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!

On Your Way Back From Capistrano?

So much of the city goes away for the summer, but after a vacation, it's time to fly home. So on September 12th, 2008, Like the Spice is pleased to present Dean Goelz: Migrations featuring the artist's socially astute drawings and sculptures. The works depict the slightly odd ways we interact with each other and our environment and the tenuous grip society and culture have on our gentle animal natures. Using a kind of reverse anthropomorphism, the characters depicted in the show evoke to protective instincts usually reserved for cute animals and babies while being all too human.

Lifelike, the sculptures of humanoid and human-hybrid forms embody the awkward everyman, They form herds, do their best to get along and end up as slightly creepy, slightly funny, complex characters that evoke our sympathy and compassion. Cosmic underdogs and nerds, Goelz's human/duck hybrids in particular are both disturbing and familiar, reminding us of the razor's edge distinctions between instinct, personality, and society. Other sculptures in the exhibition include a self-portrait bust frosted like a birthday cake wearing a crown of unlit candles and cut away at the shoulders to reveal the layers inside and a large man in a monster costume with his face coming protruding from the monster's mouth.

Dean Goelz graduated from The Maryland Institute College of Art in 2001 where he earned his Bachelor in Fine Arts degree. He works as a freelance artist doing design work and commissioned sculptures while operating a successful mural and faux finishing business. His work has shown nationally and internationally and is included in private collections in the US, France, and the Czech Republic. He lives and works in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A veteran of several group shows, this will be Dean Goelz's first solo show at Like the Spice.

Plus! Join us on September 19th at 8:00pm for Foul Play, the latest in our Monthly Dinner series. Reservations are required, so act fact. Click here for more!

Drawing on our experience to serve a well-sculpted meal

On August 1st at 8pm, Like the Spice fed the multitudes with Forming Bread Lines, the latest and most delicious installment of our Monthly Dinner Series. And if you didn't have those reservations, you were off to McDonalds, because we were SOLD OUT! Keep that in mind for next time.



Dinner was brought to us by Scottadito Osteria Toscana and we can't praise them enough. We also can't offer enough praise to our guests. Great company, great questions, hey, it was just great! We've enjoyed all our dinners but man, this one sure was something special.



Dinner began with our camera-shy host, Marisa Sage, discussing the concepts behind the show. She told us how it was assembled over six months of studio visits, and inspired by the way drawings and sculptures can influence and translate each other back and forth between 2d and 3d. It was great and we love her, but she wouldn't let us take any photos so let's move on.



Artist Rodger Stevens followed Marisa, sharing a little bit about the intricacies in his pieces and how most of the time, they are a bit more than meets the eye. For those not fortunate enough to have heard him talk, Rodger is very, very funny and his self-critique was more like standup comedy. This helped make it easy to understand the role of humor in his art. Rodger also pointed out how his kids had made him a stronger artist. A highlight of the night for sure!



Our pal Kathleen Vance from Frontroom Gallery was up next, telling us about her piece at the front of the gallery, which combines a drawing study of running water with the physical presence of a small semi-portable stream.



Kathleen's piece was intended to provoke discussion of how, regardless of what we might change in the environment, water always finds its way. And when you consider the way moving water shaped the planet long before we arrived, her piece becomes a much larger and exciting concept. We're always happy to have her visit.



Marc Andre Robinson closed the night, first by proposing a toast to this wonderful evening...



...and then by explaining his eye-catching piece. With Hurricane Katrina fresh in his mind, Marc's piece combines the ideas of devastation and rebirth, and the evolution of people as individuals and as masses. The connected chair sculptures are designed as a sexual being, just like they seem, and that connects well with the drawing that hangs on the wall. Marc's piece gave everyone a bit to think about and ended the night with an excellent discussion... but then, weren't they all?



Thanks to all our guests for making the whole experience the best we've had to date. So how are we gonna top it next time? We're still getting next month's dinner prepared, but save the third weekend in September. Dean Goelz will be with us and remember, the secret is to reserve your space early!

Jason Goodman, owner of 3rd Ward, showing off with Dean's work

Forming Lines runs until August 31st. If you haven't already, please stop by and take a look. And if you have, why not come again?

Lines Were Formed

We found a few more pictures from Friday's opening night of Forming Lines. We knew you'd want to see them. Look at what was happening in our basement!



The party spilled down the stairs to our secret special second floor. Down there we've got some old favorites from previous shows, and a couple brand new pieces like this one by our pal, Beka Goedde.



Upstairs, of course, the fun continued.



These sculptures by Dean Goelz proved to be popular with-



-yeah, sure, everybody's a critic. Anyway, Dean's got his own solo show coming on September 12th, and we've got a little Internet sneak preview waiting for you.



Thanks to everyone who came and had fun. Forming Lines runs until August 31st. And don't forget about our Monthly Dinner Series event, Forming Breadlines, on August 1st. Reservations are required, so make yours quickly!