But I’d Rather Have A Bowl of Painting is Dead

This body of work wasn’t created with a goal or a
theme. I don’t think any of my work really has a
specific position. It is pretty instinctual and
evolves through process and practice. If I have too
much of an idea before hand, I lose interest.

It’s horrible to say that the show is about a “return
to painting.” It is not done as a grand gesture or
some sort of calculated strategy. The more I go on
making art, the more I feel all the lengthy essays
that monumentalize such things are rubbish.

I wanted to paint. I spend a lot of time on the
internet and find interesting images. They started
suggesting good ideas for paintings: good composition,
interesting imagery and so on. So I used them as an
“excuse to paint.” They were a spring board for a lot
of the works in the show. The paintings aren’t about
the craftiness of painting photos or painting
photographically, obviously. They are about painting,
but also humor and narrative. Implied or otherwise.
In the drawings, the narrative is more laid out, but
still presented in a slice.

As always, I draw constantly. In any number of
styles, abstract, cartoony, representational. Some
are just words scrawled. The drawings go with the
paintings and the sculptures. All of which kind of
come from a lot of thought that spontaneously leads to
a little action. I tend to think, maybe over think.
But when I am working on something, I don’t to over
work it. I leave it when it feels complete, even if
I’ve only been at it a few seconds. I try to let
myself go, not be so critical or cerebral, and just
have fun making art. If you get bogged down in
thinking about thinking and how your next move may or
may not be “too trendy” or “too Artforum.” Then you
end up with garbage. I am afraid to make mistakes,
but I try not to think about that either.

The work in the show, a lot of it new, some of it
older which seems to resonate with what I am doing
now, all fits together. Maybe it is all part of one
complete, meandering, schizophrenic thought. It is
all wit, satire, sincerity and humor and being serious
about those things. But not too serious. Maybe I
need a theorist to explain my work for me, fucking.
Lighten up.

Erik Wenzel: But I’d Rather Have A Bowl Of Painting Is Dead
Butcher Shop Dogmatic Chicago Art Gallery BSD
Erik Wenzel: But I’d Rather Have A Bowl Of Painting Is Dead
BSD Butcher Shop Dogmatic Chicago Art Gallery
Erik Wenzel: But I’d Rather Have A Bowl Of Painting Is Dead
Butcher Shop Dogmatic Chicago Art Gallery BSD
Erik Wenzel: But I’d Rather Have A Bowl Of Painting Is Dead

The title sheet for works included in this program are here

A short video of the installation is located here

April 15th, 2006-May 6th, 2006
Opening reception Saturday April 15th, 6-10pm
BSD Butcher Shop Dogmatic
1319 W. Lake St., 3rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60607
We are open to the public on Saturdays from noon until 6pm or by appointment
to make an appointment please call 312.421.1917
or write butchershopdogmatic@msn.com
Michael S. Thomas, Director

Official Website: http://www.artic.edu/~ewenze/

Front room with sofa

Arrangement

Institutional signage

I cry alone at night

Tristam Shambly, 2006, Oil on canvas
[installed here propped on wooden novelty easel]

Official Website

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Tags: BSD, But I'd rather have a bowl of painting is dead, Butchershop Dogmatic, Chicago, Erik Wenzel, near west side