All Entries Tagged With: "artists"
UMSL faculty artwork on display @ Gallery FAB
"Moonlight Melody" by James Wu is one of many pieces being exhibited at UMSL's Gallery FAB through February 24.
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
“Significant Others II,” an exhibit of work by part-time studio art faculty members at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, is on display now through Feb. 24 in Gallery FAB at UMSL. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Faculty members with artwork on display include: Stephen Da Lay (printmaking), Noah Kirby (sculpture), Snail Scott (ceramic/sculpture), Linda Bangert (printmaking), Doug Gaubatz (inkjet pigment prints), Grace Lin (painting), James Wu (painting), Gina Willard (digital file chromogenic prints), Mike Behle (painting), William Sawalich (photography/lightset print) and Heather Corley (printmaking).
Jeff Sippel, coordinator of fine arts at UMSL, served as the exhibit’s curator.
The studio art faculty at UMSL has exhibited their work regionally, nationally and internationally. They have received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ford Foundation and have been honored by a variety of national and international arts organizations. Their work is included in important public and private collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Saint Louis Art Museum, Library of Congress, Museum of Contemporary Photography, McDonnell Douglass Corporation and Emerson Electric.
Gallery FAB is in 201 Fine Arts Building at UMSL, Florissant Road and Rosedale Drive in Normandy. Gallery hours are 9 am to 9pm Monday through Friday. Visit umsl.edu/~art or call 314-516-6103 for more information.
Call for Artists: women & photography exhibit
"visions of sugar plums danced in her head" by Janice Nesser-Chu
Anybody who says there’s nothing hip and creative in North County has obviously never been to the Fine Arts building at Flo Valley. Inside this small but well-equipped space on the community college campus, you’ll find student and faculty artwork that will absolutely knock your socks off. Painting, drawing, pottery, photography – seriously, there’s some amazing stuff here.
In fact, Flo Valley’s art program is so good that it was the first community college program in the entire country to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. And when the big art schools make their rounds looking for promising young artists, Flo Valley is one of the few community colleges on their list. Many students here have been awarded sizable scholarships.
Of course, much of this is due to the talent of the faculty, and one professor who has made a huge impact is my friend (and fellow NoCo resident) Janice Nesser-Chu. A prolific mixed media artist and the president of the national Women’s Caucus for Art, Janice heads up the art gallery and photography program at Flo Valley. And wouldn’t you know, she’s getting ready to stage yet another intriguing exhibit…
Mirror Image: Women and Photography, which runs from February 28 to March 31, will examine “the concept of the photograph being a mirror of its creator, reflecting back their experiences, ideals and beliefs and invoking discourse.” Open only to women artists, the show will be held at Flo Valley’s Contemporary Art Gallery, and if you’re interested, there’s still a little bit of time to submit your work.
The call for art runs through Friday, February 4. You can read all the details and get an entry form here. And no, you don’t have to live in North County or attend Flo Valley to be eligible.
My NoCo Christmas Wish: a soapbox derby
Dear Santa, please bring a fabulous soapbox derby like this to FloTown.
A few weeks ago, I was taking pictures in Old Town Florissant when inspiration struck. It was a Sunday afternoon and there was so little traffic on rue St. Francois that I literally could have laid down on the street. What a shame, I thought. Here’s this great little business district with so much charm and potential, and yet it feels almost lifeless. Then I looked at rue St. Francois again, noticing its gently sloping hill and ample sidewalks, and I realized, holy cow, this is absolutely perfect for a soapbox derby!
Of course, as soon as I thought that, I could already hear the groans from certain people in Florissant, namely those who think the city’s best hope is to attract more senior citizens. So let me go on record right now… As a marketing professional and someone who has been deeply involved in Ferguson’s ongoing revitalization, I think this strategy is a terrible idea!
FloTown does NOT need more quilt shops or tea rooms or “quaint” places that cater primarily to old folks and/or red hat ladies. What it needs is youth and energy, and a sense of freshness and fun! It needs to honor its rich history while also planting the seeds for a more vibrant future, and I believe that a unique new community event, specifically an artists’ soapbox derby, could help to achieve that.
In New York, the historic city of Kingston has been holding its Artists’ Soapbox Derby for the past 16 years, drawing thousands of on-lookers. Local artists (as well as kids and families) build whimsical, non-motorized vehicles in the shape of just about anything, then drive them through the heart of town like in a parade. Winners are chosen based not on speed, but on creativity and ingenuity.
Over the years, entries have included toasters, oil cans, grocery carts, dragons, ice cream trucks, you name it…all lovingly built by local residents. And guess what? By hosting an artists’ soapbox derby, Kingston has successfully attracted more artists and arts-related businesses to its Rondout business district. Also lots of tourists.
But that’s New York, you may say. And I agree, there are differences. But I also recall a recent study done by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which polled 43,000 Americans in 26 cities to find out what makes people feel connected to a community, basically what makes them want to move in and stay. The results might surprise you.
The number one quality that draws people to a community is not schools. It’s social and cultural activities, including vibrant nightlife, festivals, and a sense that residents care about one another. Number two: openness, as in the perception that all people (including gays & minorities) are welcome. And number three: aesthetics, particularly with respect to parks, trails and green spaces.
The study also found that a strong sense of community spirit may actually affect local economic growth. And what better way to boost community spirit than by bringing people together for a fun event that celebrates their creativity and engages them in helping to move their city forward?
So Florissant, how about that soapbox derby? I bet even Santa thinks it’s time for a new tradition in FloTown…
Peruvian Artisan Fair coming soon to Dellwood
Why head to the mall this holiday season when you can buy unique, handcrafted gifts at the upcoming Peruvian Artisan Fair in Dellwood? Hosted by the progressive folks at Northminster Presbyterian Church every year since 2002, this colorful event features the work of dozens of Peruvian artists, all of whom participate in a fair trade agreement with the nonprofit organization Partners for Just Trade.
Northminster’s pastor, Ellie Stock, tells me that this year’s artisan fair promises to be one of the best yet, with many beautiful items for sale. Shop one or both days and choose from a wide selection of purses, hats, gloves, scarfs, socks, placemats, Christmas ornaments/items, kitchen hot pads, mitts and aprons, ceramic items, friendship bracelets, and much more.
Northminster Presbyterian Church is located at 1570 Chambers, one block east of W. Florissant, 63136. The Peruvian Artisan Fair is scheduled for November 28 and December 5, 11:30am – 1pm. For more info, call (314) 867-2881.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K