erikjsommer.com

2.24.2008

cai guo-qiang


Cai Guo-Qiang, best known for his gunpowder drawings and pyrotechnic performance pieces, is being honored with a spectacular retrospective at the Guggenheim. The show, with the majestic Inopportune: Stage One dominating the rotunda, "presents art as a process that unfolds in time and space, dealing with ideas of transformation, expenditure of materials, and connectivity". It is a very worthy effort from a very interesting and powerful artist.


Cai Guo-Qiang
"I Want To Believe"
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Ave @ 96th St

February 22 - May 28


more info

2.22.2008

a midsummer night's dream


Irish playwright Darragh Martin's adaptation of this Shakespeare classic opens on Wednesday. Featuring a cast from mostly Columbia and NYU, Martin's production encourages the sensual and erotic while maintaining Shakespeare's dry wit and humor. It really is worth checking out.



The Invisible Company Presents
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
The Looking Glass Theatre
422 W. 57th St.

February 27 - March 1

more info

2.18.2008

Honey Space


There's a new gallery in Chelsea. Honey Space "is an independent exhibition space dedicated to presenting compelling work by contemporary artists in a non-commercial setting". The space, founded by Thomas Beale, is intentionally raw and has no guards nor attendants, no heat, and no windows. It is great. I love the fact that this space exists, and I love even more the fact that this space exists in Chelsea.


Honey Space
148 11th Ave
btwn 21st and 22nd St.

honey-space.com

2.17.2008

poppies


My work is being included in a group show opening Thursday, February 21st. "Poppies: Artists Explore The Social And Personal Impact Of Heroin Addiction", curated by Maria Fitzpatrick, will be exhibited at the World Culture Open Gallery. The show runs through the 27th, with an artist's reception Saturday, February 23rd, from 6:00-8:00PM. More information here.


"Poppies: Artists Explore The Social And Personal Impact Of Heroin Addiction"
World Culture Open Gallery
19 W. 26th St.

February 21-27
Opening: February 23rd, 6-8PM

2.15.2008

matthew perrine


Matthew R. Perrine recently wrote a very nice article about me for his paper, the Duluth Budgeteer News. Read the story here.

2.12.2008

february 29th


There's about to be a party at the LakeView Castle. Duluth style.

Friday, February 29th.

Be there.

2.11.2008

otto dix


This painting is great. It was painted in 1925, and is a lot more daring than most of the contemporary stuff I've recently seen.


Otto Dix
The Dancer Anita Berber
1925

2.10.2008

julian schnabel



I'm pretty into Julian Schnabel. Specifically his plate paintings. I'm ready for his retrospective any day now.

2.09.2008

a midsummer night's dream



Irish playwright Darragh Martin will stage his new adaptation of this Shakespeare classic for four nights in late February. Featuring a cast from mostly Columbia and NYU, Martin's production encourages the sensual and erotic while maintaining Shakespeare's dry wit and humor. And the set looks amazing.



The Invisible Company Presents
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
The Looking Glass Theatre
422 W. 57th St.

February 27 - March 1

more info

2.03.2008

jasper johns


Jasper Johns has complimentary shows at The Met and Matthew Marks Gallery in Chelsea. "Jasper Johns: Gray", opening Tuesday at The Met, examines his use of the color gray in more than 120 works from the 1950s to the present. Examples of his flag and map encaustics will be included, pieces that encourage the viewer to look at and examine, rather than just see. "Jasper Johns: Drawings 1997 - 2007", at Matthew Marks, brings together 40 drawings from the past decade, showing that Mr. Johns remains a vibrant and relevant artist.


"Jasper Johns: Gray"
The Met
5th Ave at 100th St.
February 5 - May 4


"Jasper Johns: Drawings 1997 - 2007"
Matthew Marks Gallery
522 W. 22nd St
February 2 - April 12

2.02.2008

francis alys


I had forgotten how great Francis Alys's work is. Perhaps best known for his paseos, or documented strolls where he walks through tough urban areas leaving marks of melting ice or dripping paint, he brings an air of politics while remaining fresh and thought provoking. His show up now at the Hispanic Society of America is well worth checking out.


Francis Alys
Fabiola
The Hispanic Society of America
155th and Broadway

September 20, 2007 - April 6, 2008