Candytopia pop-up exhibit a treat for the senses — but please don't eat the art

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Willy Wonka-style pop-up candy exhibit opened Friday at The Fashion District. There are 12 rooms to explore at Candytopia at 9th and Market streets.

And there are rules for visitors.

"You know, don't lick, don't bite, don't suck the candy!" said Jackie Sorkin is co-founder and co-creator.

Sorkin has been known as the "Candy Queen" since the debut of her TLC cable TV show of the same name about a decade ago. That's also around the time she started making candy art, which she has since taken on exhibit all around the world.

"So Candytopia is this incredible candy wonderland. It's an immersive experience. We like to call ourselves a mini theme park," Sorkin said.

This crazy place is well described by 5-and-a-half-year-old Maya Swartz: "It's just a fun playground and there's fun flowers to smell, there's donuts all around, and there's fun, like, jungle gym stuff and, like, animals made out of gummies!"

There are also candy sculptures and recreations of famous works of art.

Sorkin says each portrait and sculpture is made up of thousands of pieces of candy. A plaque beside each art piece tells the visitor how much candy was used — and how many calories are in that particular work of art.

Sorkin said, even while creating the art, the candy can be irresistable.

"Yeah, so we kind of are like 1-to-1 ratio," she said. "One jellybean on the portrait, one in my mouth! One licorice on this hair, one in my mouth!"

Asked if anyone ever tries to lick the art, Sorkin said, "Oh yeah! I mean, we've got some licking problems here, sister!"

To deter the licking of art, guests in each room are offered candies or chocolates that they can eat.

The pop-up exhibit will be on display through January.