Thanks to St. Louis-based Gateway Foundation, German contemporary sculptor’s Dietrich Klinge’s Polyante (female sculpture in background above) and GrosserPfuBrub (male sculpture, left) are being reunited at Craft Alliance, 5080 Delmar, in the Delmar Maker District. The sculptures, which were acquired as a pair, were separated in 2004 when Polyante was placed at Craft Alliance’s former location in UCity and GrosserPfuBrub was installed across Delmar next to the UCity Farmer’s Market.
According to the Gateway Foundation, “Polyante and GrosserPfuBrub were to be installed in conversation, creating a unique dynamic from the tension between expansive movement and inner stillness.” The loan of the sculptures to Craft Alliance was made official this month, and will be celebrated at an unveiling this Friday, May 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. in advance of the Delmar Maker District’s 3rd Friday event which is from 6 to 9 p.m.
Gateway Foundation’s mission is to foster and support cultural and artistic activities devoted to improving the quality of life for residents of the St. Louis Metropolitan area. The Foundation’s collection of sculptures includes 29 artworks on view at Citygarden in downtown St. Louis, and 38 sculptures it has placed in various locations around the St. Louis region.
Bryan Knicely, above, an arts administrator for the past 30 years, was named executive director of Craft Alliance in 2023. This was a return to St. Louis for the Ohio native, who held a leadership position at Laumeier Sculpture Park years ago.
During a recent visit, Knicely explained that the move by Craft Alliance to the larger building in the Delmar Maker District has been extremely beneficial for the arts organization. “The repurposed building was renovated specifically for our needs. For the first time all our craft areas have their own designated space.”
“Part of why we moved from UCity was to be part of the Delmar Maker District, which began with the creation of Third Degree Glass Factory (a collaboration between entrepreneurs–and fellow glass blowers–Doug Auer and Jim McKelvey). “The area has grown so much in the past couple of years,” Knicely explained. “Union Studio has opened at M.A.D.E. (where The Magic House is located), Ben Poremba has opened Esca, Florentin, and Nixta (with two more restaurants opening soon). The Fountain on Delmar and Steve’s Hot Dogs have opened at Delmar Locale, just east of Union.” Knicely also credits Maxine Clark of Delmar Divine, for her efforts to connect Delmar from Taylor Ave. west to the Loop.
For the first time, Craft Alliance has a Print & Paper Studio. The naming of the studio after Lee & Peggy Kaplan coincided with the welcoming of the organization’s first Visiting Artist, Buzz Spector. Spector is an internationally-renowned artist who not only taught classes at WashU but was a Dean at the Sam Fox School School of Design & Visual Arts for 5 years.
A view of the Peg Fetter Metals Studio, above.
A Glass Studio offers students the opportunity to learn glass sculpting, make stained glass and glass beads.
Creating little glass critters is especially popular with summer camp kids.
In the Fiber Studio, students learn weaving techniques, fabric dying, and sewing. Not photographed is a Wood Studio named in honor of Bernhard Voss, and a Blacksmithing Studio where students can make utensils such as a spoon for cocktails, a cheese knife, or a shoe horn.
The clay studio occupies the largest share of the building. “Clay has remained the most popular craft for the longest time,” Knicely said. “The functionality of the craft and the end results make it very usable.” The space is divided into two sections. One side is for wheel-throwing, and the other for hand–building clay workshops. There are 6 kilns, 4 inside and 2 outside.
When I stopped by just after 9 a.m. one morning, the studio was busy not with classes, but with Craft Alliance members who book 3–hour open studio time to work on their projects.
The large mural on the east wall of the building, above, funded by Gateway Foundation is a collaboration between artists from the Craft Alliance and students who attend Soldan and Sumner High Schools. Craft Alliance partners with St. Louis Public Schools to offer classes, as many schools don’t have arts programs. Every Friday, there is an Art Sparks program where students make a project and take it home. There is also a Saturday Crafting for the Future for students who hope to attend art school. They can work on their portfolios during these sessions, and also participate in an exhibition at Craft Alliance.
There is a studio earmarked for Craft Alliance’s Artist in Residence. This year’s recipient is Alicia Porter, who also teaches clay workshops. An exhibition of the work she has created over the past year will be exhibited soon.
At the time of my visit, the exhibition in Craft Alliance’s Staenberg Gallery, above, was Cut/Fold/Press, curated by Visiting Artist Buzz Spector. Now the exhibit is Craft Pulse I, which”highlights work created by Craft Alliance’s faculty, talented artists who maintain their own careers.” The exhibit will remain on view until the end of May,
Adjacent to the gallery is Craft Alliance’s Gift Shop, which is accessible online, but is open to the public during 3rd Friday events. Beginning this Friday, May 16, a Spring Student and Faculty Sale will fill the main hallway, and continue throughout the weekend.
Bryan Knicely’s concluded our interview with this: “Everybody can come to Craft Alliance and learn…Long term, short term…Get your hands dirty and then be able to say ‘I can do this.’ ” To explore the classes for youth and adults click here.
Craft Alliance, 5080 Delmar Blvd., open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 days a week. The Delmar Maker District’s Third Friday Event is this Friday, May 16, from 6 to 9. October’s Third Friday coincides with Craft Alliance’s 5th anniversary in the Delmar Maker District.