WOWSpace hosts talk, dinner with artist

Area residents will have two opportunties to meet Gary Baseman, whose work is displayed as part of the current exhibit at WOWSpace in Wittenberg. Baseman is a painter, illustrator, video and performance artist, animator, TV/movie producer and toy designer. He will speak about his work at 1 p.m. April 12 at the gallery, 114 Vinal St., and return at 4 p.m. for a dinner. Baseman’s work has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Time and Rolling Stone. He also designed the best-selling game Cranium. He created the three-time Emmy award-winning animation series “Teacher’s Pet” that earned him credit as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Entertainment chosen by Entertainment Weekly. The Los Angeles Times has described Baseman’s art as “adorably perverse,” humorously playful and dark, childlike but often with adult themes. His art has been displayed in galleries and museums in Brazil, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia and all over the United States. The afternoon talk is free. Tickets for Dinner with Gary are $150. Seating is limited. Reservations can be made at www.dinnerwithgary@gmail.com. Please leave your name, phone number and number of guests in your party. Baseman is one of the 31 artists whose work is featured in the current show, “Viewer Discretion Advised,” a collection of pop surrealism. The show opens Saturday and runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 11. Group visits at other times can be arranged by calling 715-253-3525.