For all intensive purposes, '8 ‘Til Late' masks itself as your average convenience store, filled with items you'd expect to find, like snacks, canned goods and tooth paste -- expect none of the items are real, they're all handcrafted felt renditions of the product.
Headed by artist Lucy Sparrow, this store stands as a temporary art installation downtown Manhatten, reminding its guests of the fragility of consumerism and disappearing businesses, in the most adorable way imaginable. The artist spent nine months methodically crafting felt products to line the walls of her shop. Guests are welcome to explore and purchase any of the products, which include felt fruit, pizza, tooth paste, condiments, cigarettes, and cassette tapes.
The 9,000 felt food sculptures available in the store were a massive hit among New Yorkers, drawing a diverse crowd who all embraced the sentiment of the phony artisan bodega.
Crafted Artisan Bodegas
'8 ‘Til Late' is a Convenience Store Filled Entirely with Felt Products
Trend Themes
1. Artistic Retail - Opportunity for artists to create immersive, interactive retail experiences as a form of temporary art installations.
2. Felt Artistry - Growth in the use and recognition of felt as an artistic medium in creating 3D sculptures and installations.
3. Hyper-realistic Replicas - Increase in the use of hyper-realistic replicas as a medium for social commentary or satire in art and design.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Artists can capitalize on the rise of immersive art installations to create unique retail experiences that blur the line between commercial and artistic spaces.
2. Craft and Textiles - Felt can be recognized as a growing medium for hyper-realistic 3D sculptures and installations, creating opportunities for textile artists, designers, and manufacturers.
3. Retail and Consumer Goods - Retailers can explore the use of hyper-realistic replicas as a form of visual merchandising for social commentary and satire, creating unexpected and engaging displays for customers.