NY Made Music

If you were outside at all last weekend, you knew it was Make Music NY, a citywide festival that was all about making music. Like the Spice hosted a few acts as well, and we had a great day. Keep an eye out, because we might have some video for you at the top of next week. Thanks to everyone who came, and thanks to all the bands! You rocked!

Rosy Nolan


Richie Aufrichtig


Young Man About Town



Batter Recharger


Linda Draper



Wes Mattheu & Mike Smith

"To me this event is all about optical illusionist Rachel Beach" Oly Musings.

We Love love love how much Olys Musings adores Like the Spice's booth at the Affordable Art Fair. Read on and come check us out soon cause the work is flying off the walls!!! AAF Now - Sunday 12-8pm. 135 18th street in the metropolitan building!
xo LTS
"Affordable Art Fair worth checking out for wood and squirrels
Truth be told, in past years this has usually been a hit or miss fair, but certainly one where serious bargains can be found. This year, though-- there's some great surprises to be had. Soon to come on the Musings, the name of the artist and photos of the best work of the show--HECK, the YEAR-- the pen and ink drawings of the deviant Mexican wrestling mask squirrel. He's a cutie, and ready for a dirty fight. Watch out for wicked claw marks!!

But in the interim, please check out Brooklyn's always fantastic Like the Spice Gallery. Not only is Marisa Sage, the owner, one of the most genuinely cool people in the art world, but she displays some seriously kick-ass artists. Anna Druczc is another of my faves of hers, but to me this event is all about optical illusionist Rachel Beach. If the undulating ribbons of color don't get you, the flower power cutouts will. Sure to be a main draw. Check it out. Tonight from 6-9 is the preview party, then the fair runs till Sunday.

Go to http://www.aafnyc.com/ for more details."

And If By "Affordable" You Mean "Amazing", Then YES

Join us at the Affordable Art Fair from June 12th through June 15th. We'll be showing work by Rachel Beach, Liz Brown, Anna Druzcz, Allison Edge, Nora Herting, Eric LoPresti, Ross Racine and Beka Goedde. Come and take a look!


Don't want to pay at the door? Come by or call us here at the gallery before Wednesday, June 11th and tell us you're one of our loyal online readers and we'll give you a free pass that will get you in as our special guest (while supplies last, of course). Call us at 718-388-5388 if you need more information. We want to see you and we want you to see us!

Forced Success

If you were here on Friday, June 6th, you were one of the people who got to enjoy being Force Fed! If you weren't, take a look at everything you missed.



Our first speaker was Rachel Shuman, one of the co-editors of Cai Guo-Qiang/Inopportune: Stage One which can be viewed on the Guggenheim's web site. Rachel spoke on the role of the chinese artist, both in the Guggenheim show and in the world at large, which prompted a very enjoyable conversation about the hows and whys of emerging artists, the decline of censorship in China over the last seven years, and the way this is changing the global art market as a whole.

Rachel also gave us some insight into the editing process of "Cai Guo-Qiang/Inopportune: Stage One", telling us just how much time and footage it took to make the five minute long documentation of the piece. She joked that she was like a surgeon, and we think that's a fair comparison. Be sure to enjoy the finished piece yourself.


After Rachel came our good friend (and current featured artist) Eric LoPresti. Eric had plenty to say about his current show Force Against Force. The relationship between the two sides of every image, the formal aspect of painting, the challenge of the abstract vs the real, even the decisions made in graphing out the pieces and the importance of color and how it affects us in the day-to-day world, Eric gave us a terrifying amount of information in a calm, soothing way. Appropriate, huh? Force Against Force runs until June 15th, and the artist will be in attendance all day. Be sure to stop by and congratulate him on his successful show!



Our chef for the night was Conor Yates, who brought us an organic dinner that was absolutely wonderful. Conor is a student of the slow food movement, and filled us in on how he and his fellow chefs are working to counteract the fast food lifestyle many of us have accidentally chosen. We learned about the role of raw food, cooking without fats and oils, and the importance of grass-fed meats and using local farms. The meal ended with a fruit and chocolate fondue, thanks to the nice people at Divine Chocolates. They're a Fair Trade chocolate company, so there's no worry that you're not doing your part. Plus they taste SO GOOD.

It was a great night and we enjoyed having everyone. If you couldn't make it, keep an eye on our calendar, because you've just got to make the next one. It's not the same without you here!

Force Fed Dinner!

Here's a little sneak peek of the menu!
Endive Salad with a Pepita-Lime Dressing
Roasted Vegetable
Chicken Layered Enchiladas & Tempeh Layered Enchiladas
Dessert Provided by Divine Chocolates.

Join us again for our Monthly Dinner Series on Friday, June 6th at 8pm with Force Fed, a daring and delicious dining experience.Artist Eric LoPresti will be on hand to talk about his style, inspiration and the experiences that have led to the work in his current solo show, Force Against Force.

Previous dinners have been fun for all who attended. If you were one of those who've dined with us before, it's high time you came back for seconds. And if you haven't joined us yet, now is a great time to start! We always try to have a little something special at our dinners, so this time we'll be welcoming artist Rachel Shuman as our very special guest. Rachel will be discussing her video work Inopportune: Stage One, now on display as part of Cai Guo-Qiang's current exhibition at the Guggenheim. Rachel Shuman is an independent filmmaker who has edited several documentary feature films including Full Disclosure (2008), Sons of Sakhnin United (2007) and her own film Negotiations (2005), which premiered at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival. She received a BFA from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Rachel will be joined by filmmaker David Sampliner.

Dinner will be brought to use by chef Conor Yates, who works in Special Diet and Organic styles. Conor was trained at The Natural Gourmet Institute in Manhattan, and his meals represent the principles of the Slow Food movement, using traditions from many cultures simultaneously. We're looking forward to a fantastic meal.

R Previous dinners have been nothing but wonderful, and meals are always full of tasty, organic food with one eye on the needs of vegetarians (and otherwise). We can't tell you the menu just yet, but we can promise that it will be something that will make your mouth water, and if you're not here, you'll be wishing that you had been!

Remember that reservations are required before June 4th, so call or email us as soon as possible to secure your place! Cost is $45 for all courses and wine.

Call us at 718.388.5388 or email info@likethespice.com
Reservations required!

On top of the emerging art world

Top Emerging Artist Eric LoPresti!!

Tracy Frost From Art2Bank, The Art of Investment writes:
Eric LoPresti at Like The Spice, Brooklyn, USA, May 16th - Jun 8th

Posted on May 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM.
Keep Reading in Emerging Art:

* Top Emerging Artists

Born in 1971, Eric LoPresti grew up in the remote southeastern desert of Washington State. He received his BA in Cognitive Science (University of Rochester) in 1993, and his MFA (Maryland Institute College of Art) in 2002.

LoPresti's work has been exhibited internationally, including solo shows at Jan Larson Fine Art and Miami University. He is the recipient of the Louis J. Kuriansky Foundation Award and the 2005 Miami Young Painters, William and Dorothy Yeck Purchase Award.

A pre show fierce review!

ARTmostfierce was invited to an studio visit for emerging artist Eric LoPresti sponsored by the auction house Phillips de Pury.

And this is what he had to say:

Eric's paintings are combination of oil and airbrush on linen .Most of his paintings are manifested as diptychs in which one side has a complete abstract expression vs. a quite crafted , insightful and detailed visual that makes us think of the some of the world most current events.
A good example of it is the second diptych painting (Untitled) in which an image from Iraq can be as familiar as a neighborhood somewhere in Florida or Los Angeles in the moment of being hit by a missile. There is a lot of reflexion, insinuation and hidden messages in his paintings but, I want you to be the judge so please, go to the opening tomorrow night and see for yourself . For more info please see links below or contact Marisa Sage at Like The Spice Gallery. Don't miss it!

Check out the blog!