Tired... But Happy!

See that? Who could that be? Why, it's Manish Vora of Artlog.com, taking a break at the AAF to get his shoes shined by artist Greg Haberny! What more could you ask from opening night?

With Greg in one booth, and LtS in the other, you can be sure that there's plenty of great art happening each day this weekend. Even after day one, we've made some great new friends and kissed a few of our pieces goodbye. And all the excitement! The traffic! The way we forgot to take pictures because we were so exhausted from excitement and traffic!

But don't you worry, because we ran into our new pal Rafael Fuchs from Rafael Fuchs Art Photography and he shot a bunch of pictures. We're thinking you'll find them here on his blog once he sorts them all out. Rafael was a really great guy and we expect to see him again, so watch this space, and we'll remind you when they're up!

In the meantime, want a little sneak peek of the booth? Here's a brand new Rachel Beach we're proud to have on display. It's called "Strange Loop" and we bet you can just imagine what that's gonna look like in person...



...but why just imagine? Why not come in and check it out? Also, don't forget, we've got different work every day, including Chino Amobi, Rachel Beach, Allison Edge, Treasure Frey, Dean Goelz, Eric LoPresti, Jenny Morgan, David Mramor, Bennett Morris, Reuben Negron, Leah Oates, Nicki Stager and Jessica Stoller, and that means you'll never see the same booth twice. Plus the I Heart Brooklyn Party is happening on Thursday night, so you know Thursday's gonna be a wonderful time. Stop in, enjoy the excitement, say hi to Greg Haberny, and check out some Affordable Art!

Fair And Fair Alike

Loyal LtS lovers will know that one thing we simply don't do... is stop. But this Spring, oy vey! Can you believe we're doing TWO art fairs, back to back? We really need your moral support on this one, so let's tell you when and where you can come and give us good cheer.

First of all, we're going to Chicago! This weekend we'll pack up the van and race to the Windy City to attend the Next Art Fair at the Merchandise Mart (click here for directions). Our artists will include Rachel Beach, Greg Haberny, Jenny Morgan, Leah Oates and Nicki Stager. PS: Click on the image below for a sneak peek...

Since those are just a few of the pieces we're taking with us, we hope you'll come to see the rest in person! Like the Spice will be in Booth 8066, and the show will be open to the public from April 30th until May 3rd. You can check out the schedule on the Next Art Fair page. Will you be there? If so, drop us a line, because we've got VIP tickets and we're ready to share!

Now, you'd think a whirlwind trip to Chicago would wipe us out... and you'd probably be right. But nevertheless, come May 6th, we'll be right there at the Affordable Art Fair, showing off all sorts of pieces. Want to see some examples?







Of course, we've got things that we aren't showing you just yet. But in those images, you've got a good idea what it looks like to combine the works of Chino Amobi, Rachel Beach, Allison Edge, Treasure Frey, Dean Goelz, Eric LoPresti, Jenny Morgan, David Mramor, Bennett Morris, Reuben Negron, Leah Oates, Nicki Stager and Jessica Stoller. Plus we'll be sponsoring artist Greg Haberny in a very special, very original artist's booth that you won't EVEN believe. And keep in mind, we'll be adding art every day, so there may even be a few surprises, including the always-beautiful work of Allie Rex! From Thursday, May 6th until Sunday, May 9th, we'll be open to all in Booth BKLYN-100, and, yes, we've got VIP Preview and regular ol' day passes for all of our collectors and friends. Just drop us a line while supplies last, and we'll see if we can hook you up.

Plus don't forget, The Homeless Boys Social Club continues until June 6th, right here at the gallery. Remember, until the second we drop dead from exhaustion, we're ready to show you some art!

A Positive Climate

What artist has two thumbs and was given an excellent description in The New York Photo Review? Bennett Morris! Okay, fine, the joke doesn't work as well in print. But that's no reason why you shouldn't head over and read all about Bennett's now-completed solo show Climate Untamed. Here's just a taste:



It's short, but it's very, very sweet. Thanks for the visit, NYPR! We're glad you enjoyed the show!

Dancing the Night Away

A night with Jason Bryant and Enid Ellen...

Tribal paint, alien prose, radical (if not saucy) costume, and a song of praise for the earth mother. Could this be the description of some indigenous tradition of another country? Nope, just another night at Like the Spice. As many of you know, this past Friday night Like the Spice became the stage for some pretty incredible events...

The evening began with a cocktail party featuring an preview of Jason Bryant's newest pieces. When Jason delivered his latest works to us we were incredibly impatient to get them out of their shadow boxes and see for ourselves what had already promised to be breathtaking pieces. With unveiling the last layer of plastic from the canvas there was a slight whiff of varnish and what we saw was just so exciting. If you missed the fabulous preview please please come by soon to see Jason's pieces, they are just too great to have to wait until his Fall 2010 show to see. Patience may be a virtue but not necessarily in this case.

The event began at about six and by 8:15 it appeared that most people had warmed up (with the help of our Pernod fountain), had admired Jason's work, discussed Bennett's current show, and found a new piece in our group show that they may not have seen before. And then it was time for Enid Ellen to take the stage. Before the lights were dimmed the best description of this duo was given to me, "Enid Ellen is like a tribal Ziggy Stardust." This indeed is a perfect way to describe Enid Ellen's music, although at points it is so unique and haunting that there doesn't seem to be any way that it could be related to anything that came before it.

As far as 2nd Fridays go, this past one surely proved to be an excellent model for future events. There was a stimulating and warm feeling in the gallery with so many different people mingling and circulating through the works. If you are familiar with our blog you know that we here at Like the Spice absolutely love it when new and old friends are present and exciting discussions abound. Thank you to all of those who attended and we look forward to see you again soon!

Just Can't Get Enough...

Of Bennett Morris, we mean...

I'm sure by now you all have guessed that we have a very hard time shutting up about Bennett Morris and his show here at Like the Spice. His work has been with us since January 22nd and it still does not fail to excite us; well Ladies and Gentlemen, it appears that this excitement is contagious as Bennett Morris: Climate Untamed at Like the Spice has made it onto Trent Morse's top gallery picks of February 2010!!



All of here at LTS would like to offer our sincerest congratulations to Bennett for creating such wonderful work that creates lasting impressions which permeate throughout the Brooklyn art scene. This is Bennett's first solo show in New York and such an accomplishment should not be overlooked.

Trent begins his review with, "The start of the new decade brings a slew of new art shows to North Brooklyn in which landscape plays a central role. Here are some of our favorites." He then goes on to connect Bennett's displays of ruination with the "idealized splendor of America’s natural wonders" found in the landscape paintings of the Hudson River School. Follow the link to read the rest of the article!

Congratulations again, Bennett!

Bennett Morris: Climate of Hunger

Saturday was our latest installment of the Monthly Dinner Series. Got it? Great. Let's talk about dessert.



Because this chocolate pretzel pie basically stands as a symbol of exactly what we thought about Friday night's dinner. The whole night was sweet, delicious, mouth-wateringly enjoyable, and when it finally ended, we wanted a second helping. If you weren't there, you missed a chance to enjoy the -dare we say genius?- of Bennett Morris, the well-spoken artist behind our current show, Climate Untamed.



If you've ever heard Bennett speak, you know what we mean when we say he's informative without being boring. If you haven't had that pleasure, check out our very latest podcast and find out for yourself! It's just too bad that specific recording won't include the dinner guests.



That's right, our guests! As always, the company makes the meal. These Monthly Dinners are well established now, so besides the always-fantastic food (this time provided by caterer Neilie Meyer), we've got regulars and newcomers alike, all ready to hear what the guest of honor has to say. And this time, no one felt shy about sharing their ideas or criticisms, and Bennett sure was ready with the answers! By the time we made it to dessert, everyone was grinning and laughing, and we all felt like something special was happening.



This could be why, when the dinner was over, THEY DIDN'T EVER GO HOME! Seriously, the dinner just KEPT ON GOING! Even when the food was gone, Bennett and our guests still had plenty of questions, opinions, anecdotes, or general chit-chat in them. We just cleaned the plates, locked the doors, and opened a bottle of wine, because how could we tell our new friends to leave? The conversation rolled on and on... and don't think for a second we didn't participate ourselves.



We're not gonna say how long it finally lasted, we're just gonna hint that some of us might have seen the sun. We honestly think it's going to be quite some time before a dinner manages to top the exquisite Climate of Hunger... but you know what? We've been surprised before. So if you haven't joined us for a dinner in a while, or even if you have, start planning now to join us in March, because you never know when that lightning's gonna strike. Just ask any of our guests from Friday night... but not until Monday, okay? They might still be in bed.

An Explosion from Maine!

Hello our super-handsome slash super-beautiful friends! Hope you were able to catch Bennett Morris last night. We at Like the Spice had the pleasure to host his first solo show in New York, Bennett Morris: Climate Untamed. We packed the house with friends and visitors of Like the Spice Gallery.


Artists and friends of Skowhegan also appeared to support Bennett in conjunction with the curated Skowhegan Alumni Exhibition that opened at the 92Y:Tribeca this past week. (Up until March 7th!).


Bennett's work is a spectacle built on both beauty and dread. He creates worlds through dioramas that audiences both want to see and would be terrified to actually experience. His ethereal colors envelope and illuminate these exploding and corroded structures to creating a stunning image.

Everyone was asking questions about Bennett's process and how he has been able to achieve the amazing catastrophic and painterly effects in his work. Find out for yourself and join us for our monthly artist Dinner Series this time with Bennett Morris! RSVP for Climate of Hunger on Feb 5th and catch Bennett before he starts his arduous walk back to Maine. For those who missed the opening, swing by the gallery and check out his work which will be on display until Feb 14th.

Hear ye, hear ye!

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears! Or, as I prefer to say, 'friends, New Yorkers, not gender-specific country people,' but this is a whole different thing...We here at Like the Spice hope that all had a wonderful time bidding 2009 adieu and welcoming with open arms this new decade. Sigh, isn't it wonderful to be in the early stages of a year? There is so much to look forward to and so many plans to make; with clear eyes and full hearts we cannot lose as we charge once more into the breach dear friends! As you are all penciling things into your calenders for the near future, and because it is totally acceptable to continue ringing in the New Year for at least a month, I would like to bring to your attention some wonderfully exciting up-and-coming events that Like the Spice is involved with. Ring it in, everybody!
First off, this Friday January 8th Like the Spice will be hosting a book signing party for LTS artist Jenny Morgan, as well as a group performance including one of our current solo artists Nicki Stager. Morgan's book, Jenny Morgan: New Territory, just came out last month and we are honored to have it on display and for purchase here at the gallery. The signing will be from 6:30-9pm and all are welcome! In addition Philadelphia performance artists Tom Firehat & James Weiss of FaceitdadPICTURES team up with drummer/designer Ryan Bair of Rolling Stone Magazine and photographer/gun moll Nicki Stager for an improptu site-specific collaboration at Like the Spice Gallery. According to Ruby Dimple, press agent, the central theme of the performance is doing a simple act the most difficult way possible. This is likely a "one-show goodbye" situation as Firehat was overheard saying (of Stager): "That wench doesn't even have a camera"; and when pressed, Bair called Stager a "pretender to the throne." One show, goodbye: January 8, 2010
Then watch Nicki Stager perform, speak, and eat at Maybe Just A Tiny Bite with Michelle Hinebrook her counterpart in our Monthly Dinner series Concurrent with Michelle Hinebrook & Nicki Stager: Exposure.

Also in January, our fearless leader and gallery owner Marisa Sage has joined with Grace Evans, director and partner at Zach Feuer Gallery in Chelsea, and Christina Ray, founder and director of Glowlab in Soho, to curate an exhibition at 92YTribeca of alumni chosen from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture’s 1999-2008 classes. Gallery exhibits at 92Y are always free and open to the public, so join us as we attend the opening reception Jan. 21st at 6pm.
Directly Following the show at the 92YTribeca on Jan. 22nd @ Like the Spice, presents the work of artist Bennett Morris.

Plucked straight off the Skowhegan registry, Mr. Morris creates his own spaces by hand, imbibing it with elements from the German Romantics and the Hudson River School, steeping it with Gothic Revival, and realizing it in a post apocalyptic photographic form.
On the 28th of January the 92YTribeca and Art21 will present a trivia event inspired by contemporary art and the culture of our time. Think that you can organize a team of five or less that would impress the likes of Alex Trebeck? Do you enjoy raining down knowledge of current art, film, music and online cultural phenomena? Then bring it on. If your friends are already frustrated with you because you win every game of Trivia Pursuit it's no problem, come solo and join a team on the spot. And for you shy folks, participation is not necessary; come and observe while you increase your knowledge of contemporary art.

Now, I know that this may seem a bit far in advance but we do not want you to miss the group show that Like the Spice will be hosting during the Armory Exhibit. This group show will feature many LTS artists and will open on February 18 and go until March 7th. Well, my friends I do believe that is all for now. We hope that you will join us for one or all of the events we have going on this month and next, it may be the best way to kick off this new year.