Eric Goode

Eric Goode (1957 - Present) is an American hotelier, restauranteur, artist, filmmaker, and conservationist. He is best known as the creator of the nightclub Area in New York City, and more recently of the Bowery Hotel.

Biography

Born in Rhode Island in 1957 and raised in New York until the age of 8, Eric relocated with his family to California. He is the second of five children born to Marilyn Goode, a naturalist and conservationist, and Fredrick Goode, a painter and teacher. He has lived in New York City since 1977.

He began his career as an artist, educated at Parsons School of Design. Much of his early work was displayed in group shows with other upcoming artists of the day, the earliest in 1981 which was curated by Keith Haring. He continued to make and show his art throughout the 80's and into the early 90's.

In 1983 Eric formed the nightclub Area with his brother Chris and friends Shawn Hausman and Darius Azari. Area was notable for its constantly changing themes and collaboration with artists of the time (Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, and others). Area was Eric's first business venture where he merged art into the context of a nightclub. A book documenting the historic nightclub is in development and is being published by Abrams in 2010.

In the early to mid nineties, Eric directed several music videos, most prominently "Help Me I am in Hell" and "Pinion" for Nine Inch Nails. He and Serge Becker earned a music video production award for their work on "Pinion."

Over the next two decades Eric opened several other nightclubs, and eventually transitioned into restaurants and then hotels, many of which in collaboration with his partners Serge Becker and more recently Sean MacPherson. His most recent projects include the Bowery Hotel and the Jane Street Hotel.

Goode's interest in film and art is surpassed only by his passion for the natural world, especially reptiles. In 2004 Eric began developing the Behler Chelonian Center and The Turtle Conservancy, which operate out of Southern California. The BCC/TC focuses on conservation initiatives around the world, with a focus on protecting endangered species from extinction.

Eric Goode currently lives in New York City and travels frequently to his home and conservation center in Southern California.

Art

Most of Eric's art is created as a vitrine, or display case with three-dimensional artwork inside. Similar to Joseph Cornell, his work incorporates many aspects of assemblage. Eric's work also has notable similarities to Damien Hirst, especially his tendency to represent elements of the natural world in his mixed-media installations.

1981 – Group Show curated by Keith Haring, Mudd Club
1987 – “Subject Object”, Group Show, 56 Bleecker Gallery
1988 – Group Show, Bess Butler Gallery
1989 – One Man Show, Bess Cutler Gallery
“American Pie”, Group Show, Bess Cutler Gallery
“Don’t Bungle the Jungle”, Group Show, Tony Shafrazi Gallery
“New Work, New York”, Group Show, Helander Gallery
1990 – “Amnesty International”, Group Show, Tony Shafrazi Gallery

Nightclubs and Restaurants

1981 - The Club with no Name
1983 - Area
1988 - MK
1989 - BC (LA)
1990 - Time Cafe and Fez
1994 - Bowery Bar (B Bar & Grill)
2000 - The Park
2003 - Matsuri
2003 - La Bottega
2003 - Hiro Ballroom
2006 - Waverly Inn
2007 - Gemma

Hotels

2001 - The Maritime Hotel
2006 - Lafayette House
2007 - Bowery Hotel
2008 - Jane Street Hotel

Music Videos

1992 - Nine Inch Nails - "Help Me I am in Hell"
1992 - Nine Inch Nails - "Pinion"
1993 - Digital Orgasm - "Time to Believe"
1994 - Ce Ce Peniston - "Hit by Love"
1994 - Terrorvision - "Oblivion"
1998 - Robbie Robertson - "Unbound"

Documentaries

2005 - John L. Behler Chelonian Center
2006 - Galapagos Islands
2007 - Madagascar
2008 - The Argentine Tortoise

Conservation

In the last several years, Eric has devoted more time to his conservation work. In 2004 he began developing the Behler Chelonian Center and Turtle Conservancy. The center is a not for profit NGO accredited by the AZA (American Zoos and Aquariums). Its primary goal is to ensure the survival of turtle and tortoise species worldwide, and to promote the conservation of chelonian habitat in the wild.

He has spent most of his life researching turtles and tortoises and has traveled to over 30 countries around the world (the Galapagos Islands, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Central America, Madagascar, Namibia, Morocco, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, India, the Caribbean Islands, and many others). Several of these trips are featured in a series of documentary films chronicling the BCC/TC's conservation efforts.

References

1. Kiester, Ross, and Praschag, Peter. “2008-2009 Behler Chelonian Center and Turtle Conservancy Report.” TSA Turtle Survival Alliance Aug. 2009
2. Carter, Stinson. “Love on the Half Shell.” Blackbook June/July 2007
3. Verini, James. “Without Reservations.” Los Angeles Times 15 June 2003
4. Rubenstein, Hal. “Goode Old Days.” New York Magazine 16 Apr. 2001
5. Clyde, Amy. “Sitting Pretty.” Allure May 1995
6. Trebay, Guy. “Articles of Faith.” Village Voice 11 Dec. 1984
7. Saban, Stephen. “The Night of the Iguana.” The Soho News 27 May 1981
8. Levin, Kim. “Anarchy in the M.C.” Village Voice 4 March 1981

External links

http://chelonianconservation.org/
http://www.theboweryhotel.com/
http://www.themaritimehotel.com/
http://www.lafayettenyc.com/
http://www.thejanenyc.com/
http://www.bbarandgrill.com/
http://www.theparknyc.com/