“Blue-Green Spider,” by Jerry Monteith, is one of over 100 pieces to be featured in the “Exposure: 10 Years” exhibition at UMSL’s Gallery 210 this fall. (Images courtesy of the artists)
Tom Patton described his time curating Gallery 210 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis as “busy but rewarding.”
“Brain Matter” by Ron Leax
Busy may be a modest understatement.
Established in 1971, Gallery 210 has shown hundreds of exhibits, featured thousands of artists and introduced thousands of patrons to a rich diversity of artwork.
Patton, who served as a UMSL professor of art and art history from 1983 to 2002, has seen the Gallery transform the St. Louis art scene.
“During my time, there were few other galleries in St. Louis that offered exposure to groundbreaking artists that had yet to establish themselves in the economics of the industry,” said Patton. “We were able to take risks on works that many commercial galleries could not.”
In this coming season, Gallery 210 will continue its tradition of showcasing cutting-edge artwork with the “Exposure: 10 Years” exhibition. Part of the gallery’s 45th anniversary celebration, it features 102 artworks by 34 artists who have participated in the “Exposure” series since 2005.
The “Exposure” series originated with the St. Louis Art Gallery Association in the late 1990s, and after becoming a Gallery 210 program in 2005, the curatorial focus shifted from a broad survey of regional artists to a thematic approach addressing topics of place, race, feminism and sexuality.
The series’ commitment to quality and diversity has attracted the support of the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, the Center for the Humanities at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the College of Arts and Sciences at UMSL.
“Black Rose Parade” by Andrew Milner
Furthermore, the exhibition has earned the hard-won respect of local fine artists like Brett Williams.
Williams, a sculptor and electronic artist who recently took a month-long road trip to Alaska for inspiration, can attest to the impressive reputation the “Exposure” series has built over time.
“If you want to be an artist in the area, ‘Exposure’ has become one of those things you have to be in,” Williams said. “Whenever a show is announced, I know it’s going to be good. Terry Suhre [the current curator of Gallery 210] and the team at Gallery 210 do a good job supporting the artist by creating a catalogue for the show, setting up interview opportunities and getting your name out to curators across the region.”
Williams and fellow “Exposure” artists will participate in a panel discussion at 4 p.m. Aug. 27 in the Gallery 210 auditorium, followed immediately by a public reception until 7 p.m.
Artists featured in the program include Jamie Adams, Gina Alvarez, Sarah Colby, Deborah Alma Wheeler, Jane Birdsall-Lander, Nanette Boileau, Martin Brief, Brigham Dimick, Deborah Douglas, Greg Edmondson, Melody Evans, Cameron Fuller, Andrea Green, Jason Hoeing, Deborah Katon, Asma Kazmi, Bill Kreplin, Olivia Lahs-Gonzales, Travis Lawrence, Ron Leax, Andrew Milner, Jerry Monteith, Heather O’Shaughnessy, Edo Rosenblith, Snail Scott, Linda Vredeveld, Brett Williams, Kit Keith, Peter Pranske, B.J. Vogt, Edo Rosenblith, Aimee Howard, Sarah Paulson, Joe Chesla and Sarah Giannoble.
For more information about the free event or the exhibition, which will be on display Aug. 27 to Dec. 3, contact Terry Suhre at suhret@umsl.edu or call 314-255-7451.
