Art After Dark
By AU(STL) Director, Brad Edwards
On May 15th, Art Underground will be co-hosting Art After Dark: a concert featuring St. Louis soul/pop-rock sensation Fundamental Elements, a silent art auction featuring new work from our Quarterly Artists, and a social fund-raising event for one of St. Louis’s most passionate and effective non-profit organizations directly addressing the education problems in St. Louis City: Succeeding with Reading.
Succeeding With Reading, founded in 2004, inspires a love of reading and writing and builds hard skills in low-income youth that struggle with literacy. We implement classrooms which have a 3:1 student to teacher ratio, so that students are almost always next to a strong lead teacher, reading specialist, creative writing instructor, or trained volunteer tutor. Our curriculum is termed “Balanced Literacy”, a best practice method used in the best schools across the country. This year we will give away 5000 books for students to practice their new skills.
Our goal is to raise $25,000 to buy books, train tutors, and otherwise empower hundreds of grade school kids in the city.
This event is connected to and will follow Urban Expression (event description here, details here), a comprehensive arts program for inner city students, inspiring them to tell the stories of their lives and neighborhoods through digital photography, creative writing,
and visual art. The project is a collaboration of The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, 3 renowned local artist-educators (Stewart Halperin, Janie Ibur, Juan William Chavez) and Chicago-based visiting artist Theaster Gates. Student art and artist work will be exhibited in Grand Center, with the opening occurring on May 15. Art After Dark is the after-party to this landmark event.
Representing Art Underground are a variety of mediums, including photography, paint, mixed media, and live painting. We welcome back Featured Quarterly Artists Mike Bolton, Angie Griffith, Jennifer Everett, Kim Wardenburg, Maria Boehm, Mark Grapengater, Seth Caplan and Brad Edwards. Their work will be up for silent auction, with 50% of the proceeds going to benefit Succeeding with Reading.
Purchase tickets in advance here, and RSVP via Facebook here!
New Year’s Eve Underground
Set design from New Year's Eve, 2008
launches when all the plays run back-to-back, culminating in one massive New Year’s Eve celebratory event marking ITP’s birthday. “Five years ago my Co-Founder and I set out to create a company that presents exciting new forms of theatre. 24/6 was our first show, and it is the fulcrum upon which ITP’s energy hinges,” says Managing Director and 24/6 Coordinator Kyle Kratky. “Our plays rely upon solid writing about real human relationships and stories. This year will be no different.”
24/6 provides a structured environment where collaborators are encouraged to make swift, bold choices. The resulting plays are powerful, moving, comedic and profound. ITP connects artists from St. Louis, Chicago and beyond in a kaleidoscopic, high-energy event, providing an evening of solid, accessible theatre while encouraging new and epic stories. “24/6 is a reunion and a party. Old friends are united and new acquaintances join the fun. We push for something welcoming, vibrant and unexpected.”
Midtown Street Fest
Renaissance Development Associates, LLC, is pioneering the physical restoration of one of St. Louis’s oldest neighborhoods: the old automotive district on Locust. The area is getting a new name, Midtown Alley, to match their new initiative in restoring the area. Art Underground (STL) is honored and excited to assist in launching the cultural restoration of the neighborhood by connecting local artists with event planners and festival attendees to showcase what this beautiful city has to offer. Especially don’t miss the live performances of AU friends, Immediacy Theatre Project and Fundamental Elements!
Midtown Street Fest will introduce the greater St. Louis community to the vibrant lifestyle and architectural and business “rebirth” that’s being cultivated and celebrated in our portion of the city: The New Midtown Alley. This event will showcase the thriving businesses and creative residents who, through the support of local leaders and eager patrons, are leveraging a shared excitement and appreciation for the historic neighborhood to grow Midtown Alley into a beloved destination.
Tim Lorson, known for his incredible work in producing St. Louis’ exciting Mardi Gras events, and Sam Foxman, award winning producer behind numerous events including St Louis’ Fashion Week, have both donated their talents to ensure our first ever Midtown Alley Street Fest event is all it can be – and more!
The Midtown Alley is not an “average” neighborhood … and this will not be an “average” street fair. The event is being styled as part street-party / part music fest/ part art extravaganza, with an urban/industrial theme; a direct nod to the history and location of Midtown Alley. A successful local non-profit, Food Outreach, calls Midtown Alley home, and to recognize their outstanding work in our community, Food Outreach will receive a portion of the proceeds from food and beverage sales at the event. Three different bands will be taking the main stage during the fair, while six of our popular Midtown Alley restaurants will provide delicious treats and signature samples. Beer products are being provided by Schlafly.
For more information, go to the neighborhood’s brand new website.