ArtLink: Young Friends of St. Louis Arts

Hot, Hot, Hot Select Night - Thursday Feb 1

Select Night heats up at the Contemporary with fire and books (we promise we won't be burning any). In fact, in celebration of THE BIG READ and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 we're asking that you donate a new or used book to the libraries that suffered from Hurricane Katrina.  Bring the books to Select Night and exchange them for drink tickets, and we'll ship the books down to New Orleans.

There's a hot line-up this Thursday night including special performances by Pandora's Matchbox and Viva Salsa, sizzling salsa beats by DJ Latin Power, fiery video by Zlatko Cosic, spicy-hot food by Wolfgang Puck and cold, cold drinks by Budweiser Select.

The evening starts at 6pm and moves down to the Central West End to Club Viva.
Admission is free. Guests must be 21 or older to enter.

Select Nights are made possible with generous support from Budweiser Select, St. Louis Magazine, and Wolfgang Puck.

People are STILL talking about the last time we did Salsa!

Dreyfuss on Shakespeare

You may know him as a big movie star, starring in films like American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Mr. Holland's Opus.  But he has also starred in countless stage productions, directed a production of Hamlet and starred as Mark Anthony in a production of Julius Caesar.  So who better to speak about William Shakespeare than Richard Dreyfuss!

The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis is bringing Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Richard Dreyfuss to St. Louis this Saturday, February 3, for an evening of "Dreyfuss on Shakespeare".  Performing extracts from some of Shakespeare's most noted soliloquies, Mr. Dreyfuss will examine both what makes Shakespeare in his view "the single most important person of the last millennium" and what is required to perform Shakespeare's works.

The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Concert Hall.  Tickets are $200 for preferred seating and admission to a cocktail buffet reception with Mr. Dreyfuss following the presentation; $85 for general seating.  For more information, and to purchase tickets, call the Festival office at (314) 531-9800.

A Great Opening Night!

Friday was a great opening night at the Contemporary!

Over 2,000 attended the opening of I Remember Heaven: Jim Hodges and Andy Warhol.  This was the Museum's largest crowd ever, and narrowly beat out the attendance for last season's Cindy Sherman: Working Girl / Girl's Night Out opening.   Here is a shot I snapped with my camera phone of visitors waiting patiently in line to see the “Jackies” – clearly one of the Warhol favorites. 

The next day nearly 300 people came back to hear Jim Hodges talk about his work at the gallery tour.

If you didn't make it to opening night, you can see the exhibition for free at Select Night this Thursday (February 1st).  Also, a free Warhol film night is scheduled for Feb 8, from 5 to 8, with three of his rare films (including the bluntly titled “Blow Job”).

Thanks to all the ArtLinkers who attended the opening.  If you got a good photo of the event, send it to me and I'll post it here!

-James

Karyn Olivier - A Closer Look Exhibition Opening

Laumeier Sculpture Park presents Karyn Olivier – A Closer Look, February 9, 2007 through May 13, 2007. Karyn Olivier’s spare and witty work will span the indoor galleries of Laumeier’s Museum Building.
Start your weekend off right, by joining us Friday, February 9, 2007 for a free public reception at Laumeier Sculpture Park from 5-7 p.m. There will be great food, drink and as always - amazing art.  More info at www.laumeier.org.

Warhol's in Heaven, and You Can Be Too

Friday night really will be an incredibly exciting night for the arts in St. Louis.

The Contemporary Art Museum has been given the chance to display works by Andy Warhol which have never been seen publicly before.  In fact, after these works are seen in St. Louis, they go back to the vaults at the Warhol Museum, to "rest."  We also have a hot NY artist Jim Hodges coming in for the opening of the exhibition I Remember Heaven. He has beautiful pieces that have been paired with Warhol's work - and guess what? This is the first time Hodges has been in St. Louis as well.  To say the least, tomorrow is an opportunity to experience a bit of heaven.

Contemporary openings are always exciting - lots of faces, smiles, and chances to check out the art scene, and they are a great start to an evening out.  ArtLink members are invited to the Contemporary's Members' Reception starting at 6:00 Friday (January 26), and are welcome to attend the public opening as well from 7-9 p.m.  Drinks are complimentary during the first hour, and the evening wraps with a cash bar. Make an evening of it.

Please remember to bring your ArtLink membership card for admission to the 6:00 preview, since this is sure to be a popular night!

Jim Hodges, Movements (Stage I), 2005
mirror on canvas, 96 x 66 inches
Collection of Danielle and David Ganek.
Courtesy of CRG Gallery, New York

January - February Calendar of Events

Be sure to check out the ArtLink Events Calendar, because there are currently 11 upcoming events and the number is growing. 

In January and February alone we have four ArtLink events, including:

• Opening Night at the Hodges / Warhol exhibition - Jan 26
• Select Night - Feb 1
• Richard Dreyfuss on Shakespeare - Feb 3
• Cocktails for a Cause - Feb 21

You can qet a quick overview of the calendar on the right side of the ArtLink homepage at http://www.ArtLinkSTL.org

We've been working hard to put together a compelling set of activities for our members, and trying to strike the right balance between cultural events and social events.  So put them on your calendar, and give us your feedback.

Thanks,
James

Wow! A Big Warhol / Hodges Banner

Wow!

I was driving by the Contemporary this weekend when I saw the enormous banner they have posted in preparation for this week's Grand Opening of I Remember Heaven: Jim Hodges and Andy Warhol.

There are a few things that made this banner pretty remarkable:

1. It was massive.
2. It was pink.
3. It was camouflage, which is particularly ironic given numbers 1 and 2.

See for yourself in the attached photo (which you can click to enlarge).

The show opens this Friday, Janary 26.  The Member's Preview is 6 to 7 p.m. and is free for ArtLink members.  The general public is admitted from 7 to 9.  Be sure to get there for the preview -- smaller crowds and complimentary beverages.

And Deb Petersen of the St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote about the opening in her column today.  Read it here: "THE FACTORY: Andy Warhol is still a draw. Art collectors and fanciers are headed to the Lou ..."

It's shaping up to be a great show!

Cheers,
James