In Review: Mussorgsky in Reverse

ASL artists and Symphony patrons mingle in the foyer of Powell Hall during a Meet the Artists event on January 26, 2013. Photography by Kathy Czopek

This special exhibit was created in response to the artists’ experiences at a private rehearsal of the St. Louis Symphony last fall, and paid homage to the Symphony’s performances of Mussorgsky’s popular suite Pictures at an Exhibition, which was similarly inspired by works of visual art. We are so pleased to note that the Art Saint Louis/St. Louis Symphony collaboration was featured in both the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the St. Louis Beacon. You can view all 12 exhibited artworks along with photographs from Saturday's event in our Facebook album.

Feedback from ASL members and St. Louis Symphony staff was overwhelmingly positive! Works of visual art, displayed on easels placed throughout the foyer areas of Powell Hall, added an extra layer of meaning and excitement to the concert experience, as was clear by the crowds that lingered in front of these works and chatted with their creators. And the artists themselves relayed to us their tremendous enthusiasm for the opportunity to showcase and discuss their art with this new and captivated audience. The concert was very well received, and reviews are available online at St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KDHX 88.1 FM.

Mussorgsky in Reverse featured artworks by Michael Anderson, Tim Bottchen, Kathy Czopek, Renee Bearden-Williams, John M. Goessmann, Sheri Goldsmith, Donna Hasegawa, Liz Jones, Erin McGrath Rieke, Annie Scheumbauer, Russell Vanecek, and Peggy Williamson.

Special thanks to ALL of our participating artists, to the St. Louis Symphony, especially to Maureen Byrne, Community Programs Manager, and Edie Silva, External Affairs and Publications Manager, to Lon Brauer, ASL's Art Installer, and to the Arts and Education Council for their support. We very much hope to continue our work with the St. Loius Symphony in the near future and look forward to relaying news of further collaboration!

Present in partnership with the St. Louis Symphony and funded in part by the Arts and Education Council