Video: Artists Buy Out Inventory Of An Entire Corner Store

Who says all artists have to be starving? A few weeks ago, a group of five artists, funded by "the credit-defying depths of cash advances," bought out an entire, struggling corner store in the West Village. The project was a part of the "Store Buyout: The Art of Convenience," exhibit, with the 3000-ish items the crew procured from Hercules’ Fancy Grocery now on displayed at the Fusion Arts Museum on the Lower East Side. Watch as the crew jauntily plows through Hercules' shop (spending about $6,000 total) to the sounds of ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky," presenting the dumfounded owner with a briefcase full of cash.

And, in case you're interested in owning a little piece of the action yourself, the items are being made available for purchase at the museum. (We particularly like the description of the "portable sun," aka a lighter: "Celestial flame enthroned in non-biodegradable plastic. Often regarded as mother earth's nemesis, this convenience instrument of God is responsible for the creation of many an unstable constellation above crowds at rock concerts.")

[via Laughing Squid]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jamie Feldmar in Arts & Entertainment on June 8, 2011 2:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Beth Ann DiBella

Great video, I wish I knew what the actual total was in comparison to the 6K he received. I wonder how much it will cost him to restock.

que_sera

So cute- now I can put my computer to sleep.

newyorkstreetfood

I have lived in the area for 20 years, and Hercules is a neighborhood fixture that has been having financial problems lately. Great to see this. I'm sure it made his day/week/month/probably year.

Professor Von Nostren

That must have made his day.

phfweb

Couldn't have happened to a better store. Hercules is true Village old school. He's been selling in the neighborhood for 25+ years. His prices aren't the cheapest, but it's always fresh and he's good to his friends. Lovely to see this happen to him.

mistermarkdavis

count me in the pro Hercules camp. He has an amazing selection of beers and is super friendly and helpful.

they

they couldn't have picked a worse store.. this is possibly the most overpriced place in manhattan. last year i think a 6er of sierra nevada was like 18$ or something ludicrous. and this store is hardly ever open either, the guy keeps really weird hours.