Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail. January 12-February 13, 2019. Free opening reception Saturday, January 19, 2019, 5-7 p.m.

Please join Art Saint Louis for our new juried exhibit, Attention to Detail, featuring new artworks by 50 St. Louis regional artists from Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky.

Graphic design by Emily Amberger

Attention to Detail is an all media juried visual art exhibition that will feature artworks that are predominately defined by the details of their composition: Artworks that are either marked by a density of detail or intricacy, or by details presented in isolation or contrast to surrounding elements—all works where significance, meaning or impact is achieved principally in or through detail. This juried exhibit was open to St. Louis regional artists age 21+. For this show, 215 artworks were submitted by 81 artists for consideration by exhibit Jurors Marie Oberkirsch and M. Shawn Cornell, from which they selected works by 50 artists from Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky for the final exhibition. This show features 50 artworks including ceramics, collage, drawing, fiber, mixed media, painting, paper, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, and wood. Please join us for our free reception on Saturday, January 19, 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. The exhibit remains on view through Thursday, February 13, 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 in our Facebook album here. 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. We are honored to have the opportunity to work with local artists Marie Oberkirsch and M. Shawn Cornell as our exhibit Jurors for Attention to Detail. M. Shawn Cornell is an award-winning plein air painter whose works have been exhibited nationally in gallery exhibitions as well as in plein air festivals and art fairs. In addition to painting, he is ceramic artist and printmaker. Prior to becoming a full-time artist, Shawn worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for 20 years. He is also co-owner of OA Gallery, Kirkwood, MO. Artist Marie Oberkirsch is Director, Central Print, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization that focuses on letterpress printmaking through workshops, classes & programs that focus on design and production using historic equipment. Marie holds a BFA in Textile Design from the University of Kansas and MFA in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her understanding of pattern, printing, and weaving, combined with a passion for artifacts, led to an affinity for letterpress printmaking. Marie has an extensive background in non-profit arts and event management.

Photo by Greg Barth.SPECIAL EVENT
COFFEE WITH THE ARTISTS: SATURDAY GALLERY TALK
Saturday, January 26, 10 a.m.    FREE

Please join us at Art Saint Louis on Saturday, January 26, at 10 a.m. and meet four of the featured artists in Attention to Detail.

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 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4:
• Katherine Alexander, sculpture
• Jo Jasper Dean, painting
• Tracey Snyder, painting
• Michelle J. Streiff,  painting

The 50 featured artists in Outliers are:

Attention to Detail

Jurors’ Statements
  "It was an honor to be invited as a co-juror with Marie Oberkirsch for Art Saint Louis’ exhibit, Attention to Detail. Happily as a judge, I had the perk and privilege of viewing all 215 submitted works. Sadly as a judge, I had the responsibility of narrowing those works down by a great number. That particular detail was an extremely difficult task to accomplish, but thankfully, through Robin Hirsch Steinhoff’s experienced guidance and Marie’s keen judgments, the endeavor was made far less painful.

  In choosing works for the exhibition, I primarily focused on more literal interpretations of “detail.” Gary Gackstatter’s, Wild Wood, is an excellent example of this, where he meticulously inked tens of thousands of lines from a crow quill pen to create a tightly rendered representational woodland landscape.

Jerry Benner’s, Sign Painter, on the other hand received my vote because it showcased an individual whose livelihood depends on his personal “attention to detail” abilities.

  Additional cafeterias that determined my selections were using “detail” in reference to craftsmanship and going above and beyond what would normally be expected. Jerry C. Williams, Sr.'s, ceramic bowl The Gardens of Shaw, highlighted these beautifully. In addition to its fine construction, Jerry went the extra mile by decorating its underside base. A detail that can only be seen if it’s picked up and turned over.

  I appreciate and congratulate all of the artists that submitted their work and I’m looking forward to viewing the final 50 works that we selected in person. It’s going to be a wonderful show. Many thanks to co-juror Marie Oberkirsch and a big thanks to Robin Hirsch-Steinhoff and Art Saint Louis for their strong support of the regions’ artists."

— M. Shawn Cornell, artist, co-owner, OA Gallery, St. Louis, MO

  "Entries for the Attention to Detail exhibition showed mastery of skill and creativity, which made it difficult to select a limited number of works for the exhibition. In selecting works, characteristics relating to the artists’ attention to detail began to emerge. Each work in the exhibition comes from a distinctive viewpoint, and shares a sensitivity toward pattern, reflection, and introspection. Through micro and macro points of view, these works focus our attention, and change our perspective, revealing the complexity of the world around us.”

— Marie Oberkirsch, artist, Executive Director, Central Print, St. Louis, MO

Some of the 50 artworks featured in Attention to Detail:

Gary Gackstatter, Kirkwood, MO." Wild Wood." 2016. Crow Quill Pen & Ink on Paper, 18”x14”. $800.	Renee Brochu, Columbia, MO. "Late Summer Green." 2018. Oil on Canvas, diptych, 31”x25” ea. $2,500.	Terry Lay, St. Louis, MO. "Above High Tide." 2017. Watercolor on Paper, 12”x16”. $500.
Kimberly Smith, Glen Carbon, IL. "Earthly Delights." 2018. Photograph on Aluminum, 20”x16”. $280.	Kathy Gomric, Millstadt, IL. "Chasing Time." 2018. Graphic on Rives BFK Paper, 28”x26”. $700.	Andrea Vadner, Richmond Heights, MO. "Water, Mountain, Tree." 2016. Mixed Water Media on 180 lb. Waterford Sanders Paper, 54”x49”. $7,000.
Ian Shelly, Macomb, IL. "Pixel." 2017. Earthenware, Glaze, Brick, Enamel, BFK, Pastel, Graphite, 18”x18”x6”. $2,000.	Bill Perry, Maplewood, MO. The Moon, The Pumpkin, and the Cat." 2016. Pen & Ink on Paper, 26”x34”. $1,000.	Christine A. Holtz, St. Louis, MO. "Tug O War." 2018. Hand and Machine Embroidery on Cotton, 10.5”x24”. $400.
Adrian Aquilino, Richmond Heights, MO. "Veil II." 2017. Cut Paper, Collage, 10”x8”. $50.	Darby Ortolano, Murphysboro, IL. "Reverie #1." 2017. Ceramic, 6”x13”x2”. SOLD.	Leslie Song, Maryland Heights, MO. "Life Cycle No. 2." 2016. Graphite, Ink on Paper, 20”x26”. $400.