KATES-FERRI PROJECTS is proud to present SWEET & SAVORY, a site-specific window installation co-curated by Marloe Brito and featuring works by Ophelia Arc on view at 561 Grand Street, NYC from August 1 until August 31, 2023.

The Lower East Side is known for its small business community of mom-and-pop shops and local boutiques coupled with its appeal to artists and designers. This summer, the neighborhood becomes the set to captivate residents and visitors alike with a thought-provoking art exhibition. Running from August 1st to August 31st, 2023, Kates-Ferri Projects presents Sweet and Savory, an unorthodox window will be active 24/7 and featuring crochet works by Ophelia Arc. This exhibition installation pays homage to the neighborhood's storied past as a hub for butcher shops whilst pushing the boundaries of traditional craftwork.

Arc combines the sweet and savory worlds in this exhibition, seamlessly collaging crochet into the facade of a butcher shop. The shop is activated by Arc’s creative crocheted sculptures which hang in the window. Sweet and Savory aims to provoke a sense of curiosity, almost like looking at something you're not supposed to. Through her works, Arc aims to push the boundaries of traditional craftwork, breaking free from the confines of societal expectations tied to "women's work." By combining unexpected materials and exploring unconventional subject matter, she challenges preconceived notions and encourages viewers to question the nature of art itself.

The Sweet and Savory exhibition showcases Arc's ability to overthrow traditional notions often associated with craftwork, particularly by imitating the hanging,

prized meats that would be sold in a butcher shop with her crochet. The significance of hanging the displays lies in their ability to engage viewers on a visceral level. Arc captures movement and weight, providing an in-between state that suggests a dissociative presence. The sculptures appear heavier than they are, symbolizing the weight life brings upon us. By presenting her crochet sculptures in this manner, she confronts societal taboos, inviting audiences to examine their discomfort. Arc humorously notes, "I'm vegetarian, so I have no business looking at reference photos of rotting meat." The artist challenges the notion of what should and shouldn't be looked at, contrasting prized meat that rarely get consumed with a deeper understanding of the fleeting nature of human existence.

About the Artist:

Ophelia Arc is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. Using sculpture, video, and installation, Arc investigates psychoanalytic themes as they relate to her personal experiences and memories. Arc's artistic journey began as a hobby, but it flourished during her time at Hunter College where she received her BFA. The artist will continue to develop her craft towards a MFA at Rhode Island School of Design. Through crochet as the central aspect of Arc’s artistic practice, she defies the traditional notions associated with craftwork, challenging the viewer's preconceptions of "women's work" and pushing the boundaries of what are acceptable subjects in art.

Arc's pieces tackle taboo subject matter, fearlessly delving into themes such as mutilation, body image, and vulnerability. She combines yarn, latex, and personal mementos to elicit emotional and psychological responses from viewers. She explores the concept of nostalgia, inviting viewers to examine their attachment to idealized versions of the past to confront uncomfortable truths and delve into their emotional responses. By intentionally choosing provocative subject matter and materials, Arc seeks to spark reflection, challenge societal norms, and confront discomfort.

About the curator:

Marloe Brito is an artist, working in mixed media with interests in art history and curatorial pursuits.
Based in New York City she is attending Parsons School of Design studying Strategic Design and Management with a minor in Fine Arts expected to graduate in 2025.

Press Release Price List Art Works on View Ophelia Arc Exhibition on YouTube