Ars Gratia Artis

There is a storefront at 8th and Pine that has been vacant for 20 or 30 years. Its former use was unusual. The phone company filled it with physical phone books from all around the country. In pre-internet times, you could go there to look up a phone number in Chicago or Dallas. I did occasionally.

It's obvious what happened to that idea. This season Art St. Louis filled the dark interior with glowing, onion-shaped constructions, pulsing and changing colors. Maybe it was supposed to be Christmas-y. I thought it was spooky.

Another Saturday Night In The Lou

There was an opening at Art St. Louis last night of a show called Misperception. Having weaseled my way onto the gallery wall, it was appropriate for me to show up.

The two women above were interesting. The one on the left had a piece nearby mine, that wonderful photograph in the first and second pictures. We introduced ourselves. She told me that she was a professionally trained, world-famous artist who rarely showed in St. Louis (she's from the area). Well, then. I told her I was a semi-trained, mostly unknown amateur who was happy to have something in the show. Chacun à son goût.

Never did understand what the woman on the right was about. In the end, I thought she might have been one of the works in the exhibit.

Afterwards, Carolyn and I went to Layla's, a Lebanese restaurant, for dinner. The unexpected entertainment had more visual appeal than most of the stuff at the gallery.      

Dine With The Artists

.

Just a quick note. I'm scribbling this Sunday night while packing for my trip to Philadelphia in the morning. Saturday night Art St. Louis had a dine with the artists event in connection with its current show, Food Glorious Food. Why, you could have supped with me, since I've got a couple of pix in the show. The surprise question of the night was "Will you marry me?" She said yes.