So here’s the thing – even though this candy business has been in my family for almost 100 years, I actually studied art history before joining up. I even worked for the National Endowment for the Arts.
I know, I know – as my father often pondered my choice of study, arts appreciation probably isn’t the most obvious background for running a wholesale candy company. But, and perhaps somewhat ironically, it has served me really well!
It helped me design CandyFavorites.com and, later, gave me the skills - and access to the candy - to help collectors and museums across the country figure out how to coordinate candy for Felix Gonzalez-Torres exhibitions.
You might be wondering – who is Felix Gonzalez-Torres and what does he have to do with candy?
Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957–1996) was a Cuban-American artist whose art explored themes of love, loss, identity, and memory.
People often associate him with conceptual art and minimalism, but his work is really fluid and goes way beyond those labels. He merges emotional depth with social commentary, and one way he does so is by using candy as a metaphor.
Many of his pieces feature candies in various colors, shapes, and sizes, including caramels, hard candies, and taffy! To check out examples of these works, please click here.
Having produced over twenty in this medium, each installation is unique in what it represents, how it’s displayed, and, yes, how much candy is consumed.
Here’s where it gets interesting...
Over the years, almost all of the original candy manufacturers have gone out of business or discontinued the candies they first made, making it almost impossible to source the original medium used when the pieces were conceived.
This has caused undue frustration for those trying to coordinate exhibits within rigid curatorial parameters.
That’s where we come in....
Since this art is all about concepts and I’ve got an art history background, I’ve been able to identify and source substitutions that are as good as – or even better than – the originals, many of which look almost identical!
We’ve worked with curators, collectors, foundations, and museums to answer questions and handle all logistics.
To see a LIST of color options, please click HERE
This customer-centric service will assign a representative to help you coordinate almost every aspect of procurement, including delivery and restocking, if needed.
If you’re reading this and looking to build one of his pieces, please reach out to support@candyfavorites.com to help source your candy and keep the tradition of his work alive.
Written by Jon H.Prince, President of CandyFavorites.com
