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.

Oooo, Baby, Baby, It's A Wild World

We're proud of our artists. We support them in all their creative endeavors. So when LtS artist Eric LoPresti stopped in and told us about his upcoming shows elsewhere, we were thrilled for him! And so we're showing you what he's got on his schedule, just in case you want to be thrilled too. First up: Connecticut!



Land(e)scape: Environmental Impacts
Greenwich Academy, Greenwich CT
Exhibition dates: January 14, 2010 - March 4, 2010

land(e)scape features two painters, Kysa Johnson and Eric LoPresti,
and photographer J Henry Fair, New York-based artists who explore
consumption, industrialization, and human impact on the
environment. What appear to be idyllic landscapes or beautiful
abstractions from afar reveal a deeper meaning upon further
reflection.

Then, almost exactly at the same time, a second show in Colorado!

Group Show at Rule Gallery
In association with Nathan Abels' show "Natural Causes"
227 Broadway, Denver, CO, 80203
Exhibition dates: February 5, 2010 - March 20, 2010

Isn't that great? Aren't you interested? Of course, you can see more of Eric's work at the Like the Spice webpage as well. And, naturally, we'll let you know when he's ready to return home. In the meantime, keep in mind that, if you're in the area, Eric would love to welcome you to either or both of these shows. We know from experience, his work is worth the trip.

Good luck out there, Eric! Hurry back!

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.

One Night Only! Jenny Morgan Book Signing and Special Performance

After much anticipation the books are in! Jenny Morgan's beautiful new book titled "New Territory," is in the gallery and now available for purchase. A gorgeous visual anthology of Jenny's paintings in glossy hardcover, the book showcases works dating back to 2003. Produced by Plus Gallery in Denver, "New Territory" includes pieces in private collections as well as works exhibited at both Like the Spice Gallery and Plus Gallery.





To celebrate Like the Spice hosted a book signing with Jenny Morgan last night coupled with a performance by "One Show Good-bye" with Nicki Stager, Tom Firehat, James Weiss, and Ryan Blair. In a Chaplin-Esq performance the artists set forth to accomplish a simple task in the hardest way possible, haphazardly involving visitors and the entire gallery in the process. Staged with sound bites, voice-overs, and guitar accompaniment the artists installed a small piece by Nicki Stager first by measuring all possible distances, taking extensive notes, and ladder finagling that moved visitors to and fro around the gallery.



Next the performance escalated to chopping wood, rigging a pulley and rope to draw clothing through the gallery and finally getting dressed. The performers included artists Nicki Stager, Tom Firehat & James Weiss of FaceitdadPICTURES teamed with drummer/designer Ryan Bair.



Visitors to the gallery last night also had the opportunity to see our fantastic new show Exposure: Nicki Stager and Michelle Hinebrook which will be on view through January 17th. There are still seats available for our Artist Monthly Dinner Series next Friday night with Nicki and Michelle. To RSVP for please visit our website Monthly Dinner Series: Maybe Just A Tiny Bite, and join us!

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.

Pre-Xmas X-posure!

So how was your Christmas? Did you enjoy the snow? Despite the impending shutdown, Like the Spice was still open and hoppin' on Wednesday, for opening night of Exposure, the latest show from Nicki Stager and Michelle Hinebrook. Here's a quick recap!



Right when you walk in the door, you understand how lovely this show can be. There's a light from Nicki and Michelle's work that seems to come as though from nowhere. Seeing them in person really underscores just how talented these two women are.



Despite the FREEZING cold, we were pretty happy with the crowd. It was a friendly, fun atmosphere, almost totally informal, and a wonderful opportunity to just talk to the artists face to face.



There's Nicki Stager on the right, talking to some fans. When not creating their own work, Nicki and Michelle are both teachers, helping the next generation of artists. This also means they're very accessibly when you've got questions about their work. Remember, both Nicki and Michelle will be at our next Monthly Dinner, coming up on January 15th. Previous dinners have been an absolute blast, so you can be sure this one will be just as exciting. Just remember, reservations are required. Hurry and make your reservations right now!



It was so wonderful to have so many guests at our opening night, despite the terrifying threat of snow. But what if you couldn't make it? Oh, well, you know we'll always forgive YOU! Just be sure to stop in anytime between right now and January 17th. Really, Exposure is a show you're going to want to see in person.



(ps: Like the Spice will be closed on Thursday, December 31st, but we'll be open again on Saturday, January 2nd. 2010, here we come!)

Last chance to say your vows and bid farewell!

Hurry! Hurry! Today is the last day to view Civil Union: Jenny Morgan and David Mramor at Like The Spice . We hope that you are wedded to the idea of stopping by to see us and bid adieu to this fabulous show. Let's face it, the weather is less than tolerable, plus it is the season for giving so come to the gallery and share your company with us. Save yourself from this miserable Sunday and let us here at Like The Spice warm you with our hearts, a glass of wine, and the collaborative and individual pieces by the wonderfully talented and innovative artists Jenny Morgan and David Mramor. This show has been a definite highlight and brought us through the dreary transition from a beautiful foliage-full fall into a cold and callous winter. As the opening for the show in November was nothing less than momentous and our ceremonial dinner Civil Ware proved to be a great success it is no surprise that Civil Union: Jenny Morgan and David Mramor has topped the charts. As this post could go on for ever lauding the coupling of Jenny and David and the work they produced it would just be better if you came to the gallery and experienced this show for yourselves. We, as always, would love to have you!! Also, keep an eye out for our upcoming show on December 18th, Exposure: Michele Hinebrook and Nicki Stager, see the post below!