Kay Renner, a gallery assistant, explains how to play the pianos in stylus, and how visitors' experiences depend a lot on what they contribute to the installation.

David Robertson, Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, describes how Gyorgy Kurtag's Kafka-Fragmente relates to the work of Ann Hamilton.

For every exhibition, the Pulitzer teams up with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for a concert series related to concepts behind the works of art in the galleries. The stylus Concert Series begins this September 14th and 15th. For more information, visit our main website.

The founders of All Along Press talk about printing the concordance texts and demonstrate part of the process. Smudge the dog performs tricks.

When you enter stylus, one of the first things you see is a steel table, with a half-circle cut from it, where a concrete pillar shoots through it and two floors of Pulitzer building. On top of the table are what look like newspapers. You start to read one (yes, you're allowed to touch them) and it feels like you're doing so from inside a dream; the text consists of a column of repeating words and what, at first skim, is gobbledygook to either side of it. Here's a short section from one of these papers:

"No one charged us a penny for our pleasure in...disconcerting. I appear to be strangely distracted and barely...bid to become an action star proper looks a fairly safe bet. Just...and deputy prime minister, has admitted that he changed his...by BBC political editor, Nick Robinson."

"It's kind of interesting to think about what sentence might have gone with what paper," says Courtney Henson, our visitor services manager. Read the rest of this entry »

I knew being a gallery assistant here would be a great venture, and it hasn’t disappointed me yet. I’ve been through Old Masters, Gordon Matta-Clark and now Ann Hamilton. What fascinates me most about stylus is that all of the people that come get some kind of experience. Now you can say it’s the hands-on aspects that everyone enjoys, or you can say it’s the design of the building and the appearance of the projections on the walls. Or you can say that the jumping beans really get people excited–most visitors haven’t seen these in a long time, if ever. For me, it's the Cube Gallery that makes me glad that I work here. That’s an important room. The piano starts playing when people sign-in at the front desk on the touch pad. Some people in the Cube while this happens get startled, while others just laugh.

As a gallery assistant in that room, I generally keep the laughter going by either singing or playing the piano–and no, I can’t play a lick–and show them the recorder that’s in the piano. It's very different than our last exhibition, Urban Alchemy/Gordon Matta-Clark, which often had sad stories associated to the art. It was much more serious. I found myself engaged in the history behind the art in Urban Alchemy and the Old Masters exhibition, as well as how the works fit with the Pulitzer building. stylus is playful and makes you aware of your surroundings - from the sound that comes out of the ground to the light that rotates around the walls, you are sure to find pleasure in this space. That makes my job enjoyable, and I’m able to get into my work and really have a good time with everyone. What a job!

I have been working as a Gallery Assistant at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts for a little over a month now, and the experience has been remarkable. My first visit to the Pulitzer was at the behest of a Tadao Ando enthusiast and part-time art historian; I spent a great deal of time marveling at the modern and elegant design that Ando so beautifully conceived. Later that month, I returned for Ideal (Dis-) Placements and was hooked.

I feel fortunate to have begun my tenure along with the wonderful stylus by Ann Hamilton. It has been fun showing visitors how to interact with the space. The touch pad at the front entrance always draws a curious smile when I ask visitors to sign their name and wait to hear what happens. Delight is often the next reaction. Read the rest of this entry »

We surprised our Exhibitions Manager, Cole Root, as he was working to get the museum ready for next Friday's Opening Night. Check out this video as Cole shows us what happens in between the exhibitions!

One of the programs we are extremely proud of at the Contemporary is Teen Museum Studies, or TMS. The Teen Museum Studies program is designed for high school students interested in exploring career paths in the museum field. Through workshops, lectures, and staff interviews, students in the program will examine the Contemporary’s directorial, curatorial, programming, fund-raising, and marketing efforts. The program provides students with the opportunity to put their new museum studies knowledge to the test as they ultimately organize, curate, and oversee their own temporary exhibition.

 

I recently sat down with two students who recently completed the Teen Museum Studies program, Josef Kanak and Eva Byrne, in order to get their perspective on the program and gain some insight into what makes this program so valuable.

AK: Thank you for sitting down with me to talk about your experience in the Teen Museum Studies program! What grade are the both of you in, and what school do you attend?

JK: I am homeschooled, and am in my senior year.

EB: I’ve just graduated from Rosati-Kain High School and will be attending Pomona College in southern California in the fall.

AK: How did you hear about the Teen Museum Studies program?

JK: I heard about Teen Museum Studies while participating in New Art in the Neighborhood in the Spring, which is another great program at the Contemporary.

EB: I was one of the students in New Art in the Neighborhood as well, during Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. 

AK: What were your expectations going into the program? What did you think your experience was going to be like?

JK: My expectations going into the program were to both get an idea as to how a professional art exhibition is curated and to better understand how museums are run in general.

EB: I had assumed that we would be learning more about other museums and approaching the program from the angle of art criticism.  I thought that the program would focus mainly on the works we chose for our exhibit and their meaning. Though this was an important part of the program, we got much more involved in the logistics of setting up the exhibit, such as obtaining donations and setting up the show.

AK: What are the top three things you learned in the Teen Museum Studies program that you think will help you later in your career?

JK: Of the many valuable things I learned through this program, I would have to cite the following especially: Learning and experiencing the curatorial process first-hand, understanding the minute details involved with simply deciding what pieces and what theme will be used, working within a fixed budget, and using pieces drawn from a small, select group of artists solely drawn from the flat files–working under strict deadline and within a limited budget–all of these will certainly be useful in my career.

EB: Teamwork, communication skills, and receptiveness to the ideas of others.

AK: What was your favorite thing to work on while participating in the program?

JK: All of the decision making processes involved throughout, from deciding on the theme of the exhibition to what color to paint the gallery and even procuring the refreshments for the opening–all were enjoyable. The meticulous process of achieving these goals was very enjoyable and engaging.

EB: My favorite part of the program was getting to look through the Flat Files, especially when the artists’ statements were available.  I really enjoyed looking at the artwork, but studying it carefully and being able to interpret it in the context of our show was a very eye opening experience.

AK: Did you have any challenges in the program? What was the most difficult task you faced?

JK: Everything was a welcoming challenge in some way or form. Certainly deciding on a theme for the show took a great deal of initiative on everyone’s part.

EB: Personally, the most difficult part of the program was having to make decisions as a group.  In the past I haven’t had the easiest time working on group projects, but during TMS I found that being receptive to others’ ideas actually enhanced my own point of view. 

AK: How do you think your experience in the Teen Museum Studies program will benefit you in the long run?

JK: Having this kind of first-hand experience within a museum will always be beneficial and will undoubtedly last a lifetime, whatever I aspire to do in a career. It’s very clear to me that working directly within a museum environment has enormous, tangible benefits and learning about all aspects of running a museum, engaging the public, understanding museum management while drawing on my creative inclinations as well, both behind the scenes and within the auspices of the exhibition, will prove invaluable in the future.

EB: I agree, and I’m very grateful for this experience primarily because of the skills I developed through it. 

AK:  What would you say to a student who is considering applying to the program? What would you tell them to expect?

JK: I would definitely encourage them to apply and explain the benefits of being a participant as outlined above. As to what they should expect, I would advise them to be willing to be flexible and be prepared to work in a team environment to achieving a common goal. I would also mention that they should be prepared to problem-solve, think creatively and have fun. Oh, and enjoy free lunches!  I am very happy to have participated in this program and will definitely encourage prospective students to apply.

EB: I would tell that that they’ll get out of the program what they put into it.  The show will only be as good as you make it.

Have you heard the rumors that Jerry Saltz, Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine and judge on the hit Bravo series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, is coming to speak at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis? Well you’re in luck, because those rumors are true. Saltz will be our sixth Susan Sherman Annual Distinguished Speaker and will give a free public talk at the Contemporary on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:00 pm. The title of his talk will be, “The Good, the Bad, and the Very Bad: A Year in the Life of an Art Critic.” Trust me when I say that you do not want to miss this one.

 

An energetic and persuasive voice in the art world for over two decades, Jerry Saltz was named “Best Art Critic” by Time Out New York in 2006 and he is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist in Criticism. Throughout his career, Saltz has articulated his options by writing for a number of well known publications including Village Voice, where he reigned as Senior Art Critic from 1998 to 2007, Frieze, Modern Painters, and Art in America to name a few. However, most recently, he’s been busy as a judge on Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. Check out this clip of Jerry explaining his point of view of art criticism and sharing some personal thoughts:

Jerry Saltz - Work of Art

Okay, so now you’re excited… you’re planning on attending Jerry’s talk… but it’s still more than two months away! We feel your pain, and that is why we are showing a marathon screening of all 9 episodes of Bravo's Work of Art: The Next Great Artist on Wednesday, August 11 starting at 2pm, with the finale airing live at 9pm! Come join us and enjoy free beer & popcorn! If you can't make the whole day, stop by for the finale. It’s sure to be a very fun day, and is the perfect way to build even more excitement for Jerry’s trip to the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.

We can’t wait to see you at the Contemporary, and Jerry, we are anxiously awaiting your talk!

If you missed Open Studios this year, don’t worry, there is always next year. A previous blog post already mentioned the Preview Party which had a record breaking 720 people in attendance. Special thanks goes to the River City Professionals for co-hosting the program, helping to promote the event, and bringing all of their members to party. In addition to the 150+ Open Studios artworks on display in the galleries, Pi on the Spot, also known as PiTruckSTL on Twitter was parked outside the building serving up fresh pizzas straight from truck’s oven. As a local phenomenon, Pi has been embraced by the St. Louis community and even Chicago based Senator, turned president Barack Obama has endorsed the iconic deep dish pizza with his seal of approval. Just recently, chefs of Pi were flown to the White House to caterer an event especially for the president. Alongside the Pi Truck, a Frosty Treats ice cream truck was also parked outside for those looking to fill their sweet tooth on a hot summer’s evening.







As an added bonus to the Preview Party, guests were encouraged to enter a bike raffle to win a Electra Pink Hawaii Cruiser donated by Big Shark Bicycle Company. Ramona Scott was the winner and stopped by the museum the next day to pick up her prize and even rode it home.



With temperatures reaching over 99 degrees, that still did not stop the devoted cyclists from riding over 14 miles and stopping at a variety of studios along the way. Led by Greg and Alex from Bike Shark Bicycle Company, the bike tour departed the Contemporary on both Saturday and Sunday at 10am. Special thanks also goes to Bike St. Louis, a division of Great Rivers Greenway for endorsing the program and helping to make bike riding in St. Louis safe and accessible.





Later that day, Director Paul Ha and Associate Curator Laura Fried introduced themselves at the museum to over 30 people that registered for a 4 hour bus tour to select studios. As visitors boarded the luxurious air-conditioned bus provided by BEST Transportation St. Louis, “Pops” the driver greeted them and drove them all over the city to studios chosen directly by both the director and the curator.





On Sunday, winners from our Facebook competition joined Joe and Jeff from Glide St. Louis Tours for a segway excursion to select artist studios. Director of Individual Giving & Stewardship Emily Klimek acted as the Contemporary representative on the tour. If you applied to win a spot on the segway tour, do not give up, become a Fan of the Contemporary on Facebook now and look out for the next opportunity on this platform. Those that won the Facebook competition also received a free meal ticket to the Open Studios BBQ.



What better way to end a whole weekend of programs and tours plus a Homegrown Summer for that matter then to enjoy barbeque from Pappy’s Smokehouse and ice cold beer from Schafly. The watermelon was sweet and chilled to perfection, but the pulled pork sandwich was definitely the crowd favorite. Normally, you would have to wait hours to get a taste of Pappy’s perfectly cooked BBQ, but at the Contemporary it was all there for the taking for only $10 a meal. In addition to the BBQ, sides, and beer, Ted Drewes frozen custard was offered as an additional summertime treat.



What could be more “Homegrown” than Ted Drewes, Pappy’s, Schlafly, 150+ local artists, and the Great Rivers Biennial exhibition? Well, you asked for it… the Rum Drum Ramblers, with upright bass, harmonica, and banjo guitars rocked the courtyard with down and dirty St. Louis blues. The summer might not be over, but this year’s Open Studios was the climax of the Contemporary’s Homegrown Summer, a series of programs featuring local art, food, and music.

 

The Contemporary’s 5^th Annual City-Wide Open Studios has been a whirlwind of a week, and it’s not even time to visit the artists’ studios yet! That starts tomorrow, but St. Louis art enthusiasts have been enjoying the events that have been leading up to the big weekend. Here’s a recap of what’s been going on:

First of all, for those of you who aren’t familiar with City-Wide Open Studios, it’s an opportunity for St. Louis residents to spend a wonderful summer weekend exploring artists’ studios at their own pace. Participating artists work in a wide range of media including painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, fiber arts, ceramics, jewelry, wood, glass, metal, video, new media, and performance art. Being able to visit local artists in their own studios adds a personal and meaningful touch to the art that is being created, and we love the program because it directly connects artists with those that are interested in their work. At the Contemporary, we are all about engaging the public with the most relevant and innovative art being made today, and Open Studios is the best (and most fun) way to do that.

 

 City-Wide Open Studios kicked off with a Preview Party on Tuesday, July 20^th. Guests started filing in at 6pm sharp and were surrounded by work from over 150 participating artists, and we soon had 720 people joining in on the fun. The colorful, unique pieces lined the walls of the contemporary, and several of the artists were on hand to directly speak with the guests about the pieces they were presenting. St. Louis art fanatics mingled with the artists and each other, and shared their thoughts on the pieces they were seeing. Oh, and you also might have noticed the Pi Pizza Truck and ice cream truck parked outside the museum – they were a little hard to miss.  Party goers were more than excited about the trucks, and soon the courtyard was filled with people happily eating and drinking beer from Schlafly. As one party guest was finishing up his beer, he high-fived his friend, happily shouting, “The Contemporary can throw one heck of a party!”

The fun kept on going last night, July 22^nd, as we held a film screening inside the museum. Herb and Dorothy (dir. Megumi Sasaki, 2008), tells the story of Herbert Vogel, a postal clerk, and librarian Dorothy, who together and with modest means built one of the most important contemporary art collections in history. Admission was free, and so was the popcorn and Schlafly beer. A great time was had by all who attended!

 

  

Tomorrow and Sunday from 10 am-4 pm, the public is invited to tour as many artists’ studios as they can fit in. Don’t forget, you can find the map and any other details you may need at OpenStudiosOnline.org. Map your route and enjoy your day of discovering Contemporary Art!

To wrap up the week, be sure to join us on Sunday, July 25, from 4-8 pm for the Open Studios BBQ. Celebrate the end of an art-filled weekend in the Contemporary’s Courtyard with a barbecue from Pappy’s Smokehouse and ice-cold local beer from Schlafly. Enjoy Ted Drewes frozen custard and catch up with friends and artists while listening to the Rum Drum Trio. It’s just $10 to get in, and it’s free for participating artists and children.

There is a lot going on, so hopefully you found or are going to find some way to join in the celebration of art in St. Louis. As always, thank you for your support, and have a blast!