New York is home to many believers. Everyone has some sort of God and some sort of church. It doesn’t matter how or who we pray to, but a basic understanding of the themes of spirituality, worship and tribute dominated the Steven Sebring’s “Illumination, Who are Poets” (on view until April 17) opening event on Monday at Milk Studios. Upon first entering the gallery, faces of Sebring’s “poets” greet you at the door. A quick glance around the room reveals large, tinted in color and familiar faces into view such as Neil Young, Patti Smith, Joey Ramone, Philip Glass and a few others. In Sebring’s mind, and in the mind of many of their fans, all of these people have given the world the beautiful gift of their voices, words and sounds. In the show, some of them are adorned with crosses, or smaller, post stamp like rows of their faces as well, and some of them have white garments delicately draped around them. A closer look at the larger-than-the-tallest-person-in-the-room images reveals that the faces are pixelated, with large color blocking defining the shape. “It’s based on the idea of stained glass windows abstracting beauty,” explained Sebring. “I created illuminations of these poets because I always believed that these guys are poets, and they are poets, and we're paying homage to these people.” These images have a push-pull, yin and yang effect to them. As we stand far away from these images, we get a general idea of the person, of this updated stained glass, of this religion. As we get closer, they becomes more complicated, more difficult for the eye, more convoluted for the brain, and harder to physically find this “God,” and the entire experience becomes spiritual. “It sort of getting people to play with their own minds in their own way in seeing this beauty -- close up abstract and then pulled away. Its discovery,” added Sebring. The opening evening continued with an interesting juxtaposition. Patrons in mainly rock ‘n’ roll inspired regalia gazed at the portraits, and eagerly awaited Patti Smith’s tribute performance to Sebring’s poets. As the music legend read her poetry and sang a song she collaborated on with Neil Young, the tiny stage became consumed with people shouting “you’re a genius,” and seemed to continue embodying the religious experience of “Illumination” by worshiping Smith at the mic -- worshiping the priest at her gallery alter. Terri Ciccone is the founder and editor of Contrapposto Blog and an Art Ruby contributor

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