Paul McCarthy’s
Chocolate Factory
Exhibition Dates: November 15th through December 24, 2007
Gallery Hours: Monday through Saturday, Noon-8PM,
Sunday Noon-6PM
Factory Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM – 6PM
Paul McCarthy, together with Maccarone Gallery in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth, has embarked on a project that has transformed the 6,000 square-foot Maccarone Gallery into a completely functional Chocolate Factory and retail store open to the public seven days a week from mid-November through the end of 2007. The project was conceived by McCarthy as a venture that may eventually spin off into additional temporary locations or franchises. The artist has formed Peter Paul Chocolates LLC as the parent company in
the venture.
The gallery is divided into four sections: retail store, chocolate manufacturing, packaging and storage. The factory will produce 1,000 chocolate figurines daily, a new chocolate iteration of the iconic “Santa” sculpture exhibited at Art Basel in June 2007. Master chocolatier, author Peter P. Greweling of the Culinary Institute of America is overseeing production, and the figures will be made with Guittard premium chocolate. Guittard, a California-based company since 1868, is the oldest family-owned and operated chocolate company
in America.
In preparation for the transformation of the location into a retail-factory setting, the gallery underwent extensive alteration, including replacing plumbing, electrical and HVAC to meet New York City Code and manufacturing requirements, as well as purchasing and installing the finest professional chocolate manufacturing equipment. The melting, tempering, molding, and other processes will be visible to visitors through observation windows. A conveyor belt moves the chocolates throughout the space, from the manufacturing hub, to packing and storage. The remaining portion of the gallery is devoted to retail sales.
Paul McCarthy lives and works in California. He is represented by Hauser & Wirth, Zurich London.
The 10″, 1-lb. chocolate figure, Santa With Tree And Bell is sold through the gallery at 630 Greenwich Street in Manhattan, or through the company’s website http://www.peterpaulchocolates.com Additionally, the figures will be sold at Art Basel Miami.
For additional information, contact:
Maccarone Gallery
630 Greenwich Street, between Morton and Leroy Streets
New York, NY 10014
212 431-4977
Press Inquiries: press@peterpaulchocolates.com
