After months of planning an event to honor the award naming the Central West End as one of the Top 33 ArtPlaces in the country for 2013 by the Chicago-based ArtPlaces organization (see earlier post here),the date, November 15, finally arrived. Just after the America's ArtPlaces banners were set in place on McPherson late Friday afternoon, and
after ArtPlaces buttons were set out on bar tables at the Philip Slein, Duane Reed and Houska Galleries, there was a moment of panic among the six members of the ArtCWE committee, as we wondered if anyone else would show up to celebrate the occasion. As it turned out, we needn't have worried. We couldn't have asked for a better response from the community – or better weather!
The crowd that joined in the celebration was in high spirits, as were the fabulous volunteers from the Central West End Association, one of the sponsors (see complete list at end of post), and the neighborhood's Bazaarboys, Eric Hamblett and Chris Holt (also the event's photographer), who kept the bars flowing with wine & proscecco from The Vino Gallery. Stella Artois (provided by Anheuser Busch), and appetizers from Herbie's rounded out the fare.
Volunteers included from left, Dixie Buford, Claudia Wahl, and Amy Howell Mittelstadt (a member of the ArtCWE Committee) photographed in front of artist Jill Hackney's gorgeous work at the Duane Reed Gallery,
The festivities included the mellow sounds of Silk Pajamas' Michael Lowenstein and Augustino Patti, who performed at the Duane Reed Gallery. Duane jokingly complained that the music sounded so great in his gallery that he may be expected to hire musicians for all future openings.
Toddler Auggie Pearson hid in plain sight at the Philip Slein Gallery,
while another ArtCWE celebrant was more successful hiding his identity as he browsed Centro Home Furnishings, one of the McPherson shops that was open for the event.
Houska Gallery drew a large crowd to its opening Friday.
Charlie Houska, proprietor of the gallery, is shown above.
Local artist Carmelita Nunez, above, exhibited her whimsical pottery at Houska Gallery and was thrilled that the opening coincided with the ArtPlaces celebration.
Philip Slein, center, welcomed the crowd to the inaugural ArtCWE event, and explained why he's so pleased that he moved his gallery from downtown to the CWE. His remarks were followed by greetings from Jill McGuire, Executive Director of the Regional Arts Commission, Alderman Lyda Krewson, shown below, and Josh Wiese from Mayor Slay's office who spoke of the impact the CWE has had on the entire city of St. Louis.
Following the speeches, attendees were handed a glass of proscecco and encouraged to cross the street to a dedication ceremony for the Ernest Trova sculpture, "Gox (A)," installed recently at the corner of Euclid & McPherson. After speaking for several minutes about the artist, Duane Reed, above, proposed the toast. The sculpture is on loan to the Central West End Association from the Saint Louis County Parks Department. The dedication included a ribbon cutting by Tino Trova, son of the late artist.
As the crowd dispersed some people headed to The World Chess Hall of Fame to view the acclaimed exhibition "A Queen Within" as part of the ArtCWE celebration.
The evening was a huge success, and as we left the celebration, I noticed that the moon was doing its part to take on an artistic hue.
Thanks to everyone who attended for taking part in the celebration. Several people said they were so pleased to be newly introduced to the galleries in their own backyard. And thank you to ArtCWE sponsors: CWE North Business Community Improvement District, Central West End Association, Regional Arts Commission, and the World Chess Hall of Fame. And of course, thanks to the ArtPlaces organization for recognizing and reminding us of the impact art has on our neighborhood.