Outliers

Outliers April 13-May 30, 2019. Free opening reception Saturday, April 20, 2019, 5-7 p.m.

Please join Art Saint Louis for our new juried exhibit, Outliers, featuring new artworks by 36 St. Louis regional artists from Missouri and Illinois.

Graphic design by Emiliy Amberger.

Outliers is a multi-media juried visual art exhibition that will feature artworks that that depict, address, celebrate or are otherwise influenced by that which lies outside of the norm. As contrast is of paramount importance in the world of visual art, so in nature, in society, in all the trappings of human culture, we are allured, disturbed, puzzled, challenged or inspired by that which stands in relief to the status quo. This juried exhibit was open to artists 21+ in the St. Louis region & surrounding 200-mile radius. For this exhibit, 218 artworks were submitted by 84 artists for consideration by exhibit Jurors Khara Koffel and Brett Williams, from which they selected works by 36 artists from Missouri and Illinois for the final exhibition. This show features 44 artworks in ceramics, collage, drawing, fiber, mixed media, painting, paper, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, and wood. Please join us for our free reception on Saturday, April 20, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a free reception for this new exhibit where you can meet the featured artists and our exhibit Jurors. We are also hosting a free Gallery talk on Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. (see below). The exhibit remains on view through Thursday, May 30, 2019. We invite you to view images of all of the artworks featured in this exhibit, gallery views of the show, and highlights from our opening reception & gallery talk in our Facebook album here. We also encourage you to view HEC-TV's feature on our exhibit here.   Click on the image to view HEC-TV's feature on this exhibit. The Gallery is free & open to the public Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. & Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. We are closed Sundays & major holidays (closed May 25-27 for Memorial Day holiday). We are honored to have the opportunity to work with regional artists Khara Koffel and Brett Williams as our exhibit Jurors for Outliers. Khara Koffel is Professor of Art, Art Program Director and Gallery Director, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL (since 2004). Khara holds an MFA from University of Alabama. Her works have been exhibited nationally in solo & group shows since 2001. Brett Williams, adjunct Professor of Art, St. Louis Community College Forest Park. Brett holds both an MFA and BA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His works have been exhibited nationally and are included in several key public & private collections. Brett has received two Artist Fellowships from Regional Arts Commission (2017 & 2010) and a Kresge Foundation Arts in St. Louis Grant (2010).

Highlights from our May 4 Gallery talk for "Outliers." Photos by Robin Hirsch-Steinhoff.SPECIAL EVENT
COFFEE WITH THE ARTISTS: SATURDAY GALLERY TALK
Saturday, May 4, 10-11:15 a.m.    FREE

Please join us at Art Saint Louis on Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. and meet four of the featured artists in Outliers.

Guests can enjoy complimentary coffee tastings courtesy of Catalyst Coffee Bar while the artists talk about their works on view in the exhibit, discuss the media that they use and the various techniques that they apply to making their form of artwork. The artists may also bring in samples of their other works or also present a demo of their particular media & techniques. Guests will walk with the artists through the Gallery as they talk about their works on view in the exhibition. This event is FREE & open to the public.

Four artists will speak in the Gallery 10-11:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 4:
• Katherine Alexander, mixed media sculpture
• David Acquistapace, painting
• Justin King, sculpture
• Sophie Binder, mixed media

The 36 featured artists in Outliers are:

Outliers

Jurors’ Statements
  "It’s easy to get swept into the swift current around us;  a popular subject matter, the latest technological skill, the low-hanging fruit in the political landscape that it’s easy to take a swing at and connect without even trying… all of these are easy targets. What drew me in about the idea of “Outliers” was the removal of that ease as we were looking for artwork that stood outside the boundary of the norm, work that instead played to and with other emotions, ideas and materials.
  The wide range of entries was borderline overwhelming but slowly dissecting it to create this exhibition was an honor. I found myself seeking out the work that challenged me in a way that I wasn’t accustomed to, forcing me to question what allowed each piece to come to the forefront or recede into the background. It was fascinating to witness what the concept of being an “outlier” meant to so many, as if we were allowed a special window into their thought processes.
  Thank you so much for allowing me to experience this process, the work and your passions. It was truly wonderful."

— Khara Koffel, artist, Professor, Gallery Director, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL

  "I really have trouble with [writing artist's] statements, I guess in this I am an outlier. The theme for this show is outliers and I believe Khara and I have chosen a group of artists whose work fits well into the theme.
  An outlier is something or someone who stands apart from a common grouping of anything. In many cases standing apart from a group allows the single entity to change the conversation or the point of view of how something is perceived.
  We have chosen a diverse group of artists whose various styles and subjects constitute a cohesive body or work. This show and its artist stand apart from the common. They are truly outliers.”

— Brett Williams, artist, Adjunct Professor of Art, St. Louis Community College Forest Park, St. Louis, MO

Some of the 44 artworks featured in Outliers:

Mohamed Baroma, St. Louis, MO. "Introvert." 2016. Photograph on Paper, 20.5”x20.5”. Not for Sale.	Piety Choi, Greenville, IL. "The Lost." 2018. Mixed Media on Canvas, 36”x36”. $1,500.	Barbara Marshall, Chesterfield, MO. "Serene Sunset in Tar." 2017. Photograph, 13”x16”. $160.
Chelsie Wilson, Imperial, MO. "Obstructed Views." 2018. Mixed Media on Panel, 18”x22”. $450.	Jennifer Mishra, Edwardsville, IL. "Poet is In." 2018. Digital Photograph on Paper, 23”x19”. $135.	Jenna McNair, Chesterfield, MO. "Umbrella of Priority." 2017. Oil on Canvas, 30”x40”. $1,800. This artwork was selected by exhibit Jurors Khara Koffel & Brett Williams for the Best of Show Award of Excellence.
Darla Allen, Belleville, IL. "The Growth." 2018. Wood, Spray Foam, Plaster, Acrylic, 31”x37”x18”. $100.	Victoria Balbes, Ballwin, MO. "Adventure." 2019. Digital Illustration on Paper, 27.5”x39.5”. $500.	Katherine Alexander, Ballwin, MO. "The Fragile Interior." 2019. 3 Emu Pysanky Eggs, 7”x12”x4”. $750/300 each. This artwork was selected by exhibit Jurors Khara Koffel & Brett Williams for an Award of Excellence.
Ruth Kolker, Creve Coeur, MO. "Waterborne." 2018. Mixed Media Painting on Paper, 27”x21”. $750.	Stephen DaLay, Shrewsbury, MO. "Gate 5." 2018. Mokulito on Paper, 20”x24”. $300.	Carey Seven, St. Louis, MO. "Tessalation." 2016. Oil on Canvas, 40”x30”. $1,800. This artwork was selected by exhibit Jurors Khara Koffel & Brett Williams for an Award of Excellence.