Whose House? Ross' House!

Good ol' Ross Racine has been a Like the Spice artist for some time now. In fact, we've even taken him along with us to our current off site show at The Roger Smith Hotel. While the work of Jason Bryant and Allison Edge will be showing in the solarium, Ross will be adorning the walls of the lobby. Opening night is March 19th, so if you haven't seen his stuff in person before, it's a great chance to take a look!

Also good news for Ross is all the attention he's been getting! First, one of his images has been featured in Data Flow 2, a new book from the Gestalten publishing house. He's very proud to be included, and we're very impressed with him for it!

Secondly, Ross was recently interviewed on Australian art blog The Art Life. This interview also appeared on another blog, Science Fictional, proving that Ross really has wide appeal. Take a peek and enjoy learning a little more about the man behind the images!

Of course, we're just as proud to be working with Allison and Jason, and, in fact, all of our artists (including Allie Rex and Michelle Hinebrook, now being featured at the 92nd Street Y Tribeca). But, just this once, it's Ross' turn to shine. So well done, Ross Racine! You'll still remember us little people... won't you?

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.

Rainy Day, Dry Wine

Hope everyone has been enjoying the rainy summer weather. Here at Like the Spice we're becoming umbrella aficionados! Grab your rainy weather gear and come to the 92nd Street Y on Thursday July 9th at 7pm because...



...we're hosting a special a wine and cheese party alongside a fabulous discussion with the talented Colette Robbins! Colette's work is on display alongside the work of Dean Goelz, in a very special show that you probably remember us talking about before. Tonight's a great night to check it out! As Colette answers your questions you'll get to enjoy some icy wine, chill cheese, and the even chiller collaboration that is on display.



Colette's paintings portray ordinary objects with a twilight zone twist, finding the unusual in the usual. In Colette's style a boring old acorn receives a dash psychological uncertainty and a splash of visual clarity and suddenly it becomes an awesome acorn that you can't escape! Come out at 7pm, rain or shine!

T-t-talkin' 'bout Our Event Makin'

We've been doing so many things lately. We've even forgotten to recap our press! Well, it's never too late for that. Especially when there's something so exciting to talk about.

Our current show, Dirty Dirty Love, has a attracted a little attention... from a different country! Brazilian blog Ideafixa seems to really like artist Reuben Negron. We had to run it through a translator, since we don't speak Portuguese, but that doesn't change how flattered we are! A gallery likes to feel international, after all. Remember that we've extended the show, and Dirty Dirty Love now runs until July 12th.

Also of note is our offsite show at the 92nd Street Y in Tribeca. The lovely Colette Robbins and the just as lovely Dean Goelz are joined together in a fantastic show made up of their very latest works. Some of you might remember that we blogged about it before. Well, Dean and Colette will soon be stopping by the 92nd Street Y to talk about their work. On Thursday, June 25th, come enjoy a discussion with Dean and Colette. Just $5 holds your place in advance. If you've never met them, you have to go. If you have met them, you have to go again. We can't stress it enough: these two are so great in person.

Keep in mind that we're gonna be open all Summer long (except Tuesdays) and we want to see YOU! If nothing else, be sure to stop in on July 17th for opening night of Off The Clock! And make your reservations now for Assisted Dining, coming on July 24th. Remember, even though the weather is cool, we're still hot!

Colette Robbins and Dean Goelz at 92YTribeca for Like the Spice Gallery

Last night, Thursday May 14, Marisa welcomed friends and colleagues to the opening of Colette Robbins and Dean Goelz new exhibit at the 92YTribeca. Colette's strikingly surreal and colorful panels and Dean's quiet but effective graphite and acrylic "dot" images impressed almost as much as the open bar, which ran dry in a matter of twenty minutes or so. Not to worry, however, because Marisa came to the rescue with reinforcement bottles. The show is slated to run until July 19 so if you missed the fun last night be sure to find time to get down to Tribeca before it is too late; the new space is absolutely beautiful.




Dean and Colette, appropriately decked out for the occasion, look thrilled about the big turnout but she's just relieved she got that last glass of wine and he's putting on a brave face until he can change back into his converse.



This enormous panel, titled "Spirited Away," by Colette was attracting plenty of attention throughout the evening.



After the opening everyone rendezvoused at Nancy Whisky's Pub for "one last drink." Remember if you are seated upstairs its Table Service ONLY!

Y? Because We... Wait, We Made That Joke Last Time

At least we know you're reading! And if you're reading, you should be planning to come and see Colette Robbins & Dean Goelz at 92nd Street Y Tribeca. Here's a little taste!



Colette Robbins describes her work thusly: When you stare at your mother and for the first time see the details of a mole you have never noticed before, you are entering the space where my work exists. This enigmatic twilight zone also occurs when you stare at something ordinary, like an acorn and are transported into a seemingly uneventful time in your childhood that carries strong psychological uncertainty and visual clarity. Whether I am observing a friend or recalling a detailed dream, I see everything through an uncanny lens. Through this lens of perverse nostalgia, I envision paintings that synthesize our cultural and personal histories full of both horror and empathy. We've been enjoying her stuff here, and we're pretty sure you will too.



Alongside our pal Colette, you'll find our pal Dean Goelz, showing off his latest exciting works.



Through representations of humanoid forms, Dean presents the viewer with his interpretations of the human condition. He highlights the play between the awkwardness and the elegance of existence. If you caught his solo show, you know how great his work can be, and if you didn't, you have a chance to see him now!



Colette and Dean will be showing at 92Y Tribeca from Thursday, May 14 until Sunday, July 19. The opening reception is May 14th from 6-8 pm. We'll see you there!