Creatures III

Creatures III September 23-October 19, 2023

 Please join Art Saint Louis as we present Creatures III, a juried exhibit featuring works about creatures, critters, animals, and beasts by 69 St. Louis regional artists as juried by artists Laurie Hogin and Steve Jones. Free reception September 23, 5-7 p.m.

JURORS' STATEMENTS

  “My colleague, Prof. Molly Briggs, an artist and landscape historian who teaches in our Design for Responsible Innovation program at the University of Illinois says that art is essential to the health of a body politic—that without art, a society becomes susceptible to oppressive conformity, and worse. Art is absolutely a social good, and my experience as juror for this exhibition reminded me of why this is.  The works submitted for this show represent a diversity of voices that make for the kind of society in which creativity, innovation, and individual identities are valued. What a pleasure to look at and consider the works in this rich collection, and it has been an honor to assist in and support the mission of an organization like Art St. Louis, whose work gives voice to the art community. This kind of representation shows a broader swath of what artists are doing and strengthens our social fabric in ways that the major institutions, with their concentration on a different kind of programming, can’t.
  I found so much evocative and impactful work but with considerations of space and scale I felt strongly that it was important to include as many artists as possible. After all, art’s value proposition is to represent a diversity of ways of being and knowing, so in cases where an artist submitted multiple works, I chose a single one to represent that voice. Artists that neither my fellow juror, the curator, nor I could include should keep in mind that it is impossible to know anything except that any particular “gatekeeper’s” decision is not a referendum on the value of an artist’s practice! It is a blip in a career that will be characterized by both inclusions and (honestly, many more) exclusions—we’ve all been there, and will continue to be there, if we keep our studios going! Another colleague of mine, digital artist Benjamin Grosser, who teaches with me in the Studio program, explains his success by his willingness to “get rejected 100 times a year”, from the start of his amazing career, currently—even after attaining international status—and in the future. The message to all the artists who allowed me the privilege of seeing their works is that what you do matters. Keep it going.”

— Laurie Hogin, artist, Chairperson, Professor of Painting and Sculpture,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  “I was honored to serve as co-Juror for Creatures III at Art Saint Louis. I want to thank the artists who submitted such a large variety of work and congratulate those who were selected for the show.

  As an artist who uses creatures, both human an animal as a way to connect with the viewer and share a story, I really connected with the theme and many of the artworks.

  As I reviewed the images, I was reminded of the title of a book, The Object Stares Back by James Elkins. I was looking for artwork that stared back at me not with eyes exclusively, but with a thoughtful use of design, material, and process. I wanted the show to represent not just creatures, but creativity, with the creature becoming a jumping off point in the story or image being told. I chose some work because of its obsessiveness in its build or patterns and others because less is often more.

  I first selected works that spoke to me without looking at the info supplied with the image (title, year, media, dimensions)… so art that communicated through the image and/or the eyes. Art that had surprise or nuance. Sometimes art that was awkward and vulnerable. A second, third, fourth pass through the images and jurying presentation was influenced by the thoughtful titles and details. It is then I chose work that displayed a mastery of media and creative material use.

  Thank you again for the opportunity and I look forward to seeing the installed show.”

— Steve Jones, artist, St. Louis, MO

FEATURED ARTISTS

PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS

There are parking meters on Pine Street and Olive Street & other nearby streets. Parking meters run 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fines are steep ($20), so don't let your meter expire. You might download the handy Parkmobile app, where you can monitor & pay your parking meter via your smartphone. Parking is at your own expense--we do not validate. The Gallery is easily accessible by public transportation with MetroLink and MetroBus with MetroBus stops on Olive Street and Tucker right near the building.

Some of the 71 featured artworks in Creatures III:

Amelia LaChance, O’Fallon, MO. “Coming to Terms.” 2022. Carved Wood, Needle Felted Wool, 13"x 14.5" x7”. $500.	Creatures3 Godwin WEBBarbara Godwin, Collinsville, IL. “Lounging Lobos.” 2023. Pyrography on Maple Veneer Plywood, 14”x21”. $750.	Wendy Walsh, Wildwood, MO. "Helmet for a Possum." 2021. Forged Coper, Sterling Silver, Ribbon, Locust Thorns, 6”x6”x3.5”, 4.5 oz. Not for Sale.
Matthew Cook, Alton, IL. “Emoting Opulence.” 2023. Acrylic Ink on Paper, 26”x38”. Not for Sale.	Jeromy Gully, St. Louis, MO. “Nightmare Bear.” 2022. Digital Photograph on Paper, 20’x20”, $234.	William Perry, Maplewood, MO. “The Mermaid and the Makara.” 2023. Pencil, Ink, Colored Pencil on Paper, 27”x34”. $500.
Maurice Hirsch, Chesterfield, MO. “Reflections in the Dog’s Eye.” 2023. Digital Photograph on Metal, 16”x16”. $150.	Honorable Mention recipient Samie Dozor, Imperial, MO. “Harmony of Creatures.” 2023. Acrylic, Gold Leaf on Canvas, 36”x48”. $2,500.	Mark Dietzel, New Athens, IL. “Call of the Wild.” 2019. Carbon Steel, 42”x16”x54”, 110 lbs. $14,000.
Best of Show Award of Excellence recipient Contessa Smith, Brentwood, MO. “Scyphozoa.” 2022. Sumi Ink on Paper, 20”x16”. Not for Sale.	Shada Vega, Belleville, IL. “Spring Illusion.” 2023. Graphite, Ink, White Gel Pen, Digital Painting on Paper, 21”x25”. $365.	Kevin Wilson, St. Louis, MO. “They Didn’t Think It Could Happen.” 2021. Oil, Enamel on Panel, 39.5”x23.5”. $2,320.