Better late than never as the saying goes. The good news is that my delay in posting last weekend's photos may help determine how you spend part of this last (gulp!) weekend in September.
Guerra de la Paz: Follow the Leader opened last Friday night at Craft Alliance's Grand Center Gallery. The Cuban-born artists Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz filled the gallery with a wave of brightly colored clothing–cast-offs from thrift stores in their Miami neighborhood–topping pant legs wearing shoes purchased from discount stores. The artists describe their installations as abstract paintings in 3-dimensional form. Check out the artists' blog for an informative video showing the creative process for Follow the Leader, and by all means take time to see the exhibition up close. There are some fabrics in the piece that certainly caught my eye. It's on view until January 29.
An opening night guest (who must know the artist well) brought Alain Guerra, left, a Britney Spears t-shirt which he quickly changed into on the spot!
Craft Alliance, 501 N. Grand.
Meanwhile, back in the CWE, "New Studio Works" opened at the Atrium Gallery on McPherson featuring beautiful prints by Michael Marshall and sculpture by John Schwartzkopf. Michael, who grew up in St. Louis, is a graduate of John Burroughs, and taught for a couple of years at Washington University and Fontbonne. He is currently Chair of the Art Department at the University of Hawaii, Hilo. He also has three pieces in the collection of the St. Louis Art Museum.
Michael Marshall, in the center of the photo wearing a white shirt and tie, attracted a hometown crew to Atrium on Friday Night. "New Studio Works" is on view until October 22.
Atrium Gallery, 4728 McPherson.
In the front room of the Duane Reed Gallery on McPherson, fiber artist Lia Cook combines a jacquard weaving technique with digital photography in her exhibition, "Doll Sense."
Also at the Duane Reed Gallery, Lanny Berger (who's back is to the camera), a mixed-media, sculpture, fiber, and installation artist, created intriguing wire mesh sculptures. Both of the artists at the Duane Reed Gallery are exhibited as part of Innovations 2011, the biennial textile event currently taking place in St. Louis.
Duane Reed Gallery, 4729 McPherson.
The Vino Gallery is always open for business on Friday nights, so you can sample one of their many wines and look at their latest art exhibition too. Carol Carter's beautiful paintings on wood, called The Italian Suite, are on view until October 11. The artist's work is also featured in a book that's available in the shop, shown above.
Carol is another St. Louis artist who earned her MFA at Washington University. However she rarely exhibits her work in our fair city.
The Vino Gallery, 4701 McPherson.
Balloons tied to street trees and inside Libby's, celebrating its 2nd Anniversary, added an air of festivity on McPherson Avenue last Friday night. Shop owner Debbie Gibbens is based in Oklahoma and operates several Libby's shops in other cities. Shown in the photo above are store manager Rose Sullivan (in black), CWE resident and part-time employee Jan Kasalko (in red), and Jan's husband Bill who volunteered as bartender for the evening. It appears that most customers become friends and eventually use the shop as a meeting place—another reason why it has drawn such a loyal clientele.
A photo on display shows employees and customers toasting the 2nd Anniversary, right.
Libby's, 4742 McPherson, (314) 454-3003.
On Saturday afternoon Helen Simpson, one of the proprietors of Big Sleep Books, arranged for three important mystery writers: Colin Cotterill, left, Daniel Woodrell, right, and Eric Stone, below, to break away from Bouchercon 2011, (the mystery writers convention taking place at the Renaissance St. Louis Hotel downtown) to make an appearance at the bookstore on Euclid. Trouble was, only three other people and I showed up. I was able to have a quick conversation with Ozark native Daniel Woodrell, a favorite author of mine whose hugely successful book, Winter's Bone, was introduced to me by Helen last year. The book, made into an equally successful movie, was filmed in the Ozarks near Woodrell's home. I learned from Woodrell that the low-budget movie was shot in 28 days, and that the clothing the actors was purchased right off his neighbor's backs.
Eric Stone, a mystery writer from Los Angeles, worked as a journalist in Asia for 16 years and his popular books (Shanghaied, Wrong Side of the Wall) take place there.
After a brief visit the three authors took off in a cloud of dust and headed back downtown to greet their fans who were waiting at Bouchercon 2011.
Big Sleep Books, 239 N. Euclid.