{"id":66124,"date":"2025-12-01T05:59:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T05:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/66124\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T05:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T05:59:11","slug":"floridarama-showcases-lucy-sparrows-homage-to-convenience-stores-83-degrees-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/66124\/","title":{"rendered":"FloridaRAMA showcases Lucy Sparrow’s homage to convenience stores \u2013 83 Degrees Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Lucy Sparrow\u2019s Quick Shop at FloridaRAMA.<\/p>\n

British artist Lucy Sparrow might be the perfect match for St. Pete immersive art museum FloridaRAMA\u2019s quest to celebrate the Sunshine State in all its gaudy glee.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sparrow\u2019s attracted an international following for her felt art installations recreating the shops and stands that add to the local character of places like New York City, London, and, yes, Tampa Bay. Past installations paid homage to NYC institutions like the bagel joint, bodega, and deli. There have been nostalgic recreations of a London fish and chip shop, the neighborhood cornershop, a Soho sex shop complete with animated peep show, and the local chemist shop, or pharmacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A self-avowed \u201chuge fan\u201d of Florida, Sparrow unveiled her most ambitious installation to date at Water Street Tampa in 2022. Tampa Fresh Foods reimagined a Florida supermarket complete with 50,000 felt grocery items, a Cuban sandwich counter, and a humidor in 3,000 square-feet of space.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Lucy Sparrow\u2019s Quick Shop features 13,000 felt replicas of grocery items, household essentials.<\/p>\n

Now Sparrow\u2019s crossed the bay to bring her latest installation to the St. Pete Warehouse Arthouse District\u2019s FloridaRAMA, where knowingly kitschy tributes to Florida are always in style. Lucy\u2019 Sparrow\u2019s Quick Shop recreates that ubiquitous Florida institution, the convenience store,\u00a0 as a kaleidoscope of color where 13,000 felt versions of household essentials stock the shelves. Spam, Bisquick, Colgate, Skippy, and JELL-O are just a few brands you\u2019ll find in the vibrant array of products. In the meat & fish section, felt lobsters and crabs are in season. Everything on the shelves is for sale as a piece of art.<\/p>\n

During three days in late November, Sparrow appeared in person at the installation and pop up shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with Lucy Sparrow is a dream come true,\u201d FloridaRAMA founder and CEO Liz Dimmitt says during Sparrow\u2019s visit. \u201cShe is an artist that I adore and follow. I had the joy of working with her on our 2022 show in Tampa. To get her to come back and do something at FloridaRAMA has been years in the works and it\u2019s finally here. Then to have Lucy herself on site today, it\u2019s just been incredible. It\u2019s impossible not to be happy when you\u2019re in a Lucy Sparrow installation. They\u2019re joyful. They\u2019re fun. It\u2019s that perfect sort of high-low combo that is FloridaRAMA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida holds a significant place in Sparrow\u2019s career. Back in 2015, she made her U.S. debut here. It was the beginning of a love affair with the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucy is a big fan of Florida,\u201d Dimmitt says. \u201cShe\u2019s gone on a lot of road trips around the state and loves that Florida embraces kitsch and color and living life to the fullest.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For more information, go to FloridaRAMA<\/a><\/p>\n


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