British artist, Lucy Sparrow crosses the pond into hot and sunny SoCal bringing along with her a massive inventory of faux grocery store themed items made out of the versatile craft fabric, felt. All 31,000 felt creations were hand sewn, painted, and decorated by her and her assistants. Lucy also autographed each piece in her whimsical squishy collection.
Hosting this latest pop-up venture is The Standard Hotel in Downtown L.A. where a second floor space has been transformed into a make believe and utterly adorable supermarket dubbed Sparrow Mart. Each aisle, each shelf, each freezer, each display case at Sparrow Mart is meticulously stocked with common household goods like cereals, sodas, deli meats, hygiene products, and so much more – all encased in the fuzzy material. It’s an impressive artistic feat, if you come to think about it.
The majority of the items for sale at the imitation mart cost about $60.00 or less, while some others will set you back in the hundreds. But if you’re feeling especially extravagant then consider purchasing an entire display case of seafood for a whopping $50,000.
Sparrow Mart (550 S. Flower St., Los Angeles) runs for only a month from August 1st to the 31st, unless it sells out sooner like her felt bodega did in Manhattan last year. The exhibit is free to the public and open from Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Only 50 visitors are allowed in every half hour. Sign up at the hotel lobby to reserve your timed-entrance. With the popularity of the pop-up, you might find yourself having to wait an hour or more to get in.
Misc.:
– Behind the check-out counter is a back room containing Lucy’s more expensive felt art, so don’t forget to check that out.
– Parking options in downtown can be pricey (approx. $30). For a cheaper option, try the lot on 7th and Hope St. next to the church. Have cash on hand.
– Outlets to charge your phone can be found under the escalator in front of the bar.
