Creative Catalysts Park Ave. Coffee and Schlafly Beer
Webster defines “catalyst” figuratively as “a person or thing that precipitates an event.” A “Creative Catalyst” then, is a person or organization that encourages, supports or facilitates creative expression. They may or may not be artists themselves, but all of them value the unique contributions that artists provide to society. Our last article featured Matthew Hundley, Director of Abstrakt Art Gallery in Benton Park. It’s fairly easy to see how a gallery director facilitates creation: the opportunity to market one’s art is a powerful motivator for creating it. But must this term be so narrowly defined?
Art Underground is grateful for the sponsorship of two local creative catalysts that have been long-time patrons and supporters of the arts.
Schlafly Beer is generously donating their local brew to cut the costs of hospitality of our 2010 Winter Quarterly: Positive Obsession. They also don’t announce from the mountaintops that they regularly donate their delicious brew to dozens of non-profit organizations and their events across the St. Louis region. In the wake of a struggling economy, the cuts at Anhueser-Busch and their decreased support of local non-profits, Schlafly’s has valiantly worked to ease their absence and have filled in many of the gaps.
Park Avenue Coffee in Lafayette Square is donating their world-famous gooey butter cake for the Quarterly as well. If you haven’t had one, be sure to make it to the Quarterly before we run out. While their donation is sizeable, it is still bound to go fast! Owner Dale Schotte is an active advocate of the arts and also regularly supports local non-profits. As a small b
usiness owner and entrepreneur, he might not create fine art, but he does create fine artisan coffee, amazing baked goods, and one of the warmest and most social atmospheres at any coffee shop in St. Louis. They are also up for Metromix’s “Best Coffee Shop in St. Louis,” and if you’ve sampled their tasty treats and would like to support them, you can vote for them here.
Art Underground is not interested in “selling out” to corporate sponsorship. The support of these creative catalysts is vital in “creating a St. Louis that ought to be” because art simply cannot exist in a vacuum. Art and beauty are intrinsically relational and community-oriented. Thus, Art Underground is passionate about partnering with local businesses, organizations and people who are also passionate about living that vision!
Abstrakt Art Gallery in Benton Park
A “Creative Catalyst” is a person or organization that encourages, supports or facilitates creative expression. They may or may not be artists themselves, but all of them value the unique contributions that artists provide to society. Art Underground recently got the chance to interview the Director of Abstrakt Gallery, Matt Hundley. Matt also happens to be an accomplished musician (guitar) specializing in international styles of music, and he is blessed to have the opportunity to support other artists through his role at Abstrakt Art Gallery.
How was Abstrakt founded?
Abstrakt Gallery was started by Ben and Scott Scully. Their mother, Cammie Scully, is the Executive Director of the Waterloo Center for the Arts (Waterloo, Iowa). When they purchased the building at 1900 Arenal they both felt the main floor would be perfect for a gallery. Plus this offered an opportunity for the sons to work with their mother and develop a business on something they all enjoy…ART.
So how did you get connected to the gallery?
I met Ben and Scott through Paco Rosic—who was the first artist to show here. Paco and I have been friends for some time. Ironically, I had served on the Arts & Cultural Commission in Waterloo, Iowa—which served as the Board of Directors for the Waterloo Center of the Arts. So I knew Cammie Scully, Ben and Scott’s mom. As we got to talking the position of Gallery Director came up and I readily accepted.
You’ve pointed out to me that Abstrakt is hosting several artists from Iowa. Is this a result of your connection there?
Absolutely. The galleries tie to Iowa will be apparent in the selection of some of the upcoming artists. As stated earlier, Paco Rosic is also from Iowa. Next year we will bring in Kim Behm and Gary Kelley—both of whom are recognized on a national level for their work as illustrators and painters; both reside in Iowa.
How is Abstrakt a “Creative Catalyst” in and for the St. Louis area? How does Abstrakt serve or contribute to the local artist community?
So far the artists we’ve featured at ABSTRAKT have been primarily from Saint Louis. Kennedy Yanko showed her abstract paintings in our second show. The “CultureSurfer 5” was a juried show in conjunction with CultureSurfer.com and featured local talents Laura Lloyd, Jennifer Hayes, Jovan Hansman, David Langley and Phil Jarvis. Our next big event will feature Thomas Yanko and Eric Nichols—both Saint Louis artists. Then I have a three artists show highlighting local talent this Spring.
Is there a particular theme or style of art that you are wanting to show?
In a gallery called “ABSTRAKT” you’d think all the art we featured was abstract in nature. That’s not the case. We ARE trying to showcase a variety of mediums and styles. We’re also looking to feature a good mix of emerging and established artists. I’m looking to expand our offerings in the area of sculpture and photography.
I saw that a significant part of your mission is to give back to the community through art. I love this aspect of Abstrak because it separates those galleries that see their role as a voice in and for the community from those that are merely a business that sells art. How are you tangible accomplishing this?
So far, every exhibition opening and closing has been both a social function and a fundraising event. We typically have a recommended donation at the door and an art raffle. Also, we offer 10% of any art sales back to the organization, and other creative opportunities to raise funds. We have worked with local and national charities including: College Bound, Judevine, Operation Smile, MS, Faces in the Loop…and our next event will benefit Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition. So far, each of these nights have raised somewhere between $500 and $3500 for their respective charities.
That is incredible… What about art education or other outreach events? Is there anything like that on the horizon for Abstrakt?
I would like to. As a “for profit” gallery we need to sell art and rent the space to keep the doors open. That said, I would love to have weekly art talks and invite art classes from our local schools in to view the art and meet the artists. I think there could be a benefit to area businesses seeking to invigorate the creative side of their staffs through art workshops or seminars. I think churches and community groups could benefit from engaging with the artwork and artists as well.
You mentioned that Abstrakt has gallery available for rent…
Most definitely. We are certainly available for corporate events, weddings and receptions, office parties, family gatherings and so on. We can fit 150-190 into the place depending on how we configure the room. I’m open to working with promoters as well to book live music, theatrical projects or spoken word acts into the space as well. We had Javier Mendoza play for our last open and it sounded great. We also had a string quartet perform recently, and the acoustics worked very well in this space.
When is the gallery open?
Right now the hours are slated as Thursday through Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Or by appointment.
Upcoming Events @ Abstrakt
ABSTRAKT GALLERY presents the work of
TOM YANKO | ERIC NICHOLS
Dec 3 – Jan 9 @ ABSTRAKT GALLERY
OPEN: Thursday, December 3 – 7 PM
Proceeds Benefit Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
Tom Yanko offers up a series of architectural abstrakts.
Eric Nichols weaves wood and wire, paint and ceramics in ways that you must see to appreciate.
ABSTRAKT GALLERY presents our
FIRST ANNUAL ART GALA
Thursday, December 3 – 7 PM
This event is held in conjunction with the Yanko/Nichols Open.
The GALA brings back the work of: Paco Rosic, Kennedy Yanko, Phil Jarvis, Jennifer Hayes, Laura Lloyd and David Langley. Several of these artists will be presenting new works for the event. We’d love to pack the house for this event and show our support for the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
New Relationship with International Arts Movement
From it’s inception, Art Underground has drawn significant inspiration from International Arts Movement (IAM) based out of New York City. You may have noticed that our Mission and Vision draw significantly from the language of their own, so it just makes sense to join their movement.
From their website:
“Art is society’s existential statement, in answer to the question, “Why live?” International Arts Movement works as a catalyst to inspire people to hope, engage deeply into the depth of culture’s critical zones, and create a world that ought to be. We believe that artistic excellence as a model of “what ought to be” paves the way for lasting, enduring humanity.”
IAM was founded by world-renown Nihonga artist and writer Makoto Fujimura. In addition to being the first non-Japanese citizen admitted into the post MFA doctoral program at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and a member of the National Council of the Arts, he has spent his career pursuing the “rehumanization” of culture through the arts. You can find more information about Fujimura here.
As Art Underground grows and seeks out new opportunities to inspire a St. Louis that “ought to be,” we will be working with IAM to coordinate our efforts, learn from each others’ experience, and join the movement that includes so many organizations from across the globe.
Art Underground is now a “Local Group” within the wider movement that is IAM.
What does this relationship with IAM mean for Art Underground?
We will have the opportunity to network with and learn from artists and creative catalysts with enormous amounts of experience, helping us to continually pursue artistic and creative excellence. Art Underground seeks to be a movement, never an institution or a bureaucracy. This will provide a forum for the exchange of innovation for movement-sustainability, without falling onto the easy path of existing for our own sake.
What does this relationship with IAM mean for St. Louis?
This will enable anyone to connect with a global vision that is still distinctly St. Louis. This will take a variety of forms, and connect the city to a creative community that extends well beyond our regional or cultural borders.
In English? What does this mean practically?
First, we continue what we are doing. We will continue to seek to revitalize our urban environment through a culture of creativity emerging from and inspired by the underground art scene of St. Louis City. We will continue to engage with society’s existential question of “why live?” This relationship will help us find new ways of doing this, such as sponsoring conferences and inviting IAM Staff Members and Artists as keynote speakers, holding discussions in local galleries about art, culture and faith, and inviting new voices to join the conversation. We also plan to participate with IAM Global via Live Webcasts and possibly sending groups to the Annual Encounter Conferences in New York City. The possibilities are limitless.