gatewaygroupies

First Friday this Friday

Grand Center's big deal last Friday wasn't much of a big deal, apart from the architectural genius of the newish Centene Center for the arts. But I have high hopes for this Friday's gallery walk, though. The downtown gallery walk's website seems to be on the fritz, so I'll sift through my e-mails to deliver the goods. Let's see...there's free eats and drinks and the "Forces of Nature" show at Art St. Louis, Cheryl Wassenaar and Mel Watkin are still up at Phillip Slein, uhhh... this is really irritating. So few art galleries in the Lou have websites. Laine thinks the abstract show is still up at Ellen Curlee Gallery. 3rd Floor Gallery hasn't been open on a Friday night in months, but I have nothing to indicate that it will be this time, either. Drive Agency is having an opening reception for photographer Mark Schepker and metal sculptor Andre Tourrette. You should stick your head in MacroSun Imports, too. And if you're willing to break from downtown for Soulard, MadArt is bustin' out the wine and cheese for Julie Malone and Justin Visnesky.You could even buy something.

It's the first unofficial Friday of Summer, come have fun with us.

cat blog and a plug

Our friend Ann is a contract photographer with our business, Nuclear Family Photography. She started making jewlery last year, and these photo transfer bracelets she makes are just gorgeous. You would be darn lucky to get one of these St. Louis-themed bracelets. Each one is a work of art made up of works of art!

Obligatory Friday cat blog. As of this update, Rudy is still growing. Stay tuned for the likely-harrowing account of Pammy's vet visit tomorrow.

Saturday Night Art

Art Saint Louis thinks they're being sneaky, but my Google-fu is too strong for them. Saturday night is the opening of a new show, a special show, a show jurored by someone wholly unconnected from the St. Louis Art scene (read: fair). My super-freaky Google-fu tactics have garnered the following from Art St. Louis regarding ASL XXII:

From 620 artworks submitted by 141 St. Louis & Midwest regional artists for Ms. Thomas' consideration, she selected 49 artworks by 39 artists for this 22nd annual exhibition.

The featured artists are:
Todd Anderson, Edwardsville, IL
Travis Bailey, Union, MO
Jack Beckemeyer, Union, MO
John Bohac, St. Louis, MO
Monique Bromberg, St. Louis, MO
Luca Cruzat, Carbondale, IL
Sharon Davie-Barrett, Rantoul, IL
Carla Dawson, Chesterfield, MO
John DenHouter, Edwardsville, IL
Adam Dupuis, Charleston, IL
Ron Flier, Glendale, MO
Sarah Frost, St. Louis, MO
John M. Goessmann, St. Louis, MO
SJ Hammack, Kirkwood, MO
Mitch Horstmann, Richmond Heights, MO
Katherine Kaminski, Carterville, IL
Dani Kantrowitz, University City, MO
Ken Konchel, University City, MO
Paul LaJeunesse, St. Peters, MO
Susan Leslie Lumsden, Thayer, MO
Elaine Marschik, St. Louis, MO
Don McKenna, Kirkwood, MO
Carey Netherton, Carbondale, IL
Betsy Nimock, Clayton, MO
Marion Noll, Webster Groves, MO
Elizabeth Parris, Rolla, MO
Carol Ross, Chesterfield, MO
Helene Slavin, Clayton, MO
Sun Smith-Fôret, St. Louis, MO
Darren Snead, Maplewood, MO
Larry Torno, University City, MO
Kristy Verticchio, University City, MO
Justin Visnesky, St. Louis, MO
Patricia Vivod, Troy, IL
Ron Vivod, Collinsville, IL
Peggy Wyman, Macomb, MO
David M. Yates, Edwardsville, IL
Raymond Yeager, Jacksonville, IL
Yingxue Zuo, Ballwin, MO

This is so exciting! Only TWO people I've ever heard of! I love our local art scene, but a body just gets SICK and TIRED of seeing the SAME NAMES over and OVER and over again. Celebrate change with us this Saturday night from 7:00 to 9:00 at Art St. Louis, 917 Locust Street, the third floor loft, I think. My impeccable Google-fu also revealed the following: Good Free Food!

Reception Sponsors:
Adams Mark Hotel
Bryan Young Catering Plus
Catering St. Louis
City Grocers
Companion Baking Company
Gourmet to Go
Hank's Cheesecakes
La Tropicana Market & Deli
Something Elegant Catering

Come eat with us, see Laine's two newest photographs, and all the new works from St. Louis' brilliant artists.

Mule Tide

This is the only known picture of Beth Ketcher (far left) almost standing still. Some StudioSTL foks accept their Kick Ass award.

The Atomic Cowboy was split in half for the 3rd Annual Kick Ass Awards. There were $1 bottles of "The Champagne of Beers" to celebrate the occasion. I was more intrigued by Leslie's classy Stoli Razz and Tonic, but I feared any alcohol would immediately put me into a coma. We had the long, comfy orange vinyl sofa to ourselves, but we offered the other end to various friends as they mingled. We don't know the little girl with the daring cammo and cowboy boots ensemble, but she did, indeed, kick ass.

Laine took her sneak-attack pictures all night, only getting up to get the picture of the stunning half karate-kicking man, half rear end of donkey trophies.

We were surrounded by the underground St. Louis elite, and it was definitely funky. I'm an idiot and didn't realize until Tom Crone said it, that Steve Ewing was/is the lead singer of The Urge. Duh.

Karen Duffy looked fantastic in her sparkly jeans and faboo haircut, and both Laine and I vowed to be her when we are her age. Scott Emanuel's partner Ed Reggi sported the most awesome anime facial hair I've ever seen on a human being. He was sitting with the infamous Joan Lipkin, who's met me several times at parties and readings, but instantly forgets who I am. And that's, okay.  K. Curtis Lyle stunned the audience with a performance of one of his poems for his girlfriend's anniversary present. Leslie's date and I were mouthing, "your uranium ass," for a solid ten minutes after he finished.

Okay, last night, the Non Prophet Theatre Company took home a Kick Ass Award, and they were decidedly not kick ass. Either I was too sober, or they were too not funny, but the only time I laughed during their set was when, after a gag they thought was funny, they would wait a full 30 seconds for their laughs and never get them. Call me a fuddy duddy if you will, but there is a time and place for everything, folks, and a civic award ceremony is not the time for Granny fetishes and blue language. I work blue, too, but I scan the crowd for children first.  I also stop if nobody's laughing, but maybe that's just me. They reminded me of an ill-rehearsed drag king troupe.

Stefene and Andrea did great jobs, but the best speaker of the night was probably Mr. Crone. His giving the crowd in back the business for having full-blown party-volume conversations during the ceremony was hi-larious. And his realization that he said "dick" five times directly in front of someone's eight year old, right after scolding the NPT Co's filthy whore mouths was comedy gold.