Friday SLAM

Having recently seen At Eternity’s Gate at the Frontenac Landmark movie theater in which actor Willem Dafoe plays Vincent van Gogh in Julian Schnabel’s movie, I am stoked to join my docent colleagues and reflect a bit about art in general. I find myself walking the galleries of the Saint Louis Art Museum with fellow docents from Laumeier Sculpture Park guided by Barb Gervais. Barb is a rare entity serving as docent for both regional art institutions. She sets a wonderful tone for our group. On this chilly late November morning our mission is ostensibly to tour sculptural highlights at SLAM. However, today we opt out of strolling the sculpture garden and save this treat for another day when the weather is more accommodating. (It’s okay by me, since I could not resist using my early arrival to visit this remarkable collection of works outside. Aristide Maillol is a personal favorite.)

Our indoor highlights allowed us ample time to reflect on sculpture by Degas, Giacometti, Arman, Judd, Flavin, and many brief sidebar exchanges. We made time to view the Kehinde Wiley exhibition of large-scale contemporary oil paintings of African American subjects. The works here  recall the grand tradition of European and American portraiture. Models are real people from our region (including Yvonne Osei who was recently featured in the Fine Arts Building at Laumeier). Wiley’s art addresses politics of race and power.

Brunch at the Panorama restaurant overlooking Forest Park was hosted by our waiter, Anthony who could not have been more pleasant (even as we requested separate checks). Naturally every serving of themselves were individual works of culinary art. Being the art junky that I am, I could not resist a second helping of the Graphic Revolution exhibition. (Rauchenberg, Warhol, Oldenberg, LeWitt, Lichtenstein are familiar friends of mine.) Graphic Revolution: American Prints 1960 to Now examines the transformational decade of the 1960s through the early 21st century, and the emergence of the creative synergies between the artists, publishers, printers, dealers, and collectors.

Overall a lovely way to spend a Friday in which I played hooky on November 30, 2018. Thanks to Kathy H. for arranging.

UMSL Speed Networking

(2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019...and we're back)

The University of Missouri in Saint Louis (UMSL) has become a sort of home away from home for me. My good friend Perry Drake Ph.D. made a connection with me when he we re-establishing himself in our little big town around 2013. I am proud to note that Drake listens and more. He had taken a few bits of my wisdom and spun them into gold with his action-orientation and enthusiasm. Case in point: The American Marketing Association of Saint Louis periodically ran speed networking events where professionals could connect and practice their best elevator speeches, meet and great. I have been a member of AMA for 20+ years. One such speed networking event took place in the middle of Historic Old Webster at Llywelyn's Pub in 2012.

One of his students, who was majoring in business with an emphasis in marketing and international business was determined to make this kind of event happen at UMSL hosted by the marketing club of which she was a leader. Perry Drake and I met with Breanna at Kaldi’s Coffee on De Mun Avenue. Suffice it to day, we had all the ingredients necessary to start a tradition that is now in its fifth year at UMSL.

15-20 professionals are assembled to test the grit of students willing to subject themselves to the naturally uncomfortable situation of a mock interview situation again November 13, 2018. Students have only 4 minutes to make an impression. It is wonderful practice for what will be real life soon enough.

Give a few extra moments at the mic at the latest UMSL Speed Networking, Mark LaRocca of Casino Queen indicated that he was struck by three Ps essential for success in interview situations (Planning, Practice, Purpose I think). Michael Lamb of native Msg added a few comments too. Not to be outdone, I offered the following TEN nuggets.

• You decide what WINNING is
• Keep your eye on the PRIZE
• Have a little AUDACITY
• Say THANK YOU often
• Love the JOURNEY
• KINDNESS (be a bucket filler not a dipper)
• ASK for help
• Be a FEARLESS biller (do not undervalue what you do)
• Do not DEFINE who you are by what you do
• It's not about you (EVER)

I am proud to have participated in all five of these remarkable events at the J C Penney Center on campus and the more recent location in the new Anheuser-Busch building. Thanks to all the professionals who contributed. Thanks also to the students who have taken the time to exercise being uncomfortable as part of their respective journeys.

Photo above: Speed Networking at UMSL at Anheuser Busch Hall in November 2019 (and I was proud to be a part of it again)

The tradition continues. This year (November 17, 2021) students lead by the marketing club participated in a Speed Networking event. My advice hasn't changed much: I distilled my suggestions to four parts. 1. Think about how you might answer an opening question like: So, what do you want to do? 2. Don't be afraid to ask for a courtesy interview. 3. Consider yourself a marketable product and create your own "board of directors" to guide you. 4. Follow Up. 

1.   

Allison Said

“Ben is Amazing” said she.

It was no surprise to me.

Said Ben “she’s cute, isn’t she?”

Mom and I had to agree.

On the couch, at 2 Glenmaro Lane;

Two smart phones, intuitive and plain

Save the planet, Trick or Tweet

Smiling with comic timing, oh so sweet

Now, the sum is greater than its parts;

City, Street, Love and the arts;

Easy peasy, boom-boom hizzy, wild and free

And still, nothin’ but Blue skies do I see.

Ben and Allison - Happy Iron Anniversary

10-27-18

Parker is Back at the Rock House 2018

I been walkin' the fine line
Between the form and the function
Between the gall and the gumption
Between feelin' and touchin'

Parker on stage at the Rock House on Seventh Avenue September 26, 2018, a Wednesday night with a full moon. From my spot on the balcony, I can see the lights on the Gateway Arch through the window. The Saint Louis Cardinals are winding up their baseball season at Busch Stadium as the night is cool enough to feel like autumn. (It doesn’t look like our home team is going to be in the pennant race this year.)  The stage is lit and Parker and his band seem to be genuinely in agreement with Parker’s crowd pleasing declaration. “It’s great to be back in Saint Louis.” The last time Parker was on this stage it was Springtime a few days prior to baseball opening day in 2014. The band was electric and the show a treat. It is a special thing to see this band showcase their latest but also everything from Truckstop Gospel, to Heaven Sent to Hades Pleads and Other Arrangements. 

I was there for the thrill of it all. I was in the crowd when Parker Millsap played Off Broadway in the Saint Louis Lemp-Cherokee Historic District on a Friday the 13^th in May of 2016 and also when they returned to play the Pageant in the Delmar Loup in November of 2016. The performance is polished.       

I been walkin' the fine line
Between the thought and the action
Slippin' sideways and traction
As a matter of fact, hon'...

Other Arrangements, is Millsap’s latest CD and it is on sale at the door along with his previous albums and some pretty cool T-Shirts promoting Parker Millsap and this evening’s opening act, Gary Owen. Owen served admirably as the opening act for Parker Millsap and his bandmates, violinist Daniel Foulks, bassist Michael Rose and drummer Paddy Ryan.

After the show I was able catch up with Parker long enough to have another fan capture a photo above with my Apple iPhone 4. I kinda knew it was the also fourth time I was lucky enough to see Parker Millsap and his band in Saint Louis since that show in 2014. I have a fealing he'll be back.

     

Bright Lights, Big Dinner

Neon by David Hutson at Laumeier Sculpture Park - September 22, 2018

Lauren Ross is just getting her toe in the water as the new executive director at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Among Ross’ accomplishments: she served as curator of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute for Contemporary Art in Richmond, curator/director of arts programs at the High Line in New York City and curator at Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art. Less than two months into her new job, she finds herself host to Laumeier Sculpture Park’s annual fundraiser: A Night of Neon, The Big Dinner. A tent houses tables set for hundreds of supporters of the sculpture park who are accustomed to some sort of annual outdoor fundraising/gala at this time of year. The weather is just starting to act like the beginning of autumn on a clear cool nite.

Thanks to the 2018 Kranzberg Exhibition Series, David Hutson’s exhibition Memory & Desire: A Personal Exploration of Neon Art, Past and Present serves as a focus of electricity in and around the evening. Midway toward the south lawn, a Hutson neon installation featuring a quote from Wendell Berry’s book of poems. WHEN I RISE UP, LET ME RISE UP JOYFUL LIKE A BIRD. WHEN I FALL, LET ME FALL WITHOUT REGRET LIKE A LEAF. This is an apt bit of inspiration for all of us with great ambition for this jewel in Sunset Hills.

Allison & John Ferring, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg and Carol & Michael Staenberg are sponsors along with The Aronson Foundation, Commerce Bank, PNC Arts Alive, Wells Fargo, Washington University Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and Thompson Street Capitol Partners.  Beginning with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6:00 p.m. and a meet & greet with the artist the event rolled smoothly into a lovely evening dinner.  

Honorary Chairs; Alison Ferring, Matt Harvey, Mary Ann Srenco and Susan Werrenmeyer; all stepped up to make everyone (including the new director) feel at home. Mary Ann Srenco is proud of her long standing involvement with this place. Her love of Laumeier dates back to visiting the park as a little girl with her active docent mother (Nancy Kranzberg).

The host committee included a list of names of some many will recognize as long time supporters of Laumeier Sculpture Park. I was happy to see a healthy representation of our docent corps present as well. There were stories of recent tours with groups as diverse as Washington University Architecture Students, inner-city youth groups, visitors from Louisville, Kentucky, high school seniors from a creative writing class and fifth graders. The evening began with scores of high schoolers posing for prom pictures. It ended with valet parking attendants scrambling to retrieve cars for our distinguished guests to exit the event. It was apparent that the future looks bright as neon at Laumeier Sculpture Park. In the days ahead, Lauren will be sorting out strategic initiatives and priorities for this regional gem dedicated to art and nature. I hope she will be joyful like a bird and rise. At the same time, I also hope she will be fearless with no regrets.

 Lauren Ross, Laumeier Sculpture Park Executive Director 

Reunion 45

Official Class song: Seals & Crofts - We May Never Pass This Way Again. Cat Stevens released Oh Very Young in 1974 as well. Both songs remind us to be present and thankful. Oh, Very Young is a kind of challenge to our generation and generations to come to make the world a better place.  

Class of 1974 - 45th reunion

Friday Night July 26 at Around the Corner. Meet and Greet.

Saturday Night July 27, 2019 at The Vosh in Lakewood (Closed to the public that evening).

Around the corner reunion scene;

Rangers in a time machine.

A juke box full of 45s;

Oldies recall moments of our lives.

Looking back on classic times;

Parks, bars, taverns, concert lines.

Lakewood, a city of homes;

Friday nights dialing rotary phones.

Johnny Appleseed gets restoration;

As we all need some validation.

Oh, very young what will you leave us this time?

There’s never a better time to lose your mind!

We’re only dancing on this earth for a short while.

Look around and remember with a smile;

In retrospect, taken as a whole;

There are no small parts – we all play a role.

Early Settler (aka Johnny Appleseed), is undergoing a long-awaited spruce up this summer (2018), according to the Lakewood Rangers Education Foundation. The Viktor Schreckengost sculpture is a landmark that predates the class of 1974. The artist, Viktor Schreckengost died at age 101 (in 2008). The work was commissioned by the Lakewood Board of Education in 1954.

Below is a poem I wrote in anticipation of this LHS Reunion.

Of course I remember you

Nearly a half a century ago;

I made sure to wave and say hello;

In the hallway between art class and math.

We shared ice-time inside the glass;

You were a fan in plain-sight;

Through the glare of Friday night lights
I snuck into the high school dance;
I saw you there, at a glance.
The world revolved around me in those days;
Now you are a part of me, in so many ways. 

Stefene

The sculpture park setting is at its best;

The poet-in-residence is seated at an IKEA desk; 

A manual typewriter in the shade on a sunny afternoon;

The grass grows and the flowers bloom.

Click click clackety click;

The words come but the keys sometimes stick.

A makeshift parasol in a place for poetry posts;

Poems you wish you could memorize most.

You write, re-write, you never quit;

Your process is personal and yours to commit;

Original works with words perfectly fit;

But now it’s time to make your exit.

A composition you imagine is about to begin.

A small crowd gathers for a tour of academy children.

A gentle warm breeze blows through.

What will you write? What will you do?