LUCY SPARROW "TAMPA FRESH FOODS"
Presented in partnership with the Vinik Family Foundation
Press Release
LUCY SPARROW’S TAMPA FRESH FOODS IMMERSIVE ART EXPERIENCE OPENING JANUARY 20, 2022 IN TAMPA, FL
PRESENTED BY THE VINIK FAMILY FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ART PRODUCTION FUND
Installation features a fully functioning retail space made entirely of felt, created site-specifically for Water Street Tampa and inspired by the City of Tampa
@SEWYOURSOUL / @ARTPRODUCTIONFUND / @WATERSTREETTAMPA
#TampaFreshFoods #VinikFamilyFoundation
Tampa, Fla. (November 9, 2021) - On January 20, 2022, British artist Lucy Sparrow will unveil her most ambitious project to date, an immersive art installation and fully functioning supermarket, Lucy Sparrow’s Tampa Fresh Foods within Water Street Tampa. Over two years in the making and stocked with over 50,000 hand-created felt artworks, Tampa Fresh Foods will be a love letter to the Sunshine State, with Tampa firmly positioned as the artist’s muse. Tampa Fresh Foods is presented by the Vinik Family Foundation in partnership with the non-profit organization Art Production Fund.
Inside the store, a fully felted produce department will be stocked with Florida’s home-grown favorites including citrus fruits, peppers, watermelons, snap beans and potatoes, as well as a full seafood counter laden with hand- made local fare; mullet, clams, shrimp, blue and stone crabs. Guests can build a bespoke artwork from the Cuban sandwich bar or visit the Tampa Fresh Foods humidor, a temperature controlled walk-in zone featuring classic felted cigars, sold as singles or in hand-painted boxes.
“I am thrilled to be working with the Vinik Family Foundation and Art Production Fund on Tampa Fresh Foods. Tampa is such an inspirational location, with a backdrop of so many strong and varied local stories – from the beautiful fresh seafood and vibrant citruses, to the proud Cuban influences. These elements will all come together in felt in my most colourful, creative and interactive installation to date. I launched my US art career in Florida, and it holds a really special place in my story – I can’t wait to come back and continue the next technicolor chapter in Tampa.” - LUCY SPARROW
Visitors will find Tampa Fresh Foods conveniently located within Water Street Tampa and in close proximity to a variety of other Tampa cultural sites. Situated at 1050 Water Street in downtown Tampa, Water Street Tampa celebrates the best of Tampa – great weather, waterfront views, live music and exceptional dining.
“As long-time fans and collectors of Lucy Sparrow’s ingenious felt artwork, it is our great pleasure to bring Tampa Fresh Foods to the city of Tampa in 2022. VFF has a strong history of bringing inclusive and interactive art installations to the Tampa community, and Lucy’s upcoming site-specific installation is no exception. We look forward to sharing this immersive art experience with as many people in our community as possible.” - PENNY & JEFF VINIK, VINIK FAMILY FOUNDATION
Florida holds a special place in Lucy Sparrow’s heart and career as the location of her American art market debut. It was this first showing during at the SCOPE Miami Beach art fair during Miami Art Week in 2015 that the Viniks first encountered Lucy Sparrow’s artwork.
“We are so pleased to be working again with Lucy Sparrow on Tampa Fresh Foods, her most ambitious project to date. As Art Production Fund continues to expand the audience for contemporary art and present important public projects nationally, it is truly an honor to bring this free and accessible arts program to the city of Tampa.” - CASEY FREMONT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ART PRODUCTION FUND
LUCY SPARROW took the art world by storm in 2014 with the opening of her fully-stocked felt Cornershop installation in London’s East End. With queues around the block and wall-to-wall media coverage, the installation was both a commercial and critical success. In 2016 the BBC commissioned Sparrow to recreate the Crown Jewels in felt, to celebrate HRH The Queen’s official 90th birthday. Her work was unveiled in the windows of the Hermés flagship Store on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and she dominated the headlines at Miami Art Week with her installation piece, Triple Art Bypass, (both 2018) that saw the artist perform ‘live’ surgery to huge crowds at Context Art Fair. www.sewyoursoul.co.uk / Instagram @sewyoursoul
VINIK FAMILY FOUNDATION (VFF) is a private foundation created and managed by Penny and Jeff Vinik. Founded in 1997, VFF has donated over $75 million to nonprofits working in the areas of education, human services, healthcare, and the arts. VFF is especially dedicated to broadening the public’s understanding of art through inclusive, interactive exhibits and installations.
ART PRODUCTION FUND is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to commissioning and producing ambitious public art projects, reaching new audiences and expanding awareness through contemporary art. Past projects include: Elmgreen & Dragset,“Prada Marfa,” Valentine, TX, Ugo Rondinone, “Seven Magic Mountains,” Las Vegas, Jeff Koons, “Seated Ballerina,” Rockefeller Plaza, NYC, Zoe Buckman, “CHAMP,” LA; Raul de Nieves “When I Look In To Your Eyes I See the Sun,” Miami; Lucy Sparrow “Lucy’s Delicatessen on 6th,” Rockefeller Center, NYC; Nancy Baker Cahill, “Liberty Bell”, multiple cities, 2020; Sanford Biggers, “Oracle”, Rockefeller Center, NYC, 2021. For more information, please visit artproductionfund.org / @artproductionfund
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