Artist Statement

“For the Love of Alphabet” is a double self-portrait embodying both the visual artist and the language artist I am, as well as my playful and reflective selves. One exclaims “AaaBCdeFoxgHIjKlmNJUMPQOVERLAZYOGDS,” the other listens to what said might mean. I see this image as a dialogue between the expressive me and thinking me, the creator and the editor, the curator of ideas. The designer keeps the viewer in mind, hoping the statement that any of my works make provides a spark for dialogue within the viewer, or between viewers, be it about the topic and message, composition and craft, or my work and their points of view.

Projects

2024: Fearless Watercolors/Acuarelas con Cojones, BWAC, Brooklyn, NY

2024: NES Artist Residency, Skagaströnd, Iceland—https://neslist.is/artist-in-residence-erik-schurink/

2003–present: Impresario and host of salons featuring literary, visual, performing and culinary arts

2023: Work included in School of Visual Art’s CE Student Summer Showcase, and the Small Works Show at 440 Gallery

2003–2022: Director of Exhibits, Long Island Children’s Museum, developed 5 permanent exhibits, including award winning “Broken? Fix it!” and “Our Backyard” exhibits. Curator of 50+ art exhibits. Exhibits included Man Ray’s Rayographs: Photography without Camera, Betty LaDuke: Dreaming Cows, Diggin’ de Kooning, and Artists-in-Residence exhibit tied into The Art of Andy Warhol traveling exhibit, Javaka Steptoe: Radiant Child.

2020: “The Secret Garden Out There”—a journal of 2 dozen book spine centos

2017-2018: Co-founder of the Park Bench Project, a street interview initiative.

2017: A subject in Lynne Sachs’ film “Tip of My Tongue”

2015–2018: Art Gallery Director for Robert Bly’s Great Mother Conference

2015: Author and artist of “Homage to the Hum”—An Ode to Jean Tinguely and New York City, an artist book/object

2012: “Cryptozoo: 12 Writers Respond to Images by Erik Schurink,” Proteotypes, Brooklyn
2010–11 Co-curator of exhibits and events for the “Paradise” theme year at Proteus Gowanus Interdisciplinary Gallery & Reading Room, Brooklyn

2010–2011: Contributing artist to “Galerie de Difformité”

2010: “Do Not Eat This Book” chapbook

2008–2020: Contributing artist to “Abecedarium:NYC”

2009: Group show “Mend,” Proteus Gowanus, Brooklyn

1997–2003: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Senior Exhibit Designer, developed 5 permanent exhibits, including “Together in the City”

1988–1994: E Design, Exhibit and Graphic Design, sole proprietorship. Exhibits for Center for Holocaust Studies, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Children’s Museum of the Arts, Empire State Building, Museum of American Folk Art, New York Transit Museum

1984–1988: Jack Lenor Larsen — Showroom and Graphic Designer

1984–1989: Koo Dance, New York City. Co-founder and lighting designer. Works included Millimeter, No Place To Stay, Lines, Coyote.