Nicole Stager and Collect Willimasburg at Like the Spice Gallery

This is going to be a special night as we Collect Williamsburg with Artlog.com and Phillips Art Expert. We have a wine tasting with Blue angle wines at 8:00pm.

Emotionally evocative yet inherently mysterious, Stager’s work sits at the crossroads of several different artistic practices. In a process that combines the specificity of the photograph as document with the aesthetic history of abstract painting through the performative manipulation of light and color in real time, Stager induces a kind of trans-media synthesis rarely seen in work that is so simple in its beauty. Time, color, shape and line are all uniquely presented in Stager’s work.
Nicole Stager: Synaesthesia
October 10th – November 9th, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday October 10th 6-10pm
Artist’s Dinner: October 17th 8pm - RSVP Required

Fowel Play on Arts and Absinthe...

sunday update: we definitely like the spice

Art and Absinthe.com

This past Friday night, I had the chance to attend one of Like the Spice Gallery’s monthly dinner parties, which honor its current exhibiting artist along with related special guests. If you’re the sort who ever feels a disconnect in traditional gallery spaces, this bandwagon is one to hop on. Hearing artist Dean Goelz explain a bit of his inspiration and process for the show Migrations was, simply put, cool. In person, Dean is endearing and earnest, which comes through in his work, a series of sculpted clay human heads on top of geese-like bodies in various poses. What may sound silly on paper comes across in person as an apt exploration of awkward vs. humorous in human relationships - in a sense, turning the term “anthropomorphism” on its head.
artist Dean Goelz in front of his work for "Migrations"


Artist Dean Goelz in front of his work for "Migrations"

Out of all the “cosmic underdogs and nerds,” however, the probable award for piece we’d-most-like-to-take-home belongs to a work on paper, a piece Goelz created after the death of three grandparents within a two year span. A graphite rendering of a face peeks out from a mass of white acrylic dots on white paper, forming a shadowy cloud over the slightest hint of a human form. The white-on-white raised dots added a sculptural element to a piece that might have otherwise seemed out of place in a room full of 3-D fowl with human heads.

Two additional artists were on hand to supplement the night’s theme, “Foul Play.” Andrew Garn showed a clip from his film “The Last Pigeon,” and JL Aronson (whose film Up on the Roof is screening Sept 22 at the Village East Cinemas) spoke about how his film is attuned to the human interest side of the greater pigeon story, i.e. gentrification in New York and how that affects old-school birding folk. As for Garn, check out his insanely detailed pigeon portraits at A.M. Richard Fine Art in Williamsburg - a cross between National Geographic and f/2.8.


See here for more details on Dean’s show at Like the Spice Gallery. And save the date for October 17, the date of the next gallery dinner party with artist Nicole Stagg.

PS. Dinner was divine!

LtS + GiT = BFF

(A little accident made us post an unfinished draft before. Our bad! Hope you like this version more.)



On September 16th, LtS made a little trip to enjoy the Girls In Tech Web 2.0 Expo. And, just like we expected, the tech-minded know how to party!



We brought work from artists Anna Druzcz, Abby Goodman, Nora Herting,Tatiana Kronberg and Nicole Stager (who will be joining us in October for her solo show Synesthesia) and the pieces were very well received.



As the night went on, we became happier and happier that we'd been invited. Probably because of this, the photos started to get blurry. Hey, our cameraperson wanted to party too!



The Girls In Tech crowd were all terribly clever, and that made the whole thing a lot more fun. Thanks again to Girls In Tech for having us. We hope we can do this again!

Not Even Slightly Daffy

Dean Goelz had his opening on Friday, September 12th. Were you there? If you weren't, you missed a very pro-duck-tive evening.



Dean's Migrations is a challenge of how we act and interact with each other, our environment and our friends and family.



The sculptures are everywhere, from ankle to eye to high in the sky and a simple decision like "What do I look at first?" will suddenly become very difficult. These ducks are quiet, but still have plenty to say.




A few of Dean's drawings are also featured, and they're just as nice. We've made you a special photo tour, but trust us, everything looks much better in person. Dean's show runs until October 5th, so come visit!



If you'd like to meet Dean (he's the one on the right that isn't a duck) you'll have a chance on Friday, September 19th with our Monthly Dinner Series: Foul Play. Reservations are required, though, so sign up soon. Trust us, you'll be glad you did.

Williamsburg Every Second Fall Kick off! Tonight!

You Would Not Believe How Many Drumsticks

If you're any sort of friend to Like the Spice, you already know that Dean Goelz: Migrations opens on Friday, September 12th. Seriously, we can't seem to shut up about it. But that's just because we're really loving Dean's work and we know you will love it as well. Take a look at the online sneak preview to get an idea, and rest assured, there's a lot more we're saving as a surprise.



And speaking of surprises, we've just ironed out the details of this month's dinner. Foul Play will happen on Friday, September 19th at 8:00pm. Just $45 gets you dinner, drinks and entertainment (thank you to our sponsor Pernod). And what will the entertainment be, you ask?

First, artist Dean Goelz will explain the theory and practice behind his sculpture and drawing. Dean's a MICA graduate and works as a freelance artist so he'll surely have something interesting to say. You can read more about Dean on our main web site.

Second, we'll be welcoming filmmaker JL Aronson, director of Up on the Roof, a documentary about pigeons and those who care for them. Aronson has gotten some attention from places like Gothamist and his movie is a trip to the rooftops of a changing Brooklyn, which is a place that few of us will ever get to go. We're really looking forward to having him.

Reservations are required so contact us now to reserve your place! If you've missed out before, take a look at what's been happening without you. See how much fun you'd be having?

P.S. Dean Goelz: Migrations is a Williamsburg 2nd Friday Event.

Like A Trained Bear, We Dance For Your Love

Thankfully, we get a little bit from time to time. The esteemed Hrag Vartanian enjoyed our current show, Forming Lines. It's open until August 31st so you still have time! We also got a notice from Brooklynbased.net, we were selected by Artcal as a Pick, and an Artcards pick as well. Stop in and enjoy this mix of drawing and sculpture. And then get ready, because on September 12th, we welcome artist Dean Goelz and his solo show, Migrations. Hope to see you opening night!