48 Bagels please...

Hello readers - I hate to tell you this but today was our last day together in the Big Apple.  Don't worry, I took care of things and stayed plenty busy wishing the entire time that I had another week to take it all in.  I'm not sure if I really went too much into detail about this - but I used to live here.  I used to walk up and down Broadway on a near daily basis, scowling at the tourists, screaming at rogue taxi drivers and generally just assimilating into a very bah-humbug lifestyle.  Now, I'm not sure if it's the 6 years that have passed or if the city has changed, but now when I return there is most certainly a change in the wind.  Sure, the woman behind the counter will still say "thank you for coming... have a nice day" and sound more annoyed that genuine but whatever - that's New York. That is going to happen.  But, smile once in a while here and you might be surprised at how frequently someone smiles back.  Of course there's an increased likelihood that the party smiling back is teetering on mentally insane - but hey... a smile is a smile is a smile.  Take it and enjoy life.

Today I woke up and began my day around noon.  While I'd been to several galleries all over Manhattan the last few days, Friday's time was allotted more for food - a general necessity if I wanted to keep the order in my home and workplace upon my return.  But before I got to the shopping, I wanted to meet up with weekend New Yorker, Ben Freeman.  Ben, as you might remember if you came to our show on the 18th of September, is an artist that we've represented for over two years now and who just finished several new pieces now on our walls in Carmel.  During the week Ben lives and works in Boston - but people being people and rituals of life being as they are - Ben has been weekending in New York for decades now and honestly, who can blame him?  A quick trip on a train and you're in the city that never sleeps with enough inspiration to last an artist a lifetime... or two.  Aside from our love of the island, Ben and I share a similar palette when it comes to food.  Both pescetrians and both lovers of all things Parisian, we tend to find ourselves meeting up at a wonderful French restaurant called Pastis.  Located in the meat packing district with a charming french motif, the food and wine and general buzz of people talking lends itself to a great meal - and a great meal was had by us both. His fish was Cod... mine was something else that I cannot remember - but both were amazing and accompanied some great discussion about his plans for the future - his work as an artist and the direction that life seems to be taking for both of us.  Often times we offer lectures in our gallery and let me tell you this - if you have a chance to sit down and talk with the artists - to learn about them or to listen to how they've come so far in their life  - it really does make their work that much better.  To hear Ben talk about his experiences in the world of fine art help to magnify this general understanding of technique and even, yes... politics in his work.  Maybe that's why I love his collections so much - because I know him and I see a piece of him in the work at hand.  If you have a chance to meet with any of our artists I would suggest that you do so.  Art speaks much louder when it has a sense of humanity behind it.

After lunch with Ben I raced to the North West side for some shopping.  And here's where I have to apologize to the readers - if I could I would bring you all something but as you might understand... that's not possible.  However, I am under orders to bring back bagels, Herring, bread, pizza, etc. to those I am close to on a daily basis.  So... up to 106th I went (or so) to a place whose name I still don't know - but who has the best bagels I've ever tasted.  H&H??? No.  You don't hold a candle to this place and I'm tired of people claiming that you do - marketing and branding in this city only gets you so far... you have to back it up and I'm sorry,... H&H doesn't back up anything anymore.  So, I found myself at a small no-name bagel place run by men and women who spoke enough English to take orders and left with 48 bagels in two very large blue bags.  Thus began the acquisition of New York cuisine.  Bagels, check.  Herring in creme sauce, check.  Hummus and Tahini from "The Hummus Place", check. Armenian string cheese, check.  Lox spread, check. $4 chocolate chip cookie from Food Channel favorites, check.  Tomorrow - 5 pizzas from Big Nicks and maybe... maybe... some garlic knots.... we'll see.  But regardless - that should do it... well, until I get to Pennslyvania where I get a few cases of Yuengling......  oh Lord... I have turned into my mother.  Such is life.  Food wins... food wins.

Well, speaking of food - dinner is here .... Sushi delivered to the apartment.  I'm going to miss New York City but for those of my readers who might see me at the gym - I'll be there quite a bit in the next few weeks... working off this "work week" on the treadmill.

Have a great night.

- Katherine

A tourist for every season.

It's nearly 11 pm and in 12 hours I've lived three days - or so it seems.  Today was a story from beginning to end and even I'm sure I didn't quite catch everything.  As I told you in my last entry - today was mostly about the Affordable Art Fair (AAF).  I had carefully arranged my few days here so that I would have an entire day to peruse what is likely the most manageable price points in all of Manhattan's fine art world.  Now, I am about as picky in art as I am in men - I know what I like and while I appreciate the workmanship that goes into various styles, I am not drawn to it.  Also, as I said today earlier, my tolerance for the ridiculous is waning.  Today I wanted to see something so fresh that it would take me by surprise - guess what.... SUCCESS!

The image you just saw is by an artist named Jordan Eagles and his work is perhaps the most exciting thing I saw all day.  The piece above is 20 x 20 x 3 and get this - it's blood preserved on Plexiglas and coated in resin.  This particular piece is also layered with copper.  Excuse me, did you say blood? Yep, I did.  But what's great about this piece is that it organically draws you in before you even know it's blood.  The color, the texture, the size, the technique - it's only until after you've looked at the small little label to the right that you know what the medium is - and right there next to that information is a little red dot.  This piece was sold by day two of the art fair and I cannot say I was at all surprised.  A piece of art that is captivating and provocative?  Let's just say that I would love to show Jordan's work in our space.

While there were various other artists that I noted I simply cannot wait any longer - I must tell you about what I found on 14th St later in the day.  You see, after I finished up at 7 W 34th (the AAF) - I was wondering what else I was going to do with my day.  Soon I had a quick drink date with Oriano scheduled for 6 pm and it was already 4.  I had two hours to kill so I began the walk.  Anything in New York is within walking distance - the question is how much time and inclination do you have - once you decide you have both, you can just start out in the general direction you're aiming for and eventually you'll get where you're going.  As I was fairly close to the southside of mid-town, walking 10 blocks to Chelsea wasn't a big deal - so another 11 blocks to the Meat Packing District was even more okay.  The only drawback - humidity.  I had the time but today was especially rough for someone like me who looks as though I ran a marathon after 10 blocks - so I HAD to pace myself and enjoy the scenery.  An hour later I was at 14th and 9th Ave - the corner where Oriano and I were set to meet up... except I still had one more hour to kill.  And so the window shopping began....

You name it and they have a store in that area - and we're talking the types of stores that don't put price tags on the merchandise.  "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." - Those stores.  But absolutely gorgeous things - some a little out there but all in all - gorgeous.  And there, smack dab in the middle of all this fabulousness... Heller Gallery - the diamond of my entire trip.

This gallery is full of amazing glass art - a medium I'm not particularly drawn to on a regular basis.  Our gallery in Indiana has a few exceptional glass artists but in general, it's a medium that tends to be a little outside my radar.  Not so at Heller.  Every single piece of art in there was breathtaking - clean lines, striking shapes and colors, evocative and thought provoking - it had everything.  The crème de la crème was work by Josepha Gasch-Muche.  Pictured to the left and measuring just over 30 x 30 - this work is likely the most stunning thing I've seen all week.  Composed of thin broken panes of glass arranged by the hundreds of thousands in this circular pattern, the work somehow looks soft enough to touch but threatening enough to remind you how delicate it is. I have never seen anything like this and I have to wonder - is this something that we might be able to get for our space? To introduce the Carmel area to this work would be a pleasure for me personally.

It has since gotten late and it is time for me to retire - I shall continue the story of Thursday with you all tomorrow .... but for now.... goodnight.

Don't blink or you'll miss five galleries!

They say that a visit to any major museum is at least a 3 day event - if done correctly.  Well, okay... a museum takes 3 days but the galleries of New York take a lifetime.  I once heard that the Golden Gate Bridge is constantly being worked on - that the minute they finish painting it they must begin again just due to the sheer size of the thing.  This is how I feel the New York Gallery scene is - and following it is as though you're chasing your own tail - it's always two steps ahead.



Yesterday was a simple day with weather you couldn't customize to be any better.  My "SuperPhone" told me it maxed out at 78 degrees - scarcely a cloud in the sky and a breeze that blew softly through the afternoon.  So it was a day that I was happy to be out and about with a Jamba Juice in hand ready to put an ever so small dent into the district located in Chelsea.  20 plus galleries later and I didn't even scratch the surface on anything but the soles of my feet.  That said I was able to see a mixture of art which I loved, art that I questioned and art that I simply found myself staring at with tilted head and what I'm sure was a huge question mark looming over my head. 

Omar Chacon - "Untitled #209"

I won't walk you through every gallery but I can give you a few highlights that I truly enjoyed.  The day started in the abstract and grew more figurative into the afternoon.  I won't lie, I did see two massive white canvas' bolted together and on display.  Yep, bet that took a really long to conceptualize and realize.... or not.   But then I found this piece (pictured to the left) in the back nook of a smallish gallery and it drew me right in.  The artist's name is Omar Chacon and this piece is entitled "Untitled #209" and is a mix of resin and pigment on canvas that measures 11" x 7.5" - so it's on the smaller side - and it has this complex layering of colors that bring you right back to childhood.  To me it gave new meaning to the term "eye candy".

Daniel Ochoa - "Lados of Cuerto"

Later in the day I stopped by a gallery that seemed almost a sister to Evan's space and asthetic.  Every single piece of art in there was something that I could see hanging in Carmel but one of my favorite's was Daniel Ochoa pictured to the right.   This piece, entitled "Lados of Cuerto" and measuring 48 x 36, is figurative oil on canvas and used incredible brush work (and some palette knife work perhaps) to create a certain kind of humanity I found engrossing. 

Michael Fitts - "Operation"

After a dinner with my family, I was able to meet up with Michael Fitts late into the night for a cocktail and discussion about his newest work which I'm very excited to see today.  On today's agenda is The Affordable Art Fair - an event that I've never been to but am quite anxious to see. As for last night - Michael and I sat in a lovely little Irish bar near the Empire State Building with a wonderfully pleasant bartender who could easily get a job as an Edward Norton body double.  What I enjoy most about my job, aside from the subject matter obviously, is the people.  I love being with the people in my industry. What makes an artist particularly enjoyable company is their nature of observation.  They listen, they engage, they smile and for the most part they banter.  They are a breed of human being that works from a passion to create beauty. It's an unselfish quality and truly one of the most pleasant aspects a human being can have.  Michael is very much like this. (If you've been in our gallery you've likely seen his work but I'm posting a picture of it to the left here.)  I don't know - perhaps it was growing up in a family of artist's that makes me feel so at home among them - but whatever it is, whoever the artist and whatever their medium, I know that when you see a piece of their work or hear a chord of their solo or experience a minute of their film - any kind of artist is showing you a small piece of their soul.  Being immersed in so much art this week I feel as though along with my wonderful discussions with folks like Mr. Fitts,  I'm also meeting hundreds of new people and I have to say, I'm honored.

Until my next post - I hope all is well in your "neck of the woods" - have a great day!

On The Streets of New York...

Jay-Z's recently "covered" song (on the hit show Glee which I'm only slightly addicted to) "Empire State of Mind" opens with the following lyrics:

Yeah, Imma up at Brooklyn,
Now Im down in Tribeca

I will never again be able to listen to this song without thinking about today.   I began with a wonderful morning in Brooklyn with Oriano  (pictured to the left) and ended with a great visit in Tribeca with Peter Drake.  It has been one of those days in New York that makes you want to move here - at least for me.  Surrounded by artists, great food, leisurely strolls down busy Avenues and people watching.  Before you ask, yes... I am working.  In fact, not only am I working but I'm soaking, nope, basking in some of the freshest - and strangest - culture of fine art.  There is only a sliver of what I'm seeing that would even be considered appropriate for my home state of Indiana but that's what's so great about venturing out of what you find in the day-to-day...  life is very much like air travel in this respect - abrupt changes in altitude might cause some things to shift during flight - and often that shift alone uncovers more than your imagination ever thought possible.

I did not have a chance today to see Oriano's studio but I do hope to make it there tomorrow.  But then I'd also like to have lunch with Michael and Peter tomorrow - see what's new in their worlds and what new material they can perhaps show at our space in the Midwest.  I did meet an artist, Will Kurtz, today (while visiting Peter Drake) in Tribeca (New York Academy of Art) who makes these amazing sculptures out of paper maché.  (See photo to the right) While I enjoyed the portrait work (which is apparently of his family members) - I found the dogs to be exquisite! If you're reading this and would like to commission this man to sculpt your "Best Friend" - we can certainly arrange that.  

Also showing the same exhibit is a woman with whom I did not meet but whose name is Panni Malekzadeh.  Her work has a soft feel with, dare I say it, sexual content - somehow her sweeping brushstrokes add a level of romance to a subject matter that is all to risqué for the 46032 zip code. (To the left is pictured, "The Peep Show" which measures 62 x 89 inches).  Can you imagine the headline in the Star if we had paintings of "painted women" in our windows?  Again though - this is a different town - and being here in New York is akin to having the alarm go off without hitting snooze.  You can't snooze in The Big Apple - the city goes on with or without you and a doggy paddle won't keep you up.  That's why the art here is the way that it is - grab attention or wash out with the tide.  And let me tell you, the NYAA has some attention grabbing art - it reminds me of why I love this business that I'm in. 

The day for me has ended and I'm now nestled into a new apartment with a glass of red wine to wind down.  As promised, the blogs will continue to come and hopefully this journey can be something we can share together.  Between you and me - this city has a way of making a person truly understand what living is - and I can only hope that I pack a little of that in my suitcase to bring home. I love my state but even I can admit that Indiana could use a little of this energy every now and then. :)

Have a great night - and see you all tomorrow.

Travels, Continued.

Well readers, the small but adorable (and bare) Brooklyn apartment I'm sitting in has two noises - MacBook keys and a quiet fan.  Every once in a while there is a deep sigh or a moment of introspection but for the most part, it's an enjoyable early afternoon in with overcast skies and a coffee at my side.  Let me explain.

I arrived last night and as I neglected to explain in my 2 am post - am currently crashing in the apartment of two of our artists - Oriano Galloni and Stephen Shaheen.  They are two of the most gracious people I've ever met and such a pleasant evening all around.  After driving for such a long time it was a relief to see such happy faces.  For those of you who don't know, Oriano is Italian and while his English is ten million times the better than my Italian - there is still a bit of a language barrier left - a barrier you don't even realize exists because there is a general sense of jovial good charm that fills the void. (Also Stephen is fluent in Italian and does help translate) The two of these men together are a pair that play off each other not only in skill with marble but also in general nature.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention that in addition to being extremely talented, these two men are also extremely good looking and charming.  Add in Oriano's accent and Stephen's wit and you're pretty much feeling 100% at home before you even say hello. Within 5 minutes of my arrival they already have me laughing as they talk about women - those Italian men sure do know how to talk about women - take note American men... with sincerity flattery can still make the toughest woman in the room blush.

Currently it is 11:30 am and Steve has since left for school where he teaches.  Oriano, being such a gracious host, found me a wonderful cup of coffee from a local coffee shop and a chocolate croissant.  Needless to say - amazing breakfast.  Now there is just this lovely quiet kept in time by the pace of our typing and the hum of the ceiling fan.  Spaced about 10 feet apart, he sits on the floor answering his emails and I am perched on one of two stools the men have in the gallery, typing my blog.  I know that I need to call the car service and get my day going - but leaving this is a hard task.  But, leaving is a must - Oriano has a full day of work ahead of him and I need to get out to see Peter Drake and return a few paintings to him as well.  Also, I look forward to seeing the School where he is Dean - a very important position for a very talented man.  I only hope they aren't monopolizing all his time keeping him from the creative.  Peter's work, if you have not seen it yet in our gallery, is stunning.  The latest collection, that of over-sized lead soldiers is rich, full of character and a step backwards to your childhood.

Well, it's time.  I will continue to blog the events of the day and yes, I will take photos.  What's a story without illustration?  Well, it's not a story about artists.

Katherine

Travels.

To be fair, it's now Tuesday and I feel as though I've let the readers down by only just now posting an entry.  For those that don't know me, my name is Katherine and I manage the Evan Lurie Gallery.  Monday morning, at 11 am, I set out in a big white van filled with sculpture towards New York City.  The sculpture is set for return to the artist Oriano Galloni as he gears up to open a new space in Brooklyn, NY.  While our gallery in Indiana has had great luck showcasing the work of master sculptor Galloni - the pieces going East were those that either just didn't find their niche in the midwest or were needed for his new showroom opening in a matter of weeks - such is life.   For me, as I work surrounded by these "Silent Souls" on a daily basis, it is as though I'm saying goodbye to old friends but I know that they return to the loving hands that created them.  It does seem only right that I spend the last few hours with them as I drive East... and with such a delivery... begins an adventure.

As I said, it is now Tuesday - but truth be told, it's very early Tuesday - 2 am in fact.  And while I should be sleeping, the effects of massive doses of Caffiene are still working their way through my system.  Soon though I feel the onslaught of some terrific sleep following the 13 hour drive east.  Don't worry though! I've used my inner geek to tether my phone to the MacBook for an internet connection where ever I am - so blogging won't be dependant on free wi-fi hotspots around the city.  For those who have ever lived in NYC or even visited - free is not a word used with a great deal of regularity here.   So if you're reading this - please stay tuned.  There will be a new post tomorrow as the NYC adventure continues for an Art Gallery Manager stomping around a city she used to call home - ever so brief as that was... but that, well that's an entirely different story now isn't it?  Goodnight readers - and I look forward to bringing you tales of great excitement tomorrow.

Katherine

Photography Show

Well folks, we did it - we had our first photography show opening this last Saturday and what an experience! We're going to post a few photos of people looking at photos - sounds bizarre when you put it like that! Anyway, enjoy!

Photos, Photos, Photos

Saturday, July 17th, 2010 - Photography Show @ the Evan Lurie Gallery featuring Tom Casalini, William Rasdell and Kevin Raber.

About the artists:

To anyone who has walked the halls of Keystone mall and seen the kiosk of breathtaking portraits, than you already know the work of Tom Casalini even if you don't know the name.  But those in the business know the name - why? Because he's been excelling at the art for over 30 years.  He is certainly best known for his black and white images - but what you may not realize is that behind that monotone professional is a multi-colored and multi-layered imagination busting at the seams.  Well, maybe not in person.  In person Tom is a very calm and collected man with the patience of his experience.  It's in his artwork that Tom demands attention. In the piece below ("Brusseto, Italy")the obvious departure from classic black and white is secondary to the work's dream-like direction.  Like any good piece of artwork, the image on the computer screen or in print does no justice to the work in person.  This collection from Casalini is truly something to be witnessed first hand.

 

While we deal mostly in the world of oils and acrylics it's a nice change of pace to swap that out for something fresh for our walls. What is wonderful about photography is how it captures life as it is.  A photographer has tools just as a painter does - lens, settings, light, etc....  but at the end of the day the very first layer to any photo is the truth of what is. William Rasdell is an artist who spent years documenting the real experience of cultural integration in the United States and other places such as Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad.  He certainly know a little something about the real life undertones of expressive photography - but it's the next level that he takes his work to that is truly amazing.  As shown in the work below, images become animated through his digital manipulation yet the true expression of the raw photo remains.  To boost the drama Rasdell shows his work on aluminum for the show on the 17th.  Just like with Casalini's collection, the work's stunning nature can truly only shine when seen with the naked eye and also makes the gallery well worth the visit during this photography show.

Finally rounding out the exhibit will be Kevin Raber - a man who studied under Ansel Adams and who has made a life passion out of traveling the world working within the realm of photography.  These days Kevin shoots primarily with the Phase One camera - a brand he not only uses but also works for as North American Vice President.  As a man who lives for the rush of adrenaline - Kevin can often be found climbing into the icebergs of the antarctic, hiking around the Icelandic volcanic terrain and, as of Press time on this blog, heading out to the rustic plains of the Australian outback in search of new adventures.  Working with some of the most advanced technology available today in Medium format photography, Kevin's work presents the serenity of the natural world combined with the high energy of expressionistic digital enhancement - at least some of the time.  Often the images Kevin is able to capture in the most distant and uninhabited areas of the world speak with enough strength he hardly changes a detail, if at all.  The picture below is a fantastic example of such natural beauty - with the blues of the iceberg as real in print as they were in life.

We hope you'll join us on July 17 from 5 - 9 pm at the Evan Lurie Gallery @ 30 W. Main St, Carmel, IN 46032 or call to set up an appointment 317.844.8400.  We look forward to seeing you.  If you miss the show - please feel free to come visit the gallery during normal hours as the show will be on display through September.

Photography Show SNEAK PEAK

Here's a sneak preview of our July 17th show which is the Evan Lurie Gallery's first ever photography show.  Stay tuned for more information!

ARTIST: WILLIAM RASDELL

June 5th Wedding

Well, it's wedding season here in the gallery.  Hosting our first reception of the 2010 year and the place looks amazing! Hopefully we'll be getting images from the photographer soon so we can show you how amazing the bride and groom look - gosh, they even outdo the art!

If you're at all interested in having an event here in our space you may be suprised at how truly reasonable the prices are! Come on by and talk to any of the ELG reps for more information.

317.844.8400 or 30 W. Main St. Carmel, IN  46032

Jeans and Jewels

Just checking in from the Jeans and Jewels event downtown Indy at the Conrad Hotel.... major Indy Racing turnout from the hotshots of today to the superstars of yesterday - they're here and they love the art.  Well who can blame them with work like John Leaser's Speed Racer originals, Joseph Piccillo's magnificent horses, Alex Guofeng Cao's new work, Jorge Santo's amazing work from the last 2 years and last but certainly not least Ted Gall who has personally designed a trophy fit for a king!!!  It's quite a feast for the eyes and once you get past the jewelry (which between you and us is divine!).  The swag is flowing, the wine is being poured and there are sporting stars in every direction.  What a night!

So don't miss out on the artwork and come out the gallery on the 28th where we will have on display most of the same work and even some pieces that didn't make the runways of the Jewels and Jeans gala.  We cannot wait to see you all and hope you'll have as much fun a we plan to have!

Sincerley,
The EVAN LURIE GALLERY staff, interns and volunteers.  (ps. Thank you to everyone who helped make tonight happen!!!)

A nice crowd for some nice young men and women.

These kids have worked their tails off and it shows!!! Tonight, for one night only, is the Carmel High School Senior AP show at the Evan Lurie Gallery and as we write this (7:27 pm) there are roughly 100 people already gathered to show their support! What a great turnout these young men and women got and with every bit of energy we have, we wish them all the luck in the world as they go on to pursue their goals.  Some plan to go forward with their art passions (we know the trials of that AND we know the fun of success too!) - while others look to the next phase of their life in a different way - be that Med school, Law degrees, English majors, etc... It is with a great deal of pride that we can say we've seen their efforts and we know that if they put the same passion into their goals as they did into this show, there is nothing but success in all their futures.  Good luck Art AP class of 2010 - the Evan Lurie Gallery wishes you all the luck possible!

CMS at the ELG

Come on by this weekend (5/22) for the Carmel High School Seniors Art Show.  It's the one night only event where we let the High Schoolers take over the gallery and show their art.  Tonight we were taking down the gallery art and preparing to hang the show - thought we might share a few photos.

Enjoy.

Intern 2.0

Well, we realized after posting the information about Emily that we hadn't yet introduced all you wonderful readers to our newest intern - or as we call her Intern 2.0.  Meet Kristin Derr - another Herron Student who has taken over internship duties from Ms. Petrie who left early March.

Pictured here with her pup, Kristin often busts through the front doors with fresh Starbucks and a smile despite having very little sleep (most days).  She is a light of enthusiasm for the art world and we are very happy to have her brighten our days throughout the week. Kristin has already falling in love with the gallery, our environment and despite being a fan of all the art - her favorite artist has to be Ted Gall.  Watch out Ted when you come into town on the 26th - you have one heck of a fan here waiting to meet you face to face.  Everyone else, come in and visit - meet Kristin and discover someone else with a passion for the arts.

We're So Proud!

Our own little "Forrest Gump" former intern took to the streets of Indianapolis last week for the Mini-Marathon. Actually,  Emily Petrie who worked with the gallery for a little under six months starting in October 2009, was truly one of the most wonderful (and random) finds for us as a gallery.  On a walking tour of the district last fall she stopped in without the slightest intent of applying for any position.  Talk about right place, right time - we had just begun the hunt for an intern and low and behold a Herron student with a passion for the arts showed up on our doorstep. The fit was a great one and Emily did so much to help us get organized and ready for 2010!  (And can I just tell you how much her new filing system has helped us!!) But time passes and at present Emily has nearly completed her second degree at Herron School of Art and Design - the workload of the last semester being such that she needed to take a break somewhere. It was time for her to focus on school and leave the gallery.   We were of course sad to see her have to leave but in the few months since her departure we couldn't be more proud of how much she's achieved - starting with her first mini-marathon experience!  According to Emily she is now "hooked" on the adrenaline that comes with completing such an event and plans to next compete in a triathlon in Ohio.  In addition she's picked up a new full-time internship with the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  This girl never stops!

Thanks for stopping by the gallery to keep us updated Emily!  The Evan Lurie Gallery really is one big family and we're so proud of you!!

Is that.... a dog???

Did you know that in Germany it's commonplace to see Shepherds lounging at restaurants under tables while their "parents" eat.  Well, as you may have noticed, this isn't Germany but it doesn't mean we love our "kids" any less and while they may not be Shepherds there are three dogs that you may (on occasion) see lounging around the art gallery.

Evan and his wife Jenn are dog lovers and like dog lovers the world over the stories of their time together is often earmarked by what dog was in their lives during what period.  These days it's Rufus and Romeo - two English Mastiffs that combined weigh nearly 400 pounds.  Despite their size don't be fooled - the only threat from these two beasts is that they may love you to death.  Well that and you may want to steer clear after a trip to the water bowl as they aren't very dainty.

Weighing in at a fraction of the other's size is Mazen Tyler (Manager Kat Livengood's baby) - the little black lab/dachshund rescue who frequents the gallery with a bit more regularity.  A pint size pup weighing in at 36 pounds, Mazen Tyler is often seen sitting at the front door looking out longingly at Main St no doubt daydreaming of rawhide chews and tennis balls.

So come in a visit not only our artwork and staff - but also feel free to come say hi to our four legged mascots who love the attention.  We'll all be happy to see you!

Finally - We Blog!

It's true... the Evan Lurie Gallery has joined the blogosphere! What a great season to start too - with our upcoming shows we cannot wait to fill you all in on what's going on here at the gallery.  Some of you may have read the Nuvo.net cover story on Evan Lurie last week - we couldn't been happier with the photos that their photographer - Stephen Simonetto - shot and the story written by Nuvo's own David Hoppe has our email box full of submissions!  If only had more space and time to help all the artists out there - but we do want to say that we fully support you all!

The truth is that our schedule for 2010 is pretty well packed already and what a great year it's going to be.  We can't give away everything but trust us, there are some amazing shows coming up and you won't want to miss out.  Our website (www.evanluriegallery.com) is always a great place to check what's coming, join the mailing list, browse the artists we currently represent, see pictures of events and more!  With the blog it's just one more way to keep up with what's going on in the gallery and we're so happy to be able to share it with you! 

One last thing before we sign off our first official blog - please join us on May 28th, 2010  from 5 - 10 pm for what will surely be an amazing show.  Artists Joseph Piccillo and Alex Guofeng Cao will be featured in "Contrasts and Collusions: A View Into the Methodology of Black and White" (Click here to read the Press Release). Of course Memorial Day weekend in Indianapolis knows quite a bit about black and white - especially when it comes to the checkered flag.  We hope to see you all out for what we expect to be one of our most powerful shows of the season.

- The Evan Lurie Gallery