop" in London. The Guardian's Frances Perraudin writes that it took Sparrow seven months to stitch all 4,000 items inside the store by hand. (It even contained felt copies of the Guardian.)
But the artist plans to leave British brands behind for her American debut. Cascone notes that Sparrow's New York exhibition will be filled with only brands you'd find inside an authentic convenience store. Sparrow will even be on hand to make "sandwiches" for visitors.
Overflowing with everything from pregnancy tests to Tootsie Rolls, cereal to candy, the store might not trick you into believing it's real. But that's kind of the point. "Where others might see the harsh and ugly side of an object, Lucy will take the same thing and disarms its negative aspects with her mastery of felting technique and the juxtaposition of other quirky creations," her website notes. No matter how you feel about consumerism, art, or even fake food, "8 Till Late" will give you a chance to immerse yourself in a slightly off, felt-filled world.
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