The Urban Arts Collective
Urban Eats Cafe sponsors the Urban Arts
Collective Project which supports local artists with the free
use of small gallery space and other resources.
If you are a
local artist (particularly one living in South City) and in need of public
space to display your work, we want to hear from you! Send us an email
to let us know you want more info. We will send you a complete outline
of the project and how to participate. We generally book 3 months in
advance.
Current Rotation: July-September 2010
Guest Curated by Tony Renner and Hilary HitchcockTony Renner
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Artist Profile
Tony Renner has been taking photographs for over 20 years but purchasing a digital camera in 2003 really opened the floodgates.
"With digital, you can afford to make mistakes all day long," Renner says. "The trick is to learn from your mistakes and to keep improving."
In July's exhibition, "Walls and Openings," Renner examines the textures and colors revealed through close-up photographs of the built environment.
St. Louis print-maker Tom Huck has called Renner, "A man of mystery."
Renner is also a painter who has exhibited work at various locations throughout St. Louis, and in 2007 he received an award of excellence from Art St. Louis jurors.
tony_renner@yahoo.com
http://tonyrenner.blogspot.com/
Colin Michael Shaw
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Artist Profile
For well over a decade my painting has been the real work of my life. My paintings are about color and design, materials and methods, exploration and experimentation. Many of these paintings are about the deep and unseen parts of the individual; they are about the hearts of men. A very personal language of sorts has begun to evolve inside this work- pictograph forms that return throughout, themes recur as well. If the simple vocabulary of my work can deepen the viewer's sensitivity to the subjects of my paintings, perhaps it will ultimately bridge the emotional gap of our detached society. Much can be learned from small beginnings, in which our most basic, initial understanding of one another can form our greatest appreciation for each other. I am most convinced of this when on occasion someone narrates the story of one of my paintings to me upon viewing- they are really telling me their own story. Soon we are exchanging ideas, learning about each other, and so it begins… what was my painting has now become a small part of us together.
colin@shawart.com
www.shawart.com
Kevin Belford
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Artist Profile
Kevin Belford is an artist in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute, he has spent most of his career as a professional freelance illustrator.
His work in advertising, corporate art and editorial illustration has been published and exhibited locally and internationally. In St. Louis, he is well known for his work in the print media – including The Sporting News, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis magazine, and for years of covers of the Riverfront Times.
He has authored and illustrated Devil At The Confluence, The Pre-war Blues Of St Louis, Missouri, produced a number of books including: The Ballpark Book for The Sporting News, and the children’s books: Game, Set, Match, Champion Arthur Ashe and Twist Of Fate –The Miracle Horse Of Longmeadow Ranch, as well as having done numerous interior illustrations and covers for longer works.
kevinbelford@gmail.com
devilattheconfluence.com
Jane Linders
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Artist Profile
I have exhibited locally and nationally at the Smithsonian, Art St. Louis, The Mad Art Gallery, 3rd Floor Gallery, The Foundry, Missouri Botanical Garden, Gallery 210, Union Avenue Opera, 20:08 Gallery, Baseline Gallery, Regional Arts Commission and I have been published in numerous books, magazines, calendars, posters and commercial websites.
For most of my career I have worked with non-traditional photography. Photography enables me to capture images that would otherwise be lost forever. My choice of film is infrared because of the soft edges between contrasts. The mysterious quality of images captured with infrared film suggests a reality far beyond what the eye can see and it’s always exciting to see what kind of effects infrared film will produce. I am still shooting with film and traditionally printing my images. I am also interested in Polaroid transfers. These one-of-a-kind images are printed on watercolor paper, archivally matted and framed.
I have exhibited locally and nationally at the Smithsonian, Art St. Louis, The Mad Art Gallery, 3rd Floor Gallery, The Foundry, Missouri Botanical Garden, Gallery 210, Union Avenue Opera, 20:08 Gallery, Baseline Gallery, Regional Arts Commission and I have been published in numerous books, magazines, calendars, posters and commercial websites.
janelinders@sbcglobal.net
www.freewebs.com/janelinders
April-June 2010
Angie Griffith
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Artist Profile
“Spray paint, acrylics, sandpaper, printmaking,
as well as collage pictures at times to the mix. I refer to the style
of art that has found me as industrial pop art.” Angie Griffith
(Jonske), born in Denver, Co, is from a family of artists. Her
grandfather was an artist and her uncle continues to pursue art. She
received her Associates in Fine Art from St. Louis Community College -
Florissant Valley and is currently working towards her Bachelor’s Degree
in Studio Art. She is a nationally exhibiting artist.
“Creating is a way for me to communicate my
thoughts that have no words. The color, marks, and mediums are used to
tell an emotional narrative. Inspiration come from music, movies, the
people I meet, and the things that are around me, as well as my own
experiences.” Angie often look at other artists including: Aaron Kraten,
Banksy, Justin Tolentino, Warhol, Basquiat, Robert Rauschenberg, and
Judith Supine. “Through my art, I am hopeful that people who are able to
experience it with me, can take away something positive - whether it’s a
simple smile, inspiration, encouragement or hope.”
jonskestudio@yahoo.com
www.jonskestudio.com
www.etsy.com/shop/jonske
Hilary Hitchcock
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Artist
Profile hilary@hilaryhitchcock.com
Chineyere
Oteh & Mel Watkin
UMSL's PPRC
Project: I am Lydia's House
Artist Profile
This is a special exhibit, of not one artist, but many artists showing their work around a central theme: The children of Lydia's House, a refuge for abused women, share a view of their world.
The latest installment in the University of Missouri–St. Louis’ ongoing Public Policy Research Center Photography Project features pictures taken by children living at Lydia’s House, which provides transitional housing to survivors of domestic violence.
Participants were taught photography through the UMSL project. The children’s photographs make up the exhibit “PPRC Photography Project: Lydia’s House,” which will be on display at two locations.
Chinyere Oteh, a PPRC Photography Project instructor, once volunteered as a college student to help sort clothes and other items at a storage facility used by Lydia’s House. This time, she had the opportunity to work directly with children who benefit from the services provided by the nonprofit organization.
“In order to protect their privacy while still allowing each child to express who they are, we took a creative approach to self-portraiture by photographing their shadows, creating silhouette collages and writing poetry,” Oteh said. “The children photographed items that caught their eye in the meeting areas and rooms at Lydia’s House community center, and together they wrote a story called ‘I am Lydia’s House.’"
The Photography
Project was co-sponsored by the Public Policy Research Center at UMSL,
Missouri Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Regional Arts
Commission, Advertisers Printing Company, Allied Photocolor and Urban
Eats Cafe.
http://pprc.umsl.edu
http://www.lydiashouse.org
http://www.urbaneatscafe.com
http://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2010/03/12/lydias-house/
Thomas Shepherd
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Artist Profile
Thomas Shepherd is a St. Louis artist known for blending collage and photography into original artwork. Theory and concept are central to his art which is influenced by the DaDamovement and the conceptual art of Marcel Duchamp. Thomas also holds a yearly fundraiser for The Epilepsy Foundation, a cause which is close to him.
thomas2art@yahoo.com
http://thomasshepherdarts.webs.com/
Naomi Silver
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Artist Profile
A relative newcomer to the art scene, Naomi has dabbled in art through one medium or another for most of her life. She began creating abstract works after having interviewed numerous artists for her website, CutlureSurfer.com.Naomi’s unique style is attained through the spontaneous application of acrylic paint with brushes as well as her fingers. This unorthodox technique enables her to create a variety of textures and energetic, fluid designs. The paints blend into unique colors that are never seen again in any of her other works.
Naomi’s art was displayed at 9 different venues in in the second half of 2009, including one solo show. Her paintings have been sold to collectors in the midwest and southern United States. She is a native of St. Louis where she lives with her husband.
culturesurfer@yahoo.com
Past Rotation: January-March 2010
January 2010 Events February 2010 Events
Craig Downs
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Artist Bio
St. Louis Artist, born 1960. A self taught artist, Craig Downs has spent the
past seven years creating a bold and unique style to call his own.
His art has been shown at many venues across the country and to date he
has sold over 500 paintings.
His whimsical creations play with color and
rhythm in such a way that they seem to dance upon the canvas. The
allegorical style he has created is not one to be taken in at a glance;
rather it is most fully enjoyed when taken in at a serene pace, for what
first may appear as simplicity belies a hidden depth. This having
been said, it is the artist’s hope that the observer will not take his
work too seriously and will allow themselves to enjoy the magical
simplicity of the paintings.
While painting is Craig’s deepest passion, he
also expresses himself artistically through music. Currently singer and
songwriter for the local band, Box of Nerves, he has also played in
several other bands over the past 28 years.
“Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it.” -- Vincent Van Gogh
www.craigdownsart.com
Artist Bios
Carmelita Nuñez (BA in Studio Art, Saint Louis University, 2006) is a ceramic artist who creates beautiful functional pieces for people’s everyday rituals. After initially studying graphic design and illustration, she fell in love with ceramics, and hasn't looked back since. She studied ceramics with James Ibur, Dan Anderson and Nila Petty. Carmelita taught art to adults and children at Craft Alliance, The Potter's Workshop and South City Open Studio and Gallery from 2001-2007. Her work has been featured in St. Louis at Home, Better Homes and Gardens' Do It Yourself and other prominent local and national media. She is a native of St. Louis, MO, and has run her own ceramics studio in South St. Louis City since 2004.
Daniel Shown (BA in Studio Art, Saint Louis University, 2010) is a mixed media painter and programmer who combines intuitive and process based abstractions. His training in new media art began in 1996 in the Telecommunications Cluster at Napa High School, Napa, CA where he learned video production, computer programming, electronics and other related skills. The San Francisco Academy of Art College awarded him a Summer Study Grant in 1997, and in 2006 he was awarded second prize at Schlafly's Art Outside for his mixed media paintings and generative prints made using custom software. Since 1999 he has worked for Saint Louis University, providing expertise in information technology and media production. Daniel also composes and performs original electronic music and accompanying videos under the pseudonym of Mmmelt.
Together, Carmelita and Daniel are Kung Fu Chicken, an interdisciplinary art studio they have run since 2000. While they work in completely different mediums, from Carmelita's distinctly illustrated hand-made ceramics to Daniel's new and mixed media compositions, they cross-polinate ideas and aesthetics. Carmelita is grounded and interested in functionality, while Daniel is heady and interested in concepts. They balance, offset and complement each other both creatively and professionally. In 2009 they were awarded "Kick Ass Awards" by the St. Louis arts and culture magazine turned blog, 52nd City.
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i dream too much. if there is such a thing. i smile at strangers and love to hear their stories. i believe everyone is beauty personified. i'm passionate. about everything.
i love anything that encites the imagination. i like to have deep, meaningful conversations (especially with my son) and live life with zest, affirmation and gratitude.
essentially, I'm just a girl. i have dreams, ones that i want to share. i have hopes, ones that lift me through any fog i might encounter. i have aspirations, ones that have shown me who i really am. And now that i know, i wonder how i could have lived any differently.
Tim Eisenhoffer
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Artist Bio
Hi, my name is Tim Eisenhoffer.
Using color to express movement and emotion, became my foundation. Thoughts and idea’s began to race through my mind so fast it was hard just to get them on canvas.
I am hoping that when you view my work, you can feel my work as well. It is not for me to tell you what my work depicts; you must and should draw your own perceptions and conclusions. If only to say this guy is crazy….but it’s a good crazy!
Past Rotations:
October-December 2009
Gena Brady Allen
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ARTIST STATEMENT
Gena Brady Allen is a working artist dedicated to the medium of photography. Her background in environmental design and the built environment informs much of her work. She travels throughout the United States and abroad photographing urban, suburban and rural landscapes and their inhabitants.
Along with documenting communities, she is also attracted to the objects people create, collect and leave behind. Along with visual arts, she plays experimental music with Learn, Artist! sound project. Recently she has published the book Transients Welcome through Blurb.com featuring her black and white street photography. She displays her work and performs in galleries and venues in and around St. Louis.
Danielle Correll
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ARTIST STATEMENT
I've been creating art almost my entire life... the stories I could tell. Mostly self-taught, I experiment with different forms of medium to achieve the overall look and design of what I am trying to achieve. Art is a required necessity and has become more of a staple in my life than anything. Like a good well-balanced diet. Art serves a mentally logical reason as well. Productivity, a sense of immortality (as I know I won't live forever but my art very well may), an outlet for expression are but a few reasons. A true focus on what I love in my life is where my inspiration comes from, another form of inspiration is my anger towards specific situations in my past. Painting is seriously a form of meditation or therapy for me to get through what is going on from my past struggles into the situations that I deal with in the present. In all the years I have experimented with various kinds of media like oils, acrylics
airbrush, sculpture, glass, soap making, and jewelry.
My experience has also taught me to create copies from masters of art for commission. Not something that I do on a daily basis, however it helps me strengthen my abilities and experience. This has helped me survive at times when necessary. Most of my creations have remained hidden.... I have always created just to have fun and create. The art form and true discipline is different for every artist and each creation allows an artist to grow and change within themselves. When other people have a chance to understand that vision then you know that you have created a beautiful piece of work to share.
For More Information about Danielle, view her website www.midnite-sun.com
Tom Lampe
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ARTIST STATEMENT
I grew up in the St. Louis area and currently reside right here in the Dutchtown neighborhood with my wife Maggie, our 2 dogs and our cat. I have been an avid photographer since childhood and am completely self-taught with the exception of a few classes at Forest Park Community College.
My photos have been featured in various publications including The Riverfront Times, The St. Louis Beacon and 52nd City. I enjoy all aspects of photography, but I am particularly drawn to capturing the essence of the urban landscape.
You can view more of my work at www.stl.prettywar.com
Cindy Royal
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ARTIST STATEMENT
Life can be reflected in art. Over forty years of memories and experiences help to form my works. Often a found treasure will end up in a collage, or in the body of one of my creations.
My current works are a culmination of ground papier-mâché, fibers, and vestiges of an entertainment career. Retired records and musical instruments are taken to a new realm. Spare parts are woven into new projects. This is my favorite way to recycle paper and to utilize discarded objects. The nature of the materials that I use and the drying process itself is often unpredictable.
I have always had a passion for paint. It allows me to reveal the desired aspect and detail of my unique works. My journey continues as I find solace in creating my alternatively recycled art.
Ashley Alvarado
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From the first bright, bold, and soothing stroke of paint to the last - I’m at peace with the world. I learned about watercolors from my grandma. She taught me to enjoy the beauty of the paint strokes and that when you paint without holding back your true artistry is revealed. She encouraged me to “let my light shine” and paint unconsciously. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago exposed me to many different art forms but watercolor has and always will be where my heart lies. The paper is never kept in one position. I continuously turn the paper for every new stroke and shape. My grandma always told me, “good design looks good from every angle” and she was right! Every stroke of paint creates shapes that fit together like a puzzle creating vivid images streaming from my subconscious. I don’t plan my paintings and delight in the direction my mind takes me.
Stephen Davis
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Sarah Faraone
An artist’s style evolves continuously and I don’t know yet where mine will settle. Maybe I’ll figure that out by the time I’m 100. Technical skill improves and lessons are learned from each painting. It is impossible to learn one lesson from a painting at a time, just as it is impossible to learn one lesson from life at a time – you have to take what you get. I know I don’t want to capture every detail of a subject – a camera is capable of doing that quite successfully. I want to create depth and mood with dark against light and warm against cool. I want to keep my colors fresh as they describe my subjects. I want to “fool” my viewers with beautiful brushstrokes pulled from my bag of tricks, my techniques of illusion. I consider a painting to be a success if it evokes an emotional response in the viewer. I have no say as to what that response might be, but it is my responsibility to provide the foundation for the response. I believe that it is possible to create emotional paintings from the elements of landscape, as well as from figures and creatures.
Elizabeth Fournie
Elizabeth Fournie's Geisha Girls are happily parading across the Urban Arts Collective Space again this month, on a brief sojourn toward Autumn.
Previous Urban Arts Collective Artists:
Jeanne Vogel, Tim Wagner, Chuck Ramsay, Arlene Ligori, Andre Tourette, Lisa Tourrette, Elizabeth Fournie, Melanie Blunk Dolan, Tony Renner, Ashley Alvarado, Sarah Faraone