Spicecasting.mp3

The rumors are true! Well, at least, we hope people have been spreading rumors. Because we want everyone's attention so we can tell them to start listening to the Like the Spice Podcast!



We'll be the first to admit we're still learning, but we're pretty proud of what we've done. This podcast you'll be getting a fantastic interview with Jenny Morgan and David Mramor about their upcoming show, Civil Union, opening this Friday, November 13th. Listening to them describe how they met, why they work together so well, and the way they first became and have remained friends will really get you in the mood for their opening night. P.S.: you want to be here for that too. 6:30pm - 10:00pm.

Anyway, we're trying really hard to get into the iTunes store. We even said our friends were already inside! But the bouncer just didn't believe us. So, for right now, you can hit our homemade RSS feed and download the podcast manually. Check it out! And then let us know what you thought, okay?

One Last Thing...

So we're just cleaning up the bagels and champagne after the closing brunch for Dean Goelz: The Beaded Curtain. Of course, you were here, so you know how much fun it was. But you might not have heard the very special story that Dean just happened to tell us. So we'll share it with you now!



It seems that on Halloween, Dean went to a costume party, and discovered that his cousin had spent a little extra time on the ol' costume this year...



...and that's when one knows one's arrived.

Congratulations to Dean for a fantastic solo show! And the rest of you, be here on Friday for opening night of Civil Union! But more about that in just a second...

Local Girl Makes Good

We at L the S always love it when our artists do good stuff. So we're very very pleased to mention that Nora Herting, who previously joined us as part of 2008's Flip, will be doing something wonderful this weekend!



This Friday, November 6th, from 4pm until 7pm, Nora will be on hand as part of Stand Alone Gallery's Portable Street Studio, which you can find lurking about 547 West Street (between 10th and 11th). An accomplished photographer (take a look and see!), Nora's going to be offering a free sitting to create spontaneous portraits as part of what they're calling an Interactive Community Portrait Event. We're going to try our best to be there, and we think you should try too.

Of course, Nora's been getting some good press lately. The Forth Worth Examiner has a very nice interview that's available to read online. Want a taste?

Richie Budd:
There is something gregariously pure and honest about where you leave the audience as viewers in relationship to your work. Can you talk to what it is you look for in your own photographs that make you want to share them? Or how do you decide to choose a particular photograph to display?

Nora Herting:
The criterion varies a bit depending on what I am expressing in each series of work. In each one I am communicating something a little bit different. I would like my photographs raise the viewers awareness to the nature of photography, as well as the actual subject in the photograph itself. So, in Free Sitting, a series I did about commercial portrait studios, the viewer has to think about the somewhat absurd measures that are employed when people make portraits of themselves.

It's a really nice look at the way Nora works, thinks, and creates, and it's worth the read. We're so pleased she's getting all this attention! So keep in mind: the place to be this Saturday is 547 West Street, from 4 - 7pm!

Civil Union: The Heart of Collaboration

Dean Goelz is our current exhibition, and The Beaded Curtain has been receiving rave reviews! It's open until November 8th so you've got plenty of time to come and enjoy. But can we just take a moment to wet your appetite for the future? Because there's something good coming up next...



Our next exhibition features works by Like The Spice regulars Jenny Morgan and David Mramor. It's called Civil Union, and from what we've already seen, it promises a fantastic showing of works that get to the heart of artistic collaboration. Combining photo-realistic portraiture with hybrid abstraction is no easy feat, but Jenny and David are masters of innovation.

And, of course, the hotline's already open for Civilware, our latest installment of the monthly dinner series. Jenny Morgan and David Mramor will be on hand, November 20th, at 8:00pm, and we'll toast their new show and talk with them about their unique process. You should make your reservations right now!

Remember, you've still got time to come enjoy The Beaded Curtain, but plan ahead. November's right around the corner, and this union is one you'll want to witness.

My Deaner with Dean: A Memoir.

At 7:30pm last Friday at Like the Spice Gallery, Marisa, Spencer, Leia, and I paced around a table beautifully set for 22 guests. We were trying to be as patient as possible while waiting for our guests to arrive for our dinner event in honor of Dean Goelz. I say that we were trying to be patient because, in truth, it was difficult as we all knew what titillating conversation and delicious food awaited us. Dean's show, The Beaded Curtain, has been open for only two weeks and has already proven to be a huge success; based on this we anticipated the dinner to be spectacular as well. The guest-list included collectors, friends of the gallery, family members, and fellow artists who were coming to Like the Spice to view Dean Goelz's latest body of work and to enjoy the company of both art and artist while savoring a wonderful feast provided by Curioso.
By 8:00pm our guests started to arrive; each group rushing in to escape the bitter October winds and bask in the welcoming warmth of the gallery. Soon, our first floor was filled with people sipping on wine and pausing at each of Dean's pieces to enjoy a first, second, or third look. Dean was all smiles as we took our seats at the long table. By the time the first course had been brought out all introductions had been made and and everyone was interacting with an air of familiarity reminiscent of a nice and civilized family dinner. The art was beautiful, the food was scrumptious, and the company was (as anticipated) lively and entertaining.
While we munched on a fresh salad of arugula and mozzarella, fellow Like the Spice artist Jenny Morgan introduced herself and softly but excitedly discussed her upcoming show. The exhibit will open on November 13th and will be a collaboration between Jenny and David Mramor.
After we had all finished our entrees of spinach ravioli, chicken carchofino, and savory broccoli rabe, Marisa invited Dean to take the floor and open a postprandial discussion about his process, the symbolism in his individual works, and the differences between this current show and what he has created in the past. Dean stood before the table of peers, admirers, family, and friends and spoke about the details that symbolized deep feelings of loss and one's journey through these feelings that are incorporated into each piece. He mentioned how he attempted to "visualize the process of loss" in the floating figures that seem to disappear and reappear, withdrawing into the ethereal dots of pearly white or red paint. He spoke about the incorporation of birds as personal references to the people he has lost and how they manifest themselves face first from nothingness.
Unlike some of his previous works, such as his duck sculptures where most of the faces are portraits of family members, the faces in Beaded Curtain are those of strangers. In fact, Dean mentioned that one of the reasons why each piece is numbered and not given a detailed title is because each work is based on or evolved from the one that preceded it. Modestly Dean stated that to him the pieces are visually poetic enough, the words do not need to be.
Each dot in Dean Goelz's work is a record of time; each piece is time consuming but is also reminiscent of a strong notion of the building of a microcosm. There is each dot and then each individual grouping of dots, and then there is the edge of the dots that frames the mass as a whole. There is a definite passion and fluidity in these pieces that makes them mesmerizing, some of them are even explosive.
Unfortunately, like most good things, our dinner with Dean Goelz had to come to a close. We had eaten our fill and indulged in conversations that we would not have been able to participate in otherwise. There was a decided feeling of happiness and excitement amongst the guests as they gathered their coats ready to face the awaiting cold. At the table we were all equals, able to ask questions and voice opinions about art, specific and non-specific works, and their creation. It was a riveting event and we are sorry if you missed it! Keep in touch with us at Like The Spice and make sure you do not miss our next dinner!

Poll results IN - Dean's dinner is called....

The Facebook masses have spoken, and the formerly untitled dinner for Dean Goelz's artist dinner at Like the Spice shall henceforth be known as "My DEANNER WITH DEAN"! If you haven't had a chance to come to one of our dinners, hah hah, it's too late 'cause we're full for tonight!

We'll post pictures for ya though. :D

It's Curtains For You

What are you doing this Friday? Really? Well, you just go right ahead and cancel that, because now you're coming to Like the Spice! Because Friday, October 9th is opening night of Dean Goelz: The Beaded Curtain. Dean's been a friend of ours for a while now, so you might remember him from last year, but we've never seen anything like his current work. As always, we've got a special sneak preview for you to enjoy (and there's a few pieces we're keeping secret!) but let's give you a little taste...









Not quite delimited, more atmospheric than solid, Dean's apparitions are between two worlds, present yet translucent. And you can see them first hand on Friday night, starting at 6:30pm! We very much hope you'll be here.

(And P.S. to you hungry hungry types, now's the time to reserve your space for Dinner Goelz, our very latest delicious Monthly Dinner. Dean will be there as you enjoy a great meal surrounded by great art. Here's just a taste of previous dinners. If you've never been, come now! You can RSVP online, easy as pie.)