Newspapers created for store promotion.
Graphic design MFA1s and PMFAs secured a booth at Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair 2019 and transformed the space into a convenience store.
The store was stocked with a total of 63 different kinds of items submitted by 27 CalArts students across several métiers. The concept was driven by questions about art objects and fairs, the idea of convenience, and the notion of a designed object.
Becca Lofchie was the project’s overall manager and worked alongside Xiyu Deng to organize the gallery space. Conny Cavazos, Nadia Haile, and Candice Navi managed submissions and curation, while Yuchen Liu and Fanyi Yu created the store’s branding, packaging, and signage. Candice also handled booth staffing and Nadia was treasurer. Paul Wheatley and Aren Williams handled store build-outs and installation.
The fair was held April 11-14 at the MOCA Geffen Contemporary.
Labels with submitters’ names.
Aren Williams and Paul Wheatley set up the store’s gondola shelf.
Yingyi Zhu and Taimin Ahn help to bag items in store-branded packaging.
Yuchen Liu and Aren install faux tile and wall pegboard.
Fanyi Yu and Yuchen demonstrate how the wall will be plastered with newspapers.
The booth in all its glory.
The booth showing up its neighbors.
Xiyu Deng ready for customers.
Day one of the fair, fully stocked.
The packed wall of product.
The top shelf including faux lube, caps, and postcards.
Head wraps, tapestries, colored pencils, and cushions.
Conny Cavazos works to find the perfect place to hang her piñata submission.
The traffic cone piñata.
Shirts, shirts, and more shirts.
A top-selling item: candy bar incense holders.
The newspaper interior.
Yuchen promoting the booth.
A variety of postcards on sale.
Wall detail including socks, bumper stickers, pins, and zines.
Conny shows off one of the custom screenprinted aprons for store clerks.
The booth draws much attention.
One last look.
