Throughout the nearly thirty years Carolyn Miles, proprietor of Atrium Gallery, has been in the art business, she has represented a strong group of female artists. Women in the Atrium, which opens tomorrow (Friday) features work by 9 of the many artists she represents, spanning in age from 30 to almost 80 years old, who have had a formidable influence on the character and success of the Atrium Gallery.
Speaking of women, it hadn't occurred to me that Carolyn is the only female gallery owner in St. Louis (not that unusual elsewhere), until it was mentioned this morning during a visit by a group from Washington University's Women at the Kemper who were touring CWE galleries. Several of the artists featured in Atrium's exhibition have pieces in the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum collection, and a couple of the artists are graduates of the School of Fine Arts.
Outside the entry to the gallery shown above, is Natalia Arias's "Alight," and right, Annette Morris's "Kites & Darts #4."
The artists featured in the exhibition are listed on the wall above, next to a lovely painting titled "Weeping Willows," by Julia Fernandez-Pol.
Yesterday I photographed Annette Morriss, above – a reluctant subject – as she took a break from painting "K & D #10" on a wall of the gallery.
A c-print by artist Natalia Arias titled "Dancing Queen," above.
Mixed-media artist Leila Daw created "River Magic," top, "A Chinthe Conversation," left, and "Earth," right, using handmade traditional Burmese shwe chi doe tapestry techniques.
From left, Katy Stone's acrylic on duralar and yupo "Lash Crash Venus," and top "Untitled (Ray)." Right (on pedestals), Claudia DeMonte's bronze "Abundance" series, from left: "Food," "Handbags," and "La Donna di Buona Fortuna."
Artist Lore Bert's transparent with Japanese paper pieces, from left, "Oktagona in Gold," "Windrad 2 (in Wieb), Italien (2 Spiralen), and "Streifen (Gelb-Blau)."
Mary Joan Waid's serene pastel on paper titled "White," above.
Karen Kunc's 5 1/4" x 37" "Incessant White Noise," above, is one of three examples of her stunning woodcut and letterpress prints on Japanese paper.
This is just a sampling of the many great pieces included in "Women in the Atrium," which opens tomorrow, May 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain on view until July 3.
Atrium Gallery, Weds. thru Sat. 10 to 5, Tues. by appointment, 4814 Washington Avenue, (314) 367-1076.