We Don't Owe You A Thing | Reception: March 2, 2013 | 6-9pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition curated by Carl Gunhouse entitled We Don't Owe You A Thing: a group show to open Saturday, March 2nd from 6 to 9. All are welcome.

We Don't Owe You A Thing focuses on art that reflects aesthetically and intellectually the tenets of a virulent subset of Punk Rock called Hardcore. The show brings together a divergent group of artists who all at one time or another were involved in the hardcore scene. The group's work, now shares a common thread of being direct, dark, powerful, a tad masculine, DIY, and above all, determined to value personal expression above pleasing others. The show highlights the convergence of two unlikely bedfellows, the Hardcore scene and the Brooklyn art scene.

The show will be open to the public the night of the opening and and on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 6pm. In cooperation with the greater Ridgewood and Bushwick community, the gallery will remain open until 9 pm on Saturday March 9th.

Artists:

Joseph Michael Lopez, Thomas Marquet, Guy Nelson, Jacob Rhodes & Keith Sullivan

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Exhibition Game | Reception: February 3, 2013 | 4-10pm

Well, it's been decided, two teams, each coached by a Harbaugh, hailing from opposing coastlines will clash in the most highly anticipating sporting event of the year on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013.

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition curated by Joe Nanashe entitled Exhibition Game; a complete sensory event to take place between 4 and 10pm on "Super Bowl Sunday." February 3rd 2013. All are welcome.

Exhibition Game is the confluence of art, sports, media, performance, event, party, gallery opening, and installation. It is a celebration of everything right and wrong in sports, art and contemporary American Culture: heroics, mythology, aesthetic, spectacle, money, violence, sexism, drugs, and death. The event will commence with a "tailgate party" on the gallery stoop at 4pm, and continue with a spectacular Super Bowl XLVII game, exhibition and performances.

Artists:

Jason Robert Bell, Brent Birnbaum, Dana Crossan, Kevin Curran, Matthew de Leon, Diane Dwyer, Carlos Gonzalez, Marni Kotak, Jim Lee, Rebecca Litt, Jamie Powell, Macy Rodman, Michael Scoggins, SP* R KLE, Alice B Talkless, Aaron Williams

Bring your folding chair and beer cozy and stake out for the entire event, or stop in for a beer and a snack. Already have plans for the big day, come to Small Black Door on Friday, February 15th for a special re-broadcast of Super Bowl XLVII between 6 and 10pm.

The remnants of Exhibition Game will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays between February 3rd and February 24th from 1 to 5pm.

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Taste | Reception: October 19, 2012 | 6-10pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition curated by Brian Hubble entitled Taste; a group show to open on Friday, October 19th from 6 to 10. All are welcome.

In Notes on Camp, Susan Sontag asserts that taste has the ability to "convert the serious into the frivolous." What does a serious work look like? What does a frivolous work look like? This is decided and further complicated by the viewer's endlessly complex and personal sense of taste. She continues:

Where and when in the language of art has taste, something so instrumental to intent, become regarded as frivolous or vapid? With Taste, Brian Hubble brings together artists who are working to confront this question. They are altering and exploiting their own sensibilites to illuminate the possibilities of reason behind this mysterious force.

In this exhibition, the conviction of taste and self-exploration fuels the practice of Bittman, Brown, Lewis, and Reyna. They each present their personal sensibilities as steps toward a deeper self-knowing.

In contrast, Ashcraft, Cueva, Powers, and Hubble court the ruination of sensibility. Exercizing the right to topple normative modes of art making, they stand for the destruction of aesthetic comfort and understanding.

With Elliott, Jensen, and Smith, clever subversions of the common languages of taste add an appropriate complexity. As taste is infinitely diverse and personal the investigation of its rationale is endless.

by Madeleine Reyna

Artists:

Eric Ashcraft | Becky Brown | Samantha Bittman | Nicholas Cueva | Jonathan Elliott | Brian Hubble | Kristen Jensen | Anthony Lewis | James Powers | Madeleine Reyna | Winslow Smith

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Heroes | Reception: September 14, 2012 | 6-10pm

Opening Friday September 14th, 6 to 10pm
On view Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 6pm

Organizer Julie Torres writes,

"HEROES" is not a show about men in capes and women in spandex suits. Nor is the title meant to imply that its participants risk their lives ensuring safety and order in the world each day. There are real people who do that, and they are true heroes for sure.

This show is about a different kind of hero.

I know that none of these artists would describe themselves as being particularly 'heroic,' which I can certainly appreciate. But the truth is that they inspire and energize so many of us through the power of their own artwork, and also by sharing and communicating something larger than themselves.

These are artists who provide valuable insight into what other people are doing and what 'else' is going on out there. They show and talk about other artists' work in a meaningful way, and provide venues for us to meet, look, think and engage both face-to-face and online. What they do takes time, energy, dedication and courage. Maybe it's human nature, but I always want to get better at things when I see other people doing them well. What is a hero but someone who inspires you to be better?

Selected list of participating artists:

Liz Atzberger, John Avelluto, Brett Baker, Paul Behnke, Deborah Brown, Sharon Butler, Kevin Curran, Joy Curtis, Paul D'Agostino, Rob De Oude, Lacey Fekishazy, Enrico Gomez, Chris Harding, Katarina Hybenova, Lars Kremer, Ellen Letcher, Amy Lincoln, Loren Munk, Matthew Mahler, Mike Olin, James Prez, Kevin Regan, Jonathan Terranova, and Austin Thomas

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Bring Yourself | Reception: July 28, 2012 | 5-10pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its upcoming gathering on Saturday July 28th entitled Bring Yourself. This event celebrates the things that are important to us as individuals, while placing and emphasis on trade over currency. Bring Yourself aims to assemble artists and non-artist alike for a one night only, luck-of-the-draw cum art-swap.

How Bring Yourself works:

Bring something that is reminiscent of your practice and spirit and leave with a piece of someone else's. We encourage it to be handmade, (although it is not required) and ask that you keep the size under 18"x24". Small Black Door will provide tacks, screws and nails, but ask that you bring any specific hanging hardware for your contribution. Upon submission, participants will receive a raffle ticket guaranteeing one selection off the wall upon drawing. All are welcome and we strongly encourage you to invite your friends. Submissions will begin when the gallery doors open on 7/28 starting at 5pm and culminate with the drawing of tickets at 9 pm. In the mean time, watch the wall fill up with other's "selves," graze on the pot-luck we are encouraging gatherers to also contribute to, and take in the sounds provided by jojoSOUL. Come early and stay late, the DJ will be spinning all night. Spread the word! RSVP not necessary, but encouraged.

Selected list of participating artists:

Liz Ainslie, Liz Atzberger, Kim Babcock, Andrea Bergart, Matthew Fisher, Matthew J Mahler, Christopher Moss, Antonia Perez, Jamie Powell, Jonathan Terranova, Weston Ulfig, Sanders Watson, Andrew Zarou and many more!

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Post Acid | April 20 | Reception: April 20, 2012 | 6-9pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition entitled entitled Post Acid; a group show to open on Friday, April 20th from 6 to 10. All are welcome.

Decades after Kesey's first Acid Tests, main stream culture is littered with reminders of the psychedelic; everything from fashion trends to socio-political statements made public on Twitter echo sentiments of the countercultural revolution of the 60s and 70s. Post Acid examines the work of a select group of artists who were not cognizant of its initial impact nearly half a century ago, but make work that directly or indirectly pays homage to many psychedelic tropes firmly planted during its inception.

Works in this show explore a variety of media and themes ranging from the ineffable to the surreal.

Artists:

Andrea Bergart, Thomas Burke, Lisa Candage, Myla Dal Besio, Rob de Oude, Adrian Jevicki, Matthew Mahler, Jenna Ransom, Adam Parker Smith and Aaron Williams.

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Hypercolor | February 18 | Reception: February 18, 2012 | 7-10pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition entitled HYPERCOLOR; a group show to open on Saturday February 18th from 7-10. Artists Lydia Ainsworth and Lara Gemmiti will perform "Aqua Aura", a collaborative performance, the night of the opening from 8:30-9. All are welcome.

"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color."
- Hans Hofmann

"HYPERCOLOR" brings together a group of ambitious artists who's practices are hinged on their unique relationship with the formal element. Each embrace a diverse palette, often full of high-key colors that both invigorate and jar their viewer. Though employed for different reasons, these artist's selection of color suggest an undeniable affinity to contemporary popular culture paying homage to the past while offering insight to the future.

Artists:

Liz Atzberger, Joe Ballweg, Saira McLaren, Ziad Naccache, Douglas Einar Olsen, Jamie Powell and Eric Sall, with a collaborative performance by artists Lydia Ainsworth and Lara Gemmiti the night of the opening.

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The Unfunny Show | November 18 | Reception: November 18, 2011 | 6-9pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its its fourth exhibition, The Unfunny Show curated by Matthew F Fisher opening Friday November 18, 2011 with a reception being held from 6-9pm.

"It's funny when it's not funny at all."
- Kurt Wagner, Lambchop, Nashville Parent

"I'd rather paint then draw, but would much rather look at drawings then paintings."
- Matthew F. Fisher

The Unfunny Show is collection of work that utilizes humor without being overtly comical. Still these drawings will make you chuckle. Don't worry, it might take some time. Deep down, the foundation for each image is a highly personal sense of humor that comes across in each mark that is made. These are side door humor drawings. What you see might not make you laugh out loud. Maybe it will, but over time, a slow belly laugh will rise up and become a smile long after you have walked away. Which is the power of humor. And art.

Artists:

Liz Ainslie, Jameson Brosseau, Any Cross, Ariel Dill, Alicia Gibson, Andrew Gunther,
Daniel Heidkamp, Margaret Lanzetta, Billy Malone and Christopher Moss.

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Separation | October 15, 2011 | Reception: October 15, 2011 | 5-10pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its its upcoming exhibition entitled Separation; a group show curated by Julian Calero and Kris Graves. The show will open on Saturday October 15th from 5-10 pm. All are welcome.

"The idea for this show derived from noticing process-related byproducts and scraps at studio visits, which themselves struck me as unintended works of art. The show idea solidified as Kris Graves and I began to explore the themes of alienation and dissolution. In some pieces, remnants of the process of creation will be featured, as will works that have become artwork indirectly through the process of creation or abandonment. SEPARATION will feature installation work, painting, photography and sculpture." Julian Calero

Artists:

Chris Burnside | Peter Butler | Rob de Oude | Nathan Gelgud | Lauren Jack | Annie Kyle | Michael Robbins | Daniel Salemi | Adam Taye | Rena Teratani | Andrew Zarou

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small.black.show | April 29 - May 13 | Reception: April 29, 2011 | 6-9pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its its second exhibition, small.black.show opening Friday April 29, 2011 with a reception being held from 6-9pm.

In a time of economic uncertainty and political upheaval SMALL BLACK DOOR presents small.black.show, an exhibition inspired by a mere play on the gallery's name in an attempt to lighten the spirits of its participants and attendants if for just one evening. The show consists of fifteen emerging talents ranging from abstract painters to video artists all of whom have been asked to select work in response to the show's title. Interpretations vary from literal selections based on size and hue to a more figurative approach based on theme or genre.

Artists:

Kim Babcock-Sheridan | Joe Ballweg | Dana Bell | Patrick Brennan | Martin Bromirski | Peter Demos | Amy Feldman | Jacob Goble | Halsey Hathaway | Patty Harris | Elisa Lendvay | Mary Kate Maher | Antonia Perez | Sanders Watson | Nora Woolley

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All My Friends | February 18 - March 4 | Reception: February 18, 2011 | 6-9pm

Small Black Door is pleased to announce its inaugural exhibition, All My Friends opening Friday February 18th 2011 with a reception being held from 6-9pm.

"It's all about who you know." Despite the overuse of this clichéd phrase, we all know how disappointingly accurate it is. Whether hunting for the perfect apartment or trying to land their dream job, in the end it always comes down to "who you know".

All My Friends is a group exhibition hinged on the idea that it really is about who we know. The art world is no different than any other in that ones social network will often lead to more opportunities than the quality of their ideas or actual work. Aware of this, Small Black Door has assembled a group of eclectic and ambitious artist friends, to share in its first show in attempt to create a wide awareness of the new space amongst the local art community. The organization of such a varied group of artists, serves as a metaphor for the diverse style of relationships one forges throughout a lifetime; no two are alike as they are always built from different dynamics. Similarly, no two artists approach making work the same way. The show's title All My Friends is borrowed from an epic song by electronic artist LCD Soundsystem. The single stresses the importance of leading a life free from regret or compromise and speaks about the feeling of comfort and reassurance a friend can provide. Simply put, where would we be without our friends?

Artists:

Carr Chadwick | Doug Olsen | Emily Monen | Joshua Schwartz | Lacey Fekishazy | Lisa Candage | Matthew Fisher | McDavid Moore | Mike Hein | Patrick Hughes | Weston Ulfig | Yana Dimitrova

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