If you love animals, have a solid sense of humor with a smidge of empathy, and really despair the desolation of the cheap motel décor, get yourself over to SLAM this weekend before the migration (empire) - linear version exhibit.  Trust me, its nothing like it sounds.  The title is totally misleading.  What sounds like a high falutin' cerebral installation is, in fact, a hilarious look at the collision between wildlife and the painfully sterile manmade environment of the ubiquitous motel room.  Why do we do this to ourselves?  When you think about the natural habitat for wildlife, their sudden introduction into a motel room seems all the more shocking.  And consequently, begs the question - why do we accept that kind of environment for ourselves?  I'm not sure I can answer that, but it is worth pondering.  And it's even more fun to see how a squirrel, a buffalo and more (sorry, no spoiler here) give the room a bit of their own energy and a bit of their own, shall we say . . . flair?  Don't miss it.  Through Labor Day (Monday, September 7th) at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park.

I am headed down to Crestwood Court (formerly Crestwood Mall) to see what ArtSpace is all about.  It's a rare Sunday with time of my own and I've been curious for months about the idea of converting retail space into opportunities for arts organizations to explore and expand.  I imagine a studio-esque atmosphere.  But I think I'll be surprised.  There are several Culture Club blog entries that share news of space as a theater, and galleries.  So it's the difference between what I can fathom, and what it's really like.

If I were smart, I'd wait and go in a few weeks.  Art on the Court is a monthly event, an artistic Open House if you will, where the arts community welcomes the community with artist meet and greets, gallery tours, live music, wine, and other refreshments. Which sounds like the perfect way to explore the new – new space, new artists, new ideas.  Alas, I will be out of town, so I'm off today to satisfy my own curiousiy.

The next Art on the Court is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 from 5 – 9pm at Crestwood Court and more are scheduled on the last Satuday of each month through November.  ArtSpace is a ground-breaking collaboration between Crestwood Court  and the Regional Arts Commission.

It changed me.   It's not the first time that a piece of art has changed the way I think about  things, but this was was profound.  On an overcast day, standing in the straw at Art Fair, it really made me think.  The piece was fun, vibrant, and featured something everyone liked, even our two-year-old.

"That's pretty cool," I said.  "Yeah, but where would we put it?  We're out of wall space," responded my husband.  I looked back at the framed piece we had collected around.   I knew exactly where it would go . . . except there was something already there.

Taking a moment think about it, I had an epiphany of sorts, I decided "so what, we'll move it or (gasp!) take it down for a while." Now that's a really novel thing for me to think.  But, having said that, I started thinking about all the other art we had in the house. Some of it is nice stuff, some is posters and some is from Target.  The usual mix for most I suppose.  Not like we have priceless items on all the walls, but things tend to "fit" in the rooms where we have them.  It all has it's place . . . or so I thought.

We bought the piece, and before we were all in the door (it takes time with kids) my husband had hung it in its new spot.  We didn't even have to move the nail.  He turned to me and said, "Now what?"  Now what, indeed?  What or how does one store artwork when it's not on display?  I promptly called a friend who owned a gallery/framing shop, here are his tips:

1. find a safe, out of the way place where it's not likely to be jostled or bumped but where the temperature will remain fairly contstant (like the back of a closet, or a far corner of the basement).
2. make sure the spot isn't prone to water (i.e. if your basement leaks, don't put it on the ground)
3. artwork should be kept standing on one end (not flat, you're more likely to accidently put something on top of it that way) with a soft cloth, like a towel, underneath to protect the frame
4. place a sheet or light blanket over the artwork - this will keep dust off of it

Now, he also told me something interesting (given the reason why I called him).  He makes a note on his calendar, every Memorial Day weekend, to go through the stored art in his house.  It reminds him of what he has, things he misses and pieces he wants to put back up for a while.

Go ahead, give it a try.  Loving your art doesn't mean you have to stare at 24-7 for the rest of your life. It's mean to inspire, to surprise and to be admired.  And sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder.  So, yes, it's an investment, but go ahead and remix your portfolio now and again.  You might find yourself inspired over and over again.  Which is really what art is all about now, isn't it? 

Sunday is Mother's Day, and while we don't really know WHY she loves you, we do know you should treat her to a day like no other. Some of St Louis' finest organizations have put together special Mother's Day events. Pick one, or more, but make your plans soon, she deserves it!

The mother of all events is the 2009 Art Fair at Laumeier. The nationally acclaimed fine art and craft fair is held annually on Mother's Day Weekend. Open all weekend, Mother's Day hours from 10am – 5pm.

Another favorite tradition at the Sheldon features one of Saint Louis' finest, Denise Thimes and Friends for the 13th Annual Mother's Day Concert. Sunday at 5:30 PM.

Craft Alliance's Mother's Day Trunk show ends May 10th and features local artists specializing in glass jewelry and botanical inspired hand painted silk scarves. Both fantastic gift ideas, buy local, support the arts, keep Mom in style.

Mom shouldn't do the cooking, so the Art Museum offers a Mother's Day brunch at Puck's from 10am – 2pm, and the weekly Family Sunday program (1-4pm in the Sculpture Hall) has been plussed up for Mom's Day with Zoo friends bringing real African animals up the hill to inspire the African Arts theme.

Lunch at Merriwether's is always a treat, and the Missouri Historical Society has added "Mother's Day with the Landolfi Quartet," on Sunday at 2pm to make it easy to take Mom to lunch and a show.

Make it an evening at The 10th Anniversary of the St. Louis Dance Festival Showcase which wraps up at the Edison on Sunday at 8pm.

For an after dinner treat, do what Mom would do - support promising young musicians with financial need. The Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center (LNAC) hosts "Orchestrating Diversity" on Sunday evening at 6pm. An evening of music, chocolate and champagne includes a string quartet formed of musicians from the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, a combo from Jazz Saint Louis and Eric Hall. Fine chocolate deserts, champagne and coffee included.

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?  Who knows, but truly, if you can stand it, the way to see a great exhibit is to tag along with a school group.  I've inadvertently had this experience twice in the last month (in 2 different countries) and really, it's a much better way to go.  I wandered through a palace in Scotland, and the Ming exhibit at SLAM with one earpiece pushed back to catch both the recorded self-tour, and the docent monologue.  Kids ask such wonderful questions, ones that adults are always thinking but never offer up and you learn so much more from their inhibition.

But onto the matter at hand, Power and Glory:  Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty exhibit, at the St. Louis Art Museum through May 17th, is a jaw-dropping presentation of intricate, creative and colorful artifacts from China's Ming Dynasty (1386-1644). But more importantly, it provides a lot of context as to how and why various artistic channels were developed as the dynasty progressed.  Those emperors had cash to spare, and they ploughed it into the fine art industry in a spectacular way.  And it was, quite clearly, an industry. . . .as indicated by a 300+ year old medallion to be worn much like today's corporate ID tags,  inscribed for a royal chef (yes, chef's are artists in my book too) that permitted overnight stays in the palace but clearly denied permission to exit the gates of the Forbidden City.  

I'm a textile junkie and the silk robes, embroidered wall paintings and minute stitches on what I thought was a pen and ink painting (nope, it was stitched onto silk panels, seriously you cannot tell) were precise and beautiful.  Everything, every stitch, pattern and image has meaning and was perfectly placed.  Similar craftsmanship in the grand gates to the minutest detail in lacquer (which I learned was the sap from a lacquer tree), ceramics, glazes and colors was fascinating in its placement and intent.  

There was such attention to detail, perfection and quality that it was nearly overwhelming.  I was brought back to the real world in the gift shop however with books, porcelain figurines, pen and inks and jewelry.  And where underneath a rack of (adorable) embroidered silk mandarin jackets for toddlers, was a big basket of Ugly Dolls.  I checked, yep, "Made in China."

The Ming Dynasty exhibit will be at SLAM until May 17th.  Admission is $10 adults which includes the audio tour, but free to all on Fridays (there is a $3 fee for the audio tour on Friday's).  Tickets are timed, so advance purchase is recommended at either Metrotix or in person at the museum.

You know summer is coming when you hear the first strains of "Meet me at the MUNY" on your radio.

I also heard, early this morning, Bob Archibald doing a commentary on NPR about stitches in time and the quilt exhibit at the History Center. Have to check that out, meanwhile have a listen: A Stitch in Time (www.kwmu.org)

And Charlie Brennan chatted this morning with Bill Maher prior to his upcoming visit to the FOX mid month, listen here: Charlie Brennan Show (www.kmox.com)

It was a veritable hodge-podge at the Screwed In opening on Friday night. Trendy tweens and seasoned members of the art community filed in as the massive, yellow gallery doors opened to the street at 6pm sharp. Fashionably late, the artists of Screwed In arrived shortly thereafter with close friends and family in tow. By 7, the DJs were spinning and the party was in full swing.

The PBR, Red Bull and classic hip hop were flowing liberally. Gallery-goers felt as if they were swimming in the humidity as they floated between the studio and the gallery—the atmosphere made that much more stifling by the heat radiating off of exposed backs and perfectly-pedicured feet. However, nothing could have dampened the sheer energy of this party. Even the sudden downpours were welcome surprises, inviting those seeking refuge to come in and stay a while.

As I drifted through the crowd, I realized just how special this event was. It was one fabulous party, but at its core, it was a celebration of the arts in the truest sense of the idea. I marveled at the power of the arts to bring people together:  little girls in party frocks danced next to practiced break dancers while sleek women let down their guard as they sang to the DJ’s more retro song choices.

And despite everything going on, people still took advantage of the opportunity to view and discuss the paradox of street art.

People stood, literally, transfixed in front of the massive mural in the main gallery.  A total collaboration, this floor-to-ceiling undertaking took weeks to assemble with the artists frequently pulling all-nighters. Patrons realized it would take just as long to fully appreciate this work as they inquired about the show’s run and the gallery’s hours. Dodging the flying limbs of people dancing,  onlookers in the studio stood face-to-face with Stan Chisholm’s paper plate mascots, taking in his supreme attention to detail. Off in the far corner, people paid homage to Peat Wollaeger’s rendering of Keith Haring in vibrant shades of orange, while out on the sidewalk, they were illuminated by the headlights of his Eye-conoline Truck.

Any lingering doubt about the validity of street art is crushed with Screwed In. Unlike other art forms, street art embraces diversity, and Friday’s opening was a testament to this. The fact that the artists brought their children (and dressed in matching outfits!) speaks to the fact that street art is becoming increasingly mainstream and family-friendly.

The invitations said the doors would close at 9, but the only thing that could have stopped this party’s momentum was a beverage drought. Around 10:30, the artists took some final group shots as partygoers were begrudgingly ushered out onto the street. While I didn’t attend the after party, I can only imagine that this celebration of the arts continued long…long into the night. 

 While the gallery attendants' laments about the redundancy of the musical performance were completely justifiable, Yawn's counter-culture sound was the ideal backdrop to John Armleder and Olivier Mosset's paradoxical installations.

"Doing, hmmmmmm, boing boing, hmmmmmm." Yawn's sound is definitely avant-garde, unexpected and unpredictable. In fact, I was under the impression the group was tuning instruments when I first entered the building, hearing seemingly random noises reverberating through out the walls of the museum. But after thirty minutes of the "tuning," I realized this was Yawn's sound. Fitting for the Contemporary, yes. On my iPod, probably not.

The musical group was positioned on top of the three long concrete stairs, with the outdoors seen from floor to ceiling windows, serving as their backdrop. Gallery visitors sprawled along the stairs soaking in the environment-sight to sound, an aesthetically stimulating experience. A private party mingled in the Tempt Wolfgang Puck Café, easing in and out of the gallery space. Visitors from the Pulitzer drifted in, blinking away the twinkle from Flavin's fluorescent brights out from their eyes. The event served up interesting people watching. It seemed as if the accountants and cubicle dwellers who wrestle with their stir crazy creative streak through out the work week emerged to indulge in an artistic appetizer before the weekend--and it was just that a refreshing treat, just enough to satiate the work week's artistic void.