Parenthood

Please join Art Saint Louis for Parenthood, a multi-media juried exhibit featuring new artworks by 49 STL regional artists from Missouri and Illinois on view in the Gallery April 16-May 19, 2022.

Graphic design by Emily Crull.

We are pleased to present Parenthood, a juried exhibition with works by 49 STL regional artists from Missouri & Illinois. Parenthood is presented April 16-May 19, 2022. Gallery is free & open to the public Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Sundays and holidays. Dates & hours subject to change. NOTE: We are currently closed until 9 a.m. April 16 while we prep the gallery & install this new show. Our Catalyst Coffee Bar is still open regular hours. A free opening reception will be held for this exhibition on Saturday, April 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. This event is subject to change. If you are not vaccinated, please wear a mask while at Art Saint Louis. Parenthood is a visual art exhibition featuring artworks that address, depict or present representations of parenthood in all its myriad forms. From parenting humans or pets to the planet at-large, parenthood means different things to each of us. Media of work featured in this show includes collage, digital media, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, plaster, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, and more. We invite you to view our Facebook album for this exhibition here and then come see the show in-person April 16-May 19. Congrats to Sally Gantner on the sale of her work featured in this exhibit. Our Jurors for this exhibit were artists David Dolak and Erica Popp. • David Dolak is a printmaker, painter, and graphic designer—over the past 20 years his prints and paintings have often focused on documenting his family. He is convinced that by recreating moments of his family’s life that he not only preserves and proactively deepens his own future recollection, but that he is creating a legacy of work that will serve as an illustration of life in the early 21st century. He earned MA and MFA degrees with a focus in painting from Fontbonne University, in St. Louis, MO. David is currently an owner and Chief Creative Officer at PHX Creative in St. Louis, a marketing and design agency that serves local and national clients. He maintains a studio in his home, with his family. • Erica Popp is a mother, artist, educator, and curator in St. Louis, MO. MFA Fontbonne University (2016); MA Fontbonne University (2014); BA Principia College, Elsah, IL (2009); Kansas City Art Institute (2006-07); Associate of Fine Arts, St. Louis Community College Meramec (2006). Her artwork is primarily ceramics and photography. Her work explores urban and rural landscapes, family history, and the mythology of the American Dream. Erica's artwork has been shown nationally in solo and group exhibitions and reproduced by Urban Outfitters and Art Crate. Popp has juried and curated exhibitions regionally and nationally. She has taught photography and developmental writing at the college level as well as summer art camps for children ages 4-14. She is currently the full-time visual art teacher at Incarnate Word Academy in North St. Louis County. She was previously the owner and co-curator of Erica Popp Studios + Gallery, dedicated to supporting emerging artists. COVID-19 PROTOCOLS Art Saint Louis operates in compliance with City of St. Louis health mandates, CDC recommendations, and Missouri ArtSafe. SCHOOL GROUPS Schools are welcome to the Gallery but are asked to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least 2 weeks in advance of proposed visit.

JURORS' STATEMENTS

“Congratulations to all the artists who submitted work to this show, regardless of inclusion in the final exhibition the range of materials, handling, and thematic interpretation showcased the vitality and energy of our regional art community in a compelling manner.

Admittedly the theme of Parenthood could be described in numerous ways. This show exposes the audience to the spectrum of deep personal connection available within that theme. Images of nuclear parenthood are juxtaposed against more abstract or unique responses to that concept. I urge the audience, as well as the artists, to take time and consider the sum of the responses within this exhibition—it may challenge notions, broaden perspective, or galvanize current values. That’s up to you.

Many thanks go to Robin Hirsh not only for her diligence in guiding this show, but for her role in parenting and nurturing countless artists over the years through Art Saint Louis. It is one definition of parenting/caring/supporting that this juror and artist has found inspiring through his career.”

— David Dolak

“There is a popular myth that says that in order to be a brilliant and prolific artist one cannot take on the responsibility of having children. On the contrary, experiencing parenthood is to understand love and joy, but also pain and sorrow. The works submitted for this show is proof that parenthood is not a detriment to creativity and expression, but is rich in opportunity for artistic inspiration.

The artworks selected for this exhibition illustrate a wide range of the activities and emotions that parents experience with their children, grandchildren, and fur babies.I primarily selected works that were overtly about the experience of parenthood and that had a quality about them that spoke to me about the artist’s specific experience. Many of these works drew me in on an emotional level and invited me to stay with them or revisit them during the jurying process. Some are raw and honest about the struggles and grief involved in parenting, such as a photograph of a frustrated mother sitting on the bathroom floor, and a painting about the death of a child. Other works reveal parenthood’s hidden labor, such as a sculptural piece about pumped breast milk. Even more captured the kind of quiet moments that we hope we will remember forever: the light on our baby’s face, a child’s creative solution for “locking” a door with colorful tape, and the bright, multi-colored chaos experienced when so many of us spent almost all of our time at home as a family in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Being a parent to my own biological son and step-son has been a huge part of my life and has greatly influenced my work and identity. I’ve also had cats and dogs, and while my relationship with them is very different from parenting my human children, it’s still strong, and I have deep respect for pet parents (especially after recently adopting a puppy, which was reminiscent of caring for a baby). I’m proud to include “mother” in my list of nouns that I feel describe me: artist, curator, educator, mother.”

— Erica Popp

 The featured artists in Parenthood are:

Some of the artworks featured in Parenthood:

Natalie Baldeon, St. Louis, MO. “Piggy.” 2020. Watercolor on Paper, 14.5”x17.5”. $650.	Laura Long, Carlinville, IL. “Cages.” 2021. Acrylic on Canvas, 13”x15”. $400.	Rick Battram, Wildwood, MO. “Grandma’s Gratitude.” 2020. Oil on Canvas, 25”x33”. NFS.
Sally Gantner, Manchester, MO. “Hidden in the Shadows of Motherhood.” 2022. Photograph on Paper, 36”x24”. Sold.	Kim Bouldin-Jones, St. Charles, MO. “Blanket.” 2022. Mixed Media, 24”x18”. $1,500.	Sarah Blumenfeld, Clayton, MO. “The Nightlight.” 2021. Oil on Linen, 23”x19”. $400.
Avé Whitaker, Maplewood, MO. “My Light.” 2021. Acrylic on Canvas, 20”x16”. NFS.	Madeleine LeMieux, Columbia, MO. “Nom.” 2021. Digitally Printed Linen, Acrylic, Found Materials, Thread, 54”x40”. $2,000.	Adam Long, St. Charles, MO. “Childhood’s Potential.” 2019. Preserved Natural Objects, Artist-Created Sculpting Compound, 7”x13”x8”. $2,000.
Nancy Van Ness, Glendale, MO. “Our Nest.” 2021. Oil on Canvas, 14”x11”. $1,450.	Heather Sandy, Lakewood, IL. “Let Sleeping Kittens Lie.” 2022. Charcoal on Paper, 26.5”x32.75”. $325.	Honorable Mention recipients Tamara Eberle & Grace Eberle, St. Louis, MO. “Still Life with Rainbow Colors.” 2022. Acrylic, Paint Pen, Charcoal on Paper, 31”x25”. NFS.

PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS
Art Saint Louis is located at 1223 Pine Street in downtown St. Louis. There are parking METERS on Pine Street and Olive Street & other nearby streets. Parking meters run Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fines are steep ($20), so don't let your meter expire. Visit Downtown St. Louis.org's website for additional parking suggestions. You can also download the handy Parkmobile app, whereby you can pay for and monitor parking meter via your mobile phone.

Hourly parking is available with limited weekday hours in the PARK PACIFIC GARAGE on Olive just West of Tucker. The garage entrance is on the South side of Olive. Parking is at your own expense and payable by credit card upon exiting the garage. Access to the garage & hours are currently limited. For info: 888-614-7426. Be sure to take your parking receipt/ticket with you when you exit your car to visit the Gallery or you won't be able to get back in to the garage to get to your garage. Your parking ticket is your key to get back in to the garage. Art Saint Louis cannot validate parking.

The Gallery is easily accessible by PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION with MetroLink and MetroBus with MetroBus stops nearby.
If you are uncomfortable driving downtown, you might want to consider a carpool or rideshare to our location.