Melt at Foam + Jon Hardy & the Public

Come see Daniel Shown spin at Foam. Daniel says the show will include dance music and "plenty of rock, new wave, jazz, post hardcore, folk and other decidedly non-dance stuff, including a new Sex Pistols/Sex and the City mashup I'm working on." You don't want to miss that!

Date: Friday, December 18, 2009
Time: 10:00pm - ?

Foam
3359 S. Jefferson (at Cherokee)
STL, MO 63118


Update:
Jon Hardy & The Public will be playing a special set at 9:00, just before Melt.

Roxy Red Rockets Outer Space Sci-Fi Burlesque Show

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 7:45pm - 10:45pm
Location:
Tin Ceiling Theater
3159 Cherokee St. (at Compton)
Saint Louis, MO

CAMP's Funky Holiday Fiesta This Sunday

Sunday, December 13, 2009
5:00-9:00 p.m. @ 3026 Cherokee Street (at Minnesota)

Come enjoy singing festive songs at the top of your lungs, watching a local holiday film made possible by CAMP’s support, and sh-sh-shaking your groove thang to “some the best of raw funk, soul, jazz, and world beats that even people with lead shoes will be dancing to….”

5:00 p.m.: Celia’s Yuletide Express – a participatory singalong of your favorite Christmas tunes (or ones you hated on the radio, but love when you have jingliebells in your paw)
6:00 p.m.: ATNAS AKINAH: The Adventures of Santa’s Daughter / An experimental video narrative — last ‘09 showing in STL!
7:00 p.m.: Hang out! Dance to the magic soul-moving tunes brought to you by DJ Funky Leroy (aka Spencer Musselman), make art, make friends, make….. IT happen!

Snip some snowflakes or make some ornaments with Finder’s Hive treasures, then warm your bones at the CAMPfire out back and share rememberings of this year’s growth with neighbors and old friends.... Tis the season to be grateful, dreamy, cosy! We hope to see you, and make Us LIGHT!

A suggested donation of $3-$10 will be split 50/50 to support youth art programs at CAMP and the making of the ATNAS movie. Thanks in advance!!


Information from Cherokee Street News

Holiday craft sale this weekend

Join six local craft artists at 3211 Cherokee Street for holiday shopping Friday December 11 from 5-9 pm and Saturday December 12 from 10-5.

• Handcrafted jewelry by Lisa Colby, Jennifer Walker and Peg Fetter
• Ceramics by Renee Heyer-Starrett
• Mixed media jewelry by Anna Anghileri
• Hand stitched leather bags by Sleeth Mitchell

Craft Night at Foam

Head to Foam to get together to work on craft projects at a lovely cafe. Bring your knitting, sewing, calligraphy, spinning, sketching, what have you. (Not to mention have foamy beverages!)

Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Time: 7:30pm - 10:00pm
Location:
3359 S. Jefferson Ave. (at Cherokee)
St. Louis, MO 63118

Firecracker's Lumberyard takes Best in Show

Hats off to The Firecracker Press and its beautiful Lumberyard magazine, which received the Platinum Design Award from the Louisville Graphic Design Association. Details here.

Congrats, guys!

Cherokee Print League slideshow

Missed the Cherokee Print League show?

See a recap on the Riverfront Times web site:

20 Handmade Oddities from Cherokee Street, 12/5/09

Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale

It's time once again for the Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale. Locations up and down Cherokee will be open and artists from all around will be selling their print-related wares. Don't miss it!

Details:

Once again, galleries & businesses on Cherokee Street are teaming up to showcase artists working with printed media for the Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale. The event will take place Saturday, December 5 from 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. This indoor print-themed arts and craft sale will take place all along the street, with businesses hosting artists from all over the St. Louis area (as well as the greater Midwest) whose work is print-related.

Don't miss this opportunity to support local and visiting artists and buy something unique and handmade for a gift for someone or for you! There will be everything from printmaking, letterpress, screen printing, printed fabrics, printed glass, and more … anything printed goes!

More than 25 artists and printmakers will be offering their handmade items in the following participating venues: Porter Teleo, Snowflake City Stock, All Along Press, Fort Gondo, Cranky Yellow, The Firecracker Press, AVD Studios, Sleepy Kitty, Foam Coffee & Beer, and Stirrup Pants Chapbook. Event guides/maps will be offered the day of the event at any of the participating studios and a listing of some of the featured artists can be seen here. LIVE MUSIC at participating venues!


(information courtesy The Firecracker Press and Snowflake; poster art above by Firecracker)

Humdrum to Play Cherokee Print League After Party at Foam

Humdrum says:

We will be performing at Cherokee Street's newest coffee & beer bar, Foam, along with our friends The Skekses and The Mhurs.

Come out early for the Cherokee Print League's Holiday Sale (10am-7pm) and stay for the afterparty at Foam.

Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 8:00pm-12:00am

Foam Coffee & Beer
3359 S. Jefferson Ave. (@ the corner of Cherokee & Jefferson)
Saint Louis, MO

DIY Prints at the Finder's Hive at CAMP

From Cherokee Street News:

Calling all crafters, kids, and kids-at-heart: Stop by the Community Arts and Media Project during the Cherokee Street Print League Open House to preview the soon-coming “Finder’s Hive”!

The “Finder’s Hive” is an all-new treasure trove that will host UPCYCLE – a crafters’ post-consumer goods redistribution interface – as well hopes to host “Make Space” art programs including a Kids Street Art collective, knitting circle, and drawing nights. Come find out more, and how you can fit!

10:00 am - 4:00 pm December 5 — @ CAMP, 3022 Cherokee Street
Stroll into phase one of the "junk shop co-op" to peruse the stockpiled goodies and participate in FREE interactive printmaking activities. Experiment with DIY, low-fi printmaking techniques topped off with collage to custom create your own holiday gift cards and wrapping paper — perfect for packaging up your Print League goodies for under the tree! Tie a ribbon ’round it.

If you’re interested in volunteering to lead art activities or finding out more about the Hive, contact Lyndsey @ 217.898.3777!

VISIT —– upXChange.com —- for more info on the nuts & bolts of the redistribution process.

The Archive Coming to Cherokee Street

From the Cherokee Street News site:

As one might gather from the last two posts on Cherokee Street News, there is a lot transpiring in our neighborhood. While it was sad to see the only art supply in the city leave Cherokee Street, we also wanted to let everyone know that the space will not be empty.

A new store will be opening in the ArtParts building in the coming months. Keep your eye out for word about The Archive.

The Archive is a collection of books, it is a curiosity shop, it is also a place to find that something that you’ve been missing. Don’t know what that might be? Come see us, we’ll be holding a preview opening on December 5 in conjunction with the Print League’s Holiday Sale.

Stop by 3213/15 Cherokee when you’re around on December 5th, or stay tuned for more information.

Monthly Artist Networking Meeting at NEW ArtD Gallery this Wednesday

Come and see the NEW ArtDimensions Gallery and meet fellow artists. Promote yourself or an event you're involved in...

Wednesday, December 2, 7:00-9:00 pm

2720 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118

Also, if you're interested in an artist booth at Off the Wall at City Hall December 12, your last chance to sign up is at this meeting -- come early (6:00 pm) to get more info or to turn in your application and fee. Applications are available here.

"Gifted" at PHD Gallery

"GIFTED"
Original Art for Holiday Giving
December 3 - January 3, 2010


Please join us for
the Opening Reception
Saturday & Sunday,
December 5 & 6, 2009,
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Skip the malls this year and make your gift giving a unique expression of creativity! PHD Gallery hosts “GIFTED” original art for holiday giving.

Featuring the work of more than a dozen local and regional artists, the seasonal exhibition offers “recession-friendly” artwork priced to fit your holiday budget.

Included among the artworks, buyers will find original paintings, collage, sculpture, scrimshaw, ceramics, glass, jewelry, photography and limited-edition prints.

Featured artists will include Mark Weber, Susan Sullivan, Mary Beth Shaw, David Lancaster, Jimmy Liu, Jim Sabo, Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Eric Hoefer, Joe Chesla, Mark Sheppard, Leslie Holt, Charlie Houska, Jeff Kapfer, Noel Leicht, David Wallace, and Polly Saputo.

***

"GIFTED" opens in tandem with the 26th Annual Cherokee Antique Row Cookie Spree. Local merchants will offer a host of holiday surprises with each store featuring a variety of holiday cookies! Enjoy music, festivities and old-fashioned yuletide charm.


PHD Gallery
2300 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
Noon to 4:00 pm,
Thursday - Sunday
(314)664-6644

Firecracker's Lumberyard on the New York Times blog

The Lumberyard, a terrific literary letterpress magazine produced by The Firecracker Press's Eric Woods and his sister, Jen, has gotten a mention in the ArtsBeat blog of The New York Times.

See the Times write-up here.

More information -- including how to get your very own copy -- on The Lumberyard web site here.

Drive-By / Paulsen / Fuller

From Snowflake/Citystock/Drive-By Gallery:

We are proud to announce a new installation constructed by Sarah Paulsen and Cameron Fuller entitled "The Ants Have Come to Town".

Drive-By is a 12' x 8' x 3' window space dedicated to installation and performance, viewable 24 hours a day.

Exhibit runs through December 31.

Drive-By is located on the west side of the Snowflake building

3408 South Compton (at Cherokee)
St. Louis, Missouri 63118

To view past shows visit snowflakecitystock.com

Mmmelt and Sister Product this Friday at Cranky Yellow

Free show. Live electronic music. Live video visuals.

"Mmmelt is a piece of meat a piece of fruit, a Spongefork, miscellaneous software, electronic synthesizers, drum machines, video mixers, dvd and cassette players and whatever cheap or obscure a/v cutlery that finds its way into our kitchen; plus a smattering of various special guest chefs".

Date & Time: Friday, November 20, 8:00 p.m.

Event Location:
Cranky Yellow
2847 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, Missouri, 63118
314-773-4499

Event Cost: $0.00

Get Born at Foam!

Free reading at Foam featuring Mathieu Paul, Joseph Sulier, Brock Walker and more with DJ Spencer "Muscleman" spinning soul and jazz in between.

Friday November 20, 2009 - 7:00 PM
Foam Coffee & Beer
3359 South Jefferson (at Cherokee)
Saint Louis, Missouri 63118

Free

Letterpress printing - Do It Yourself- at the Firecracker Press

Letterpress Printing – Do it Yourself (CLASS2). Interested in learning how to make your own greeting cards? Want to print a poster for your next event or invitations to an upcoming party?

Learn how in this comprehensive five-week course focusing on the traditional methods of letterpress printing. Students can learn the basics of handsetting metal type, how to make a woodcut or photopolymer plate, mixing ink by hand, and learning the ins and outs of choosing paper. Our Vandercook printing presses and antique platen presses will be available for use.

Each student will create an editioned piece of their design to exchange with all students, so everyone leaves the class with a small portfolio of fine prints! No prior experience needed.

Sign yourself up or enroll a creative loved one. This course makes the perfect gift!

DEADLINE – DEC. 15 – space is limited.

Course schedule (5 weeks):
TUESDAY evenings from 6:30pm-9pm
Jan. 19 – Feb. 16

Cost: $185.00
(We provide tools and some ink. You provide paper and any other materials.)

Sign up online here.

FREE! "Honkey" Goodbye Roast: November 28 - All Welcome!

From "BJ "Honkey" Lange:

Fellow St. Louisans,

I haven't had that much time to meet all of you, but those who I have met know that I am moving back out west very soon. I signed a lease in Los Angeles starting December 1. My improv school, The Improv Trick (founded by Bill Chott; SNL, The Ringer, Second City) wishes to throw me a roast before I leave. I'd really like to have the community which I've grown to love there, considering how much you all have grown on me.

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: The Improv Trick Comedy Underground
Street: 2715 Cherokee
City/Town: Saint Louis, MO

BJ "Honkey" Lange is moving to Los Angeles, CA and The Improv Trick wants to give him the proper send-off by throwing him a roast!

Roastmasters Angie Patton and Marc Pruter will be there making sure that BJ will be ripped a new one by some of St. Louis' top comedians and his own friends! Come join in on the fun, bring your friends and say good-bye to him in style.

This event is BYOB and there is a $10 suggested donation.

For more information, please contact Marc or Angie at
314-922-1998 info (at) theimprovtrick (dot) com

Two Fresh + Vibe SquaD at 2720 Cherokee

2720 Cherokee, St. Louis’s newest music venue, is open this Saturday for Two Fresh.

Two Fresh consists of twin brothers Sherwyn and Kendrick Nicholls and is accompanied live by drummer Colby Buckler. The twins have been making beats and playing music together since their freshman year of high school. In August of 2008, they began playing shows across the south. In early December they added on Colby on drums for the live setting. Together they bust out some of the freshest tracks, wowing people from all over the spectrum. Packing out venues, they keep the whole place moving with a raw, cutting edge sound that is a combination of hip-hop and jazz that takes electronic music to a whole new level. No matter what you're into, Two Fresh will bring you music that is guaranteed to keep you moving. Their sound has begun to grasp the attention of people across the globe.

VibeSquaD is the multi-personality brainchild of Aaron Holstein. With releases on NativeState, Proboscis, Interchill, Muti, and Sonic Dragon (Hong Kong) in 2007 alone, VibeSquad is quickly emerging as a top producer in the west coast US electronic music scene. Both 2007 EPs “Return of The Pudding People” & “Songs to Accompany Dance Move: The Worm” have been making their way around the globe showing up in DJ’s sets and causing serious mayhem on dance floors. Though his legendary live sets may cause whiplash and heart attacks in the unsuspecting bystander, those prepared to launch get much more than they bargained for. Aaron’s music defies typical genre-labels and covers tempos from slow ’n hard low-riding krunkadelics to mid-tempo barnstormers all in a seamlessly flowing soulful mash — dirty and beautiful as life itself. Aaron also plays bass/keys for the bands ZILLA (w/ Michael Travis & Jamie Janover) & SPORQUE (w/Ooah & Jamie Janover)

Ages: 18+
Price: $10

Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

(Text and image from Cherokee Street News)

Map Of My Heart TONIGHT at Cranky Yellow

Self-published author/graphic novelist John Porcellino will be showing a slide show of comics from his new book, Map of My Heart, answering audience questions, and signing books.

Musician Patrick Porter will open the night with a brief acoustic set and St. Louis cartoonist Jerome Gaynor will also be showing his work.

JOHN Porcellino was born in Chicago in 1968, and has been writing, drawing, and publishing minicomics, comics, and graphic novels for over twenty-five years. His celebrated self-published series King-Cat Comics, begun in 1989, has inspired a generation of cartoonists.

Date & Time:
2009-10-29 20:00:00
Event Location:
Cranky Yellow
2847 Cherokee Street
Event Cost:
$0.00

Both Ends and the Middle: the Cherokee Street All Community Co-Lab Art Showcase

Where: Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St.
St Louis MO, 63118

When: This Friday night, October 30, from 6-10pm

What It Is: We're showing off drawings and photos workshopped at the Chatillon-DeMenil House located at the eastern end of Cherokee Street and work made during the all-community "Love Letters to Cherokee Workshop" at CAMP on the western end. The exhibition also includes individual works by Lyndsey Scott, Sarah Paulsen, Bill Russell, Maria Guadalupe Massey, Timothy Wagner, All Along Press, St Louis Style and more. Photos of the Peoples' Joy Parade, Eleanore Balson's community-painted box truck and architectural drawings from the Community Hub Project are also included.

The Story: A few short weeks ago Lynn Josse and Emily Hemeyer embarked on a Why Not? quest with only 3-weeks to gather, plan and promote this show. We were astounded at the amount of work we were able to pull together as well as all of the community support. Thank you Cherokee Street neighbors, artists, businesses and friends. It's all for you.

One night only. Costumes welcome.

Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: a convergence of art, ideas and history

Bad Shoe Lit Mag Release at Cranky Yellow

Head to Cranky Yellow for the release of Bad Shoe, STL’s best ladies lit mag, featuring the amazing art of Rose Bland. We will be co-releasing with Literal Chaos, an independent magazine for flyover country. Enjoy music by HUMDRUM, the Skekses, and Jennifer McDaniel of Maid-Rite. Readings by Julia Gordon-Bramer, Matthew Freeman, Coop, AC Jones, Erin Wiles, Ellen Herget, Amanda Wells, John J. Ryan, Anna Ross, Lauren Keefer, Zach Chasnoff, and more! No cover: buy a book, make a donation, make a donation for cheap beer. Tell yer friends!

UPDATE: Dena Molen and Kristin Sharp will also be reading!

Date & Time:
2009-10-27 20:00:00

Event Location:
Cranky Yellow
2847 Cherokee Street
Saint Louis, MO 63118
Phone: 1.314.773.4499

Cherokee Street tour this Sunday

In the final event of our Arts Then & Now series, your friends at the Chatillon-DeMenil House are getting out to explore more of the neighborhood. At the western end of Cherokee Street, an intact turn-of-the-century streetscape is a perfect setting for art. This free event is brought to you with support from the Regional Arts Commission.

Drawings, photos, collages and love letters from the three workshops in this series will be on display at Ft. Gondo, as well as historical documents and artworks connecting the two ends of Cherokee Street. (A reception for the community will be held on Friday, October 30).

October 25: Tour: Architecture and Art on Cherokee Street
2 p.m.
Starting at Fort Gondo compound for the arts, 3151 Cherokee Street
Over the last decade, our neighbors on the western end of Cherokee Street have developed their intact 19th-century streetscape into a haven for creative endeavors of all kinds. We’ll talk about the birth of an arts community and tour some of the studios and galleries where the art happens every day.

See you there!
Lynn Josse
Public History Consultant
(314) 229-0793

CHEROKEE REAL Inauguration Sunday

You are invited!!

To the inauguration of the:

CHEROKEE REAL
Community Garden and Gathering Space

October 18th (Sunday)
10 am to 4 pm
2647 Cherokee Street

You will find....

Painting, Planting, Music, Neighbors, Gathering, Meeting Wonderful New People, Kids Activities, Food and many other amazing experiences!

We will be planting and decorating the first planters to go on the site as well as decorating the fence and outdoor furniture, making garden ornaments, dancing to great music, eating yummy snacks from Black Bear Bakery and celebrating the creation of a new gathering space and community garden.

*** If you are available to volunteer that would be awesome and please contact Irene Compadre ***

With support from Black Bear Bakery, Red Brick Community Land Trust, Cherokee Station Business Association, and the Community Arts and Media Project

Irene Compadre
icompadre at gmail dot com
314.496.4364

superfun art/play workshop this Sunday

From your friends at the Chatillon-DeMenil House and the wonder-artist Lyndsey Scott:

Our October "Arts Then and Now" events are on the road, exploring how our neighbors on Cherokee Street are inspired to mingle art and architecture. First, we'll meet inside CAMP to draw and brainstorm together. Taking cues from old photographs and advertisements together with current photos, fliers, and news clippings -- we'll let our imaginations explore what the street has been and can be. Then we'll make copies of our sketches and stroll around the neighborhood affixing these images and messages with magnets where people can interact with them. No worries if you're not an 'artist' -- if you've got attentive eyes, willing hands, and a sense of humor you're well equipped to play this game!

Sunday, October 18
1pm
Community Arts and Media Project
3022 Cherokee Street

questions? 229-0793

This free workshop is made possible with support from the Regional Arts Commission.

Improv Benefit for childhood cancer this Saturday

One Night Only!!!! The Improv Trick is proud to host the "BAD BOYS OF KANSAS CITY IMPROV!"

October 17 at 8:00 pm at The Improv Trick Comedy Underground!

Tickets are only $10 and proceeds will benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand, a charity dedicated to fighting childhood cancer.

For more information or to make reservations, call 314-922-1998

Please invite your friends!!! This is going to be a really fun event!

Kansas City Improvisers to Play St. Louis for Cancer Charity
St. Louis – Loaded Dice, Kansas City’s Bad Boys of Comedy are coming to St. Louis to perform with Bill Chott’s Improv Trick on October 17th, 2009. Loaded Dice promises to bring fun, fast-paced comedy with a whole lot of attitude from Missouri’s “West Coast” and a portion of the ticket sales will benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation that supports finding a cure for childhood cancer. The show begins at 8:00 PM.

Loaded Dice competed in Kansas City’s Improv Thunderdome which pits nine improv teams against one another twice a year to determine who the best improvisers in Kansas City are. The Bad Boys of Comedy won, two times, a feat that no other team can claim. The Kansas City-based troupe also hosted a twenty-four-hour comedy benefit this summer raising over $1200 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Clay Morgan, director of Loaded Dice, wants to expand the troupe’s comedy arsenal and help kids at the same time. Loaded Dice partnered Alex’s Lemonade Stand because it supports research going on at KU Med Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. “It was sort of a no-brainer to team up with such a great charity. Plus, they were really jazzed about the idea. Laughter is the best medicine,” Morgan said. He hopes that playing with teams in other cities will raise awareness of Alex’s Lemonade Stand and to learn from other improvisers.

“When we play with other troupes, we always learn from their style. We use that to play better and smarter. Performing with teams in Kansas City is great, but there are other cities doing great improv, like St. Louis and Springfield, that are just a few hours away. They offer different styles of doing what we love to do” Morgan says.

Bill Chott, owner of the Improv Trick, hosted the Kansas City Improv Festival a few years ago and Morgan and Chott became friends on Facebook. This connection has led to the cross-state performance for Loaded Dice. The men of Loaded Dice are very excited to perform in St. Louis.

“We’re pretending we are rock stars on tour. We get a chance to do what we love in front of new audiences,” Morgan adds, “We aren’t going to tear up a hotel or anything like that, but we will hit the stage with all the swagger and confidence that is associated with bands like KISS and AC/DC.”

The Loaded Dice will also be teaching a workshop on Sunday October 18 at 1 pm.

Registration is just $25 for Current Improv Trick Students and $30 for everyone
else. Space is limited so reserve your spots today!
314-922-1998

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground is at 2715 Cherokee St. STL, MO 63118

Boots screening season five of PBS’s Art: 21

On THURSDAY OCTOBER 15TH from 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Boots Contemporary Art Space will be screening season five of PBS’s Art: 21

Episode 3: Transformation Whether observing and satirizing society or reinventing icons of literature, art history, and popular culture, the artists featured in Transformation capture the sensibilities of our age while at times inhabiting the characters they have created. Yinka Shonibare MBE, Cindy Sherman and Paul McCarthy are featured..


Episode 4: Systems Artists invent new processes to convey the attitudes of today’s supercharged, information-based society, examining why we find comfort in some systems while rebelling against others. Systems features artists who realize complex projects through acts of appropriation or accumulation. In some instances, they create projects vast in scope, which almost elude comprehension. Julie Mehretu, John Baldessari, Kimsooja and Allan McCollum are featured.

ALL ARE WELCOME! COMPLIMENTARY POPCORN AND DRINKS!

BYO chair as seating is limited

COME AND CELEBRATE ART WITH US!

e-mail: boots at bootsart dot com
phone: 314.773.2281

Boots Contemporary Art Space
2307 Cherokee St.
St Louis, MO
63118

Letterpress Basics – Holiday Workshop with the Firecracker Press

Letterpress Basics – Holiday Workshop (CLASS1).
Letterpress Basics Holiday Workshop is a comprehensive five-week course focusing on the traditional methods of letterpress printing. Students can learn the basics of handsetting metal type, how to make a woodcut or photopolymer plate, mixing ink by hand, and learning the ins and outs of choosing paper. Our Vandercook printing presses and antique platen presses will be available for use. Each student will create an editioned piece of their design to exchange with all students, so everyone leaves the class with a small portfolio of fine prints! No prior experience needed. This is a perfect course to design and handprint your own holiday card or gift.

DEADLINE – OCTOCBER 31 – space is limited.

Course schedule (5 weeks):
TUESDAY evenings from 6:30pm-9pm
Nov. 3 – Dec. 1

Cost: $185.00
(We provide tools and some ink. You provide paper and any other materials.)

Sign up here.

Cherokee Print League Call for Entries

CHEROKEE PRINT LEAGUE HOLIDAY SALE!

The Cherokee Print League is organizing its second annual holiday show and sale to take place Saturday, December 5 from 10am-7pm. This indoor print-themed show will take place all along the street, with businesses hosting artists whose work is print-related (printmaking, letterpress, printed fabrics, etc.)

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE!

This is organized as a sale rather than an art show, and we expect a huge turnout, so it would be a great way to make some cash before the holiday season. Hosting businesses will be extensively advertising the event, and 100% of participation fees go toward advertising. You will be provided with a table in an indoor, heated space, and your name and location will be included on a map of the event that will be available the day of the sale.

DETAILS
Participation fee: $50 (tables can be shared, two artists for $25 each)
Students WELCOME: $35 solo or $25 each for shared table

Approximate Table Size: 3'×5' with optional wall space (let us know if you’re interested in some wall).

Advertising: Sauce Magazine/RFT, KDHX, hand-printed posters by The Firecracker Press, Sleepy Kitty, and All Along Press

After party: TBA (But, oh, there will be one!)

To reserve your table, register here or drop off your fee (in cash!) to The Firecracker Press at 2838 Cherokee Street no later than NOVEMBER 1.

For more info on the event, you can call:
The Firecracker Press at (314) 776-7271
or All Along Press at (314) 827-6185

SOME of the PARTICIPATING VENUES: The Firecracker Press, Porter Teleo, Snowflake City Stock, All Along Press, Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts, Cranky Yellow, Sleepy Kitty, Stirrup Pants Chapbook

Cherokee Street on RFT's 2009 "Best of" List

Last year, Cherokee Street was honored as the Best Mile of St. Louis in the Riverfront Times (hence the URL of this blog.)

I still think Cherokee is tops, but I suppose they didn't want the other miles to get their collective noses out of joint, so another mile has received the honor this year (congrats, South Grand!)

Despite not getting this specific award, Cherokee was once again well-represented on the Best of list.

• Boots Contemporary Art Space, 2307 Cherokee St., was named Best Art Gallery.

• Snowflake/City Stock, 3156 Cherokee St., hosted Here and There, which was named Best Gallery Exhibit of 2009.

• The Best New Local Art Trend? Artist-run print shops. We could have told you that! Cherokee was represented on the list by All-Along Press and Firecracker Press. As Firecracker's Eric Woods graciously noted in this blog post on the Cherokee Street News site, the list also could have included Cherokee's Porter Teleo and Sleepy Kitty.

• Okay, they're not here yet, but we're going to claim them anyway. Did you know STL Style's moving to Cherokee? Yay! They were named Best T-shirts. We think all of their goodies are good, but this will do for starters.

Congrats, one and all!

PHD Gallery Exhibit Reviewed in the Post

Read an article and artist interview on the PHD Gallery's latest exhibit, Vestiges, on the Post-Dispatch web site here.

FREE Improv Class, Longform Class begins Monday

FREE Improv Class Wednesday, Longform Class begins this Monday, October 5.

Take this FREE class and you can register for The Lifetime Class:

Introduction to Improv – Level 1
Wednesdays, 7-9pm – Join in anytime, for Life!
PUBLIC SPEAKING, NETWORKING, FUN

Bill Chott from SNL, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Ringer is recognized nationally as one of the best improv teachers. Take advantage of this class while he’s in town, and you’ll be able to take it for FREE for the rest of your Lifetime. Bill and others teach this class year-round and once you’ve taken the class you can always come back and take this class for free. This class is a safe and comfortable environment, suitable for beginners and experienced improvisers looking for a fresh point of view.

Students in this class will be eligible to perform in a Student Showcase at the Improv Trick Comedy Underground.

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground is located at 2715 Cherokee St. Saint Louis, MO 63118

Instructors: Bill Chott and Marc Pruter

Live-work and other rental space on Cherokee

There is one office space available located in the Cherokee Place complex.

Owner Agent has already secured occupancy permit for space. There are restrooms, water fountain, alarm, and wireless internet that are covered by a small CAM charge. The spaces start at $200/month.

There is also one retail space available for $400/month it is over 400 square feet and includes utilities.

We also have a live work space under renovation that is 1200 square feet and available in October for $675/month plus utilities.

If interested in a personal showing, e-mail William Liebermann: williamliebermann at gmail dot com.

This Sunday at City Art Supply

From our friends at City Art Supply:

Hello,


Sunday evening we’re having a very special show at City Art Supply, here’s the info…


Alexis Gideon, Shelley Short, .e, Mark Early, Eric Hall, and Jeremy Kannapell

8PM Sunday, September 27, 2009.

*

Alexis Gideon
From Portland, OR. Hip-pop electro folktales about liophants, ringtones, and medieval battle strategies; performed to homemade animated/stop-motion video projections.

Shelley Short
Portland, OR also. Gentle and sparse guitar/voice arrangements with breezy melodies. Her CDs will sit by your desk like a candy dish, ready whenever you need a bit of something sweet.

.e
Delicate skittering beats, gazing synths, live-looping guitars, and vocal drifts; all delivered from one of Saint Louis's most lauded underground solo acts.

Mark Early
A rare solo performance from the synth/guitar/toy piano/noise wrangler for Glass Teeth, Tone Rodent, and Macro Meltdown. You have no idea what could happen, do you?

Eric Hall
The member of Grandpa's Ghost and N. Nomurai, plus several other projects, will be stirring up a droning psychedelic stutter-funk trance from manipulated field recordings and found sounds.

Jeremy Kannapell
Ghost Ice leaves his powerful bass cabs at home and instead brings you a different side of his contorted aesthetic: 8mm film projections.

*

This show is free, though donations for the touring act's expenses are kindly encouraged; and you can also show support by picking up merchandise. In return, we will provide refreshments. Fair enough?

City Art Supply
3215 Cherokee Street
Saint Louis, MO 63118
(314) 771-5375

Openings at PHD Gallery

Please join us at PHD Gallery
for the opening of
TWO NEW EXHIBITS
Saturday, October 3, 2009
7 - 10 PM

PHD Gallery hosts

VESTIGES: Found Wood Sculpture & Photography
&
MARK SHEPPARD: Bone Crusher Rat Rods

PHD Gallery
2300 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 664-6644

**********

VESTIGES depicts the evidence of time’s passage & the beauty that can exist in the legacy left behind. The exhibit juxtaposes found wooden sculpture with photography. Susan Nanny & Marsha Sanguinette retrieve river wood & polish it, until it lives again in evocative biomorphic forms. David R. Hanlon's photographs record the fallen Monuments of Syria & Jordan. Jim Sabo reverses the notion of finding relics & instead digitally creates them. Mark Florida photographs contemporary urban decay. Dr. Ivy Cooper of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville observes that the works are: "captivating evidence — fleeting, tenuous, melancholy — of lives and structures once thought to be permanent and unchanging."

MARK SHEPPARD: Bone Crusher Rat Rods- With a nod to the West Coast "Kustom Kulture" of the 1950s & 60s, Mark Sheppard unveils 12 new "hot rod" ink drawings in PHD’s Portfolio Gallery. Inspired by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth’s grotesque caricatures, Sheppard creates an original crew of "creatures who won’t die driving cars that won’t break!" The artist has also released a limited edition print based on his ink drawings. Sheppard is an MFA graduate in painting from Washington University in St. Louis & works as an artist & instructor.

Theaster Gates at Boots

Missed the Theaster Gates opening at Boots?

All is not lost!:

The opening of the Theaster Gates exhibition, Holiness: In 3 Parts, was a night filled with 3 dynamic performances. Orron Kenyatta, started the evening off with lyrical poetry. The Zion Temple Baptist Church Choir, from St. Louis, then uplifted us with powerful gospel songs. Part three is when Theaster Gates and The Black Monks of Mississippi performed songs that told the story of Dave the slave potter. These performances were surrounded by Gate's minimal sculptures that were constructed out of objects that he found in his own backyard. Also included in the exhibit are two shoeshine chairs and a video of shining shoes accompanied by a Buddhist-like audio chant. Holiness: In 3 Parts will be on display until 10.16.2

If you missed the opening don't worry. You can view highlights from the evening on the Saint Louis Art Map Blog.


Boots Contemporary Art Space
2307 Cherokee St. • St Louis, MO
63118 • 314.773.2281

CheroFlea Market at CAMP

From CAMP's Outreach Coordinator, Lyndsey Scott:

CheroFLEA MARKET @ CAMP

Saturday October 3, 8am-3pm

3026 Cherokee Street


A la dream interpretation website:

*Basement* The house generally represents your psychological and emotional self. Each part of the house may deal with a different part of you. The basement is built first. It is often below ground (or at least some parts of it), and is essentially the foundation of the house. Dreaming about a basement and understanding the dream, may provide you with valuable information which may lead to greater self-awareness. A recurring dream about basements (i.e. being in a basement, a basement, furnishing a basement, etc.) should not be ignored. These dreams may be symbolic of your unconscious, instincts and intuition, and degree of awareness of a current situation or a problem.

I recently had some really stellar basement dreams, straight up dancing with brooms in subterranean clouds, spacious, mysterious. More recently than that, I’ve spent many love-labor hours alongside other collective members giving the underbelly of CAMP, the Community Arts and Media Project, a great scouring – in keeping with the current effort to regenerate the project’s vision and efficacy in engaging creative, socially-responsible strategies for community building on Cherokee Street. For sanity, I engaged with this work of schlepping, sorting, and disposing the ruins as play -- a treasure hunt performance piece remix of Whachoogondowithallthatjunk, while envisioning what it is we hope to make space for.

Whereby, You are duly invited to come browse the oddities unearthed and celebrate this milestone of shapeshifting with us. Together with neighbors’ stuff, a hodgepodge including books, bikes, furniture, costumes, mirrors, shelves, toys, et al awaits you, and we look forward to raising funds for the bike shop, youth art, and other programs.

If you’re falling in love with Cherokee but have not yet been to CAMP, make your way thru. I think you’ll find we are developing into a site that can nurture a uniquely expressive and honest dialogue with the neighborhood. It’s piqued my creativity for months….

CheroFLEA MARKET @ CAMP
Saturday October 3, 8am-3pm
3026 Cherokee Street

For more on CAMP click here.

For more on the CheroFLEA MARKET visit Cherokee Street News

To volunteer in setup/cleanup or with CAMP in general, call (314) 827-4730.



Love from

Lyndsey Scott

CAMP Outreach Coordinator

Art and architecture at the Chatillon-DeMenil House

September 19, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Sketch workshop with Emily Hemeyer. Come draw architecture with us! You don’t have to be an artist to create an individualistic work of art. We’ll focus on looking at details as well as the whole, and creatively expressing your observations on paper. All ages welcome! Materials will be provided (or feel free to bring your own favorites).



September 27, 2:00 p.m., Greek Revival Architecture and the DeMenil House, illustrated talk by Esley Hamilton. Greek Revival became a national style that captured the political idealism of a young nation. Find out how the Chatillon-DeMenil House does (and doesn’t) reflect the dominant architectural classicism of the mid-19th century.


Both events take place at the Chatillon-DeMenil House, 3352 DeMenil Place (at the far eastern end of Cherokee Street)

Boots Fall Opening Exhibition this Friday

Boots Contemporary Art Space
Fall Opening Exhibition
Holiness: In 3 Parts
A solo exhibition by Theaster Gates

Opening reception: Friday, September 18, 2009 - 6:30 - 10 p.m.

Holiness: In 3 Parts, a solo exhibition at Boots, will give Theaster an opportunity to work through ideas surrounding the psychic space of the back yard. On opening night, with help from his performance ensemble, The Black Monks of Mississippi, Gates will bring charismatic structures of the black church into brief conversation with the formalities of City Planning Policy.

Performance will begin at 7:42 and last till 8:53

Part 1: The Westside Piece (Front Space) 7:42- 7:52 (Theaster and possibly Orron Kenyatta-poet)

Part 2: The Glorious Picnic (Front of the back) 7:52- 8:40 (Black Monks of Mississippi)

Part 3: Stairwell to heaven and Other things from my backyard (Back of the back Space) 8:40-8:53 (Monastic Funk Band)

"Holiness in three parts could be thought of in the following way: Heaven, Hood and the City - using sculptural objects made from things in my backyard, we will move between these three loosely prescribed categories. With 'The City' representing hell and the hood being somewhere between paradise and the underworld, I hope to consider three different presentation formats, in three different parts of the space in what would appear to be a Joseph Beuys-styled performance that uses the black religious form to deliver thoughts on new urbanism, slave labor via the embodiment of Dave the slave potter and the history of the racialized body through performance. Holiness in three parts is literally a trinity of confusion and urban rumination. Lots of stones will be left unturned, but those turned will get a good shining"


About Theaster Gates
Sculptor and performance artist, Theaster Gates works with the sacred city found just below its forgotten and often abandoned exterior. With parts of old buildings and visions of grand rehab projects, Gates, a believer in the possibility of place, begins to release some of the resonate beauty of the city's under belly in a way that is both contemplative and frenetic

Boots Contemporary Art Space
2307 Cherokee St. • St Louis, MO • 63118 •

Firecracker exploding all over the place (heh)

• Go see our friends from The Firecracker Press this weekend at the Mosaics Art Festival in St. Charles and get a free custom-printed poster (whoa, did I just say free? I believe I did!) The event? Also free! This is an offer you can't refuse. Firecracker will be up and running at the festival Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, September 20 from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Festival information here.

• I meant to mention this before but I must have spaced out (I am on fire today!) Did you know that Firecracker has got a poster going out into space? Well, it's true! Way cool. Read more about it here.

Opening night at Snowflake and Drive-By

September 12th, 7:00 - 10:00 @ Snowflake and Drive-By

On June 1, 2009, Chicago musician Stephanie Morris died unexpectedly and tragically, leaving behind too many questions for her friends and family. We Are Here — a collaboration between her husband, artist Nathan Keay, and friend, writer Jonathan Messinger — is a first attempt at addressing the aftermath. St. Louis native Keay’s photos, taken in the weeks after Stephanie’s death, evoke the itinerant loneliness felt after the loss, and the sense of community that has come together since. Messinger will read several stories inspired by Steph's life, and her untimely death.

Jonathan Messinger is the co-founder of featherproof books, and author of the short-story collection Hiding Out.

Nathan Keay lives and works in Chicago.

Opening at 7:00 p.m., reading begins at 8:30 p.m.

Bryan Eaton will be revealing his Drive-By installation, "Nothing Lasts Forever", during the same event.

The show will run through October 28, 2009.

Snowflake is open Saturdays from 11:00 - 3:00.

Drive-By is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Snowflake
3156 Cherokee Street (at Compton)
St. Louis 63118

Drive-By
3408 S. Compton Ave
St. Louis 63118

*FREE TIX* WED 9/9 - Improv Comedy Show

From BJ "Honkey" Lane, of the Improv Trick:

Friends of St. Louis Improv, Talent, and Artists –

Come See Why The Improv Trick Won an RFT Masterminds Award, and why BILL CHOTT/Improv Trick was featured in This week's RFT cover feature!!

Our last stage match at The Stable.... An all-ages event.

St. Louis' top comedy improvisers match wits in The Stagematch, a no-holds-barred, knock-down, drag out head to head bout. Audience suggestions are spun into pure comedy gold in this evening of competitive improv.

Imagine if Wrestling at the Chase broke out at a Whose Line Is It Anyway improv show! Cheer your heroes, boo your villains, and you'll laugh till you're down for the count at The Stable (St. Louis's hottest new brewhouse and distillery) to play games and share new games. Teams of 2 players set comedy records, bring home the gag trophy and bash wits for your comedy enjoyment.

Funds will be raised for scholarships for local youth scholarships to become improv students, and this party will go on way into the night.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Doors Open at 9:00pm

The Stable
1821 Cherokee Street (at Lemp)
St. Louis (Benton Park by Lemp Brewery)

Looking forward to seeing you at the show. Good food, drinks, laughs and memories, let me know how many free tickets you need.

Bringing improv back to St. Louis ,

BJ “Honkey” Lange

Student/Performer, The Improv Trick

314.922.1998

info at theimprovtrick dot com

Duet -- A Show of New Prints

Duet is a show of prints and drawings by Steven Brien and Elysia Mann of All Along Press.

Please come down to Fort Gondo on Saturday, September 12 at 6:00pm to see some new artwork.

Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts is at 3151 Cherokee Street (just east of Compton) in Saint Louis, MO 63118.

Contact All Along Press:
All Along Press
3155 Cherokee Street
Saint Louis, MO 63118
314.827.6185

Art Dimensions gallery and concert venue

The Riverfront Times is featuring a sneak peek at the Art Dimensions gallery and concert venue coming soon to a Cherokee Street near you.

See here.

New web site and sale this month at City Art Supply

From Dana Smith:

Hello,

A quick note to let you all know about our new website. It's finally up and ready, take a look around and visit back for updates.
cityartsupply.org

The website features a blog where I'll be updating on a regular basis regarding events, sales and new product arrivals.
cityartsupply.org/blog/

Speaking of which, throughout the month of September we're having a sale on a number of different products in the store. Also on the 12th we'll have a small opening for photographer Bob Reuter.

Stop on in for a visit and say hello.

Thank you.
Dana Smith
City Art Supply

City Art Supply
3215 Cherokee Ct.
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-771-5375

Original Knights of Swing at the Casa Loma

September 11, Big band ballroom and swing dance with the 24-piece orchestra The Original Knights of Swing at the Casa Loma Ballroom, 3354 Iowa (at Cherokee).

Doors open at 7:30 PM with a free dance lesson from 7:45 PM-8:30 PM.

Admission: $10.

For the complete calendar of events call 664-8000 or visit the Casa Loma online.

Casa Loma Ballroom
3354 Iowa Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63118

PHD Gallery Fall Open House

Join us at PHD Gallery for our FALL OPEN HOUSE!

This Saturday & Sunday, September 5 & 6, 2009, Noon to 5 PM

PHD Gallery hosts "Selections from the Gallery" through September 19, 2009.

On view are more that a dozen artists including:

• Joe Chesla
• Dennis DeToye
• David R. Hanlon
• Leslie Holt
• Charlie Houska
• David Lancaster
• LeRoy Lottman
• Metra Mitchell
• Polly Saputo
• Mary Beth Shaw
• Susan Sullivan
• John Tuccillo
• Mark Weber
  

Jessica Baran of the Riverfront Times writes:

Selections from the Gallery - September has arrived meaning, among myriad other things, that the new exhibition year has begun. To mark the occasion, phd Gallery highlights some of the work by a dozen-plus artists that's been on display since late August in a wide array of media (from painting to photography to sculpture) at its fall open house, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6 from noon till 5 p.m. at phd Gallery on Cherokee Street's antique row. Local artists will predominate; among others, the lineup includes Joe Chesla, David R. Hanlon, Charles Houska, Leslie Holt and Mark Weber. Not only can you admire re-creations of Old Master paintings invaded by Hello Kitty and hammered metal icons engraved with desperate pleas to God to reverse the artist's homosexuality, but refreshments will be amply served! The group exhibit will be on view through September 19 at phd Gallery.

PHD Gallery
2300 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-664-6644

Cranky Yellow's new social networking site

Say the Crankies:

Cranky Yellow releases a BRAND spanking new social-networking web site called Squishums! Share and connect things that inspire you! Post your art, photos, or favorite things and meet the people you've inspired! (it's in beta, so don't judge the ugly basic layout. It'll be better soon!) HELP US MAKE THIS BIG! SIGN UP AND START INTERACTING!

Squishums is for all the people who check a million blogs that inspire them. Now you can just spend a million hours on this site! Squishums is a new way to share and connect things that inspire you.

Visit Squishums here.

Get squishing!

Kudos to a Cherokee Street Mastermind

The Improv Trick has been recognized by The Riverfront Times as the 2009 Performing Arts MasterMinds for their work in teaching and performing improv with an emphasis on involvement in the Cherokee community. (click on the link for a terrific write-up on The Improv Trick.) And Bill Chott and The Improv Trick are due to be featured in the RFT this week!

Oher Improv Trick news:

Don't miss Bill Chott's Comedy Cabaret this Friday, September 4 at the Gaslight Theater. An early show for families, and a late night show for sophisticated audiences.

For more info, visit theimprovtrick.com

The Improv Trick
2715 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-922-1998

Studio space available on Cherokee Street

From Will Liebermann:

There is one studio/office space available located in the Cherokee Place complex. Owner-Agent has already secured occupancy permit for space.

There are restrooms, water fountain, alarm, and wireless internet that are covered by a small CAM charge. The spaces start at $200/month.

There is also one retail space available for $400/month it is over 400 square feet and includes utilities.

We also have a live work space under renovation that is 1200 square feet and available in October for $750/month plus utilities.

If interested in a personal showing, please send e-mail to williamliebermann (at) gmail (dot) com.

What's new with the Firecracker Press

• Woo hoo and yay hay for The Firecracker Press, whose Finn's Motel poster (above) will be on TV this Fall. Look for it on "Lie To Me", starring Tim Roth on Fox. Get your very own poster right here.



• The Firecracker Press will be part of Impressed by Design: Letterpress in the Heartland, which will bring together 5 incredible letterpress artists in one venue. See works by Amos Kennedy, Ken Botnick, Jim Sherraden of Hatch Show Print, Eric Woods of Firecracker and Brady Vest of Hammerpress.
  
  The event, a fund-raiser for the Edwardsville Art Center will take place September 5, 2009 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, at the EAC.
  
  More information here and here, where there is a link to purchase tickets.
  

the FIRECRACKER PRESS
314-776-7271

2838 Cherokee Street
Saint Louis, MO 63118

Free Improv Comedy Show Tonight!

If you haven't been to the Improv Trick Comedy Underground for the longform jam, then tonight is the night you need to go! You will be amazed as teams of improv actors create an entire play-let, from a single audience suggestion, right before your very eyes! And tonight, we have, Doug Foehner, acid head guitarist, opening the show.

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground is located at 2715 Cherokee, between Iowa and Ohio. The show starts at 8:00pm with LIVE music. Doors open at 7:30pm. Admission is FREE and you may B.Y.O.B.

Tuesday Nights at the Improv Trick feature a sampling of longforms, like:

• Dream (an audience member recounts their day, as our players portray that night's possible dream);
• Armando (a player provides comedy monologues based on an audience suggestion, and the other players create a montage of scenes, based on ideas generated from the monologues);
• Ugly Coyote: Harold (three different scenes revisited three times with palate-cleansing short-form games between).
  

So come on out for a riotous good time!

Art this Friday the 14th at Fort Gondo

From Maria Elena Marshall:

ELECTROSUGAR ELECTROSHOCK who were we talking about again?
Art Opening (mine)
Host: Maria Elena Marshall
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
Street: 3151 Cherokee Street
disposable moments - the mundane spectacle.

An installation by Maria Marshall.

Limited time only. Act now.

Self-awareness is what makes us human. Humans are decidedly in the world. We need to once again acknowledge what is around us. It does not end at acknowledgment, action is needed, but first we have to remind people that there is a world out there.

I want to be overwhelmed by something right in front of me; draw attention to the void.

Orchids, ribcages, hospital beds, and bus stops; all these fragments of what are around us ground us in the present. The disjointed, overwhelming here and now.

There is also the distinct possibility that this won’t come across in the slightest.

Drawings on the wall, a mattresses and wine — you know you want to come.

Tax-free weekend at City Art Supply +

From City Art Supply:

Thank you to everyone who stopped by during our sale last month. We sold a lot of merchandise and are working on re-stocking many items as well as purchasing new items.

This weekend in Missouri is the TAX FREE Holiday and City Art Supply is participating. So from August 7–9 all purchases will be TAX FREE.

Also, this month at City Art Supply our featured artist is Rebecca Comer. Saturday night, August 8, we’ll have a small opening for her from 6pm – 9pm with special musical guest .e

Please stop by for some tax-free supplies, a drink or two and some nice artwork.

Thank you.
City Art Supply
3215 Cherokee St
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-771-5375

Stirrup Pants Chapbooks in the media

Two neat write-ups on Stirrup Pants Chapbooks, the recently opened shop at 2122 Cherokee Street.

A Riverfront Times article, and one on St. Louis Magazine's art blog.

Check it!

Rebus @ Firecracker Press

A MUST in AUGUST... Get up and get out to the Firecracker Press on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 to experience: THIS IS HOW MESSED UP STACKS UP! - the August REBUS Event! The Firecracker Press is a unique graphic design and letterpress print studio specializing in advertising and promotional campaigns, event posters, and limited edition products for clients large and small. Designs are transfered onto printable woodblocks that are carved by hand, ink is mixed by hand and fed, one by one, into historic presses that are more 100 years old! The Firecracker Press is the only studio of its kind in Missouri.

The man behind the curtain is the one and only Eric Woods: founder, owner, principal designer and printmaker of the Firecracker Press. Eric’s past experience includes working in New York as a book jacket designer, as an editorial designer for a Missouri newspaper, and as an art director for a St. Louis-based advertising firm. He started The Firecracker Press with a longing to “get his hands dirty” and found the craft of letterpress printing to be a perfect marriage of art and design. His unique experiences with different aspects of the design and advertising worlds along with the perspective that comes from making what’s produced at The Firecracker Press guides everything the studio creates.

Eric will speak on some "imPRESSING" subjects to start the evening that will surely get the wheels turning! After the "PRESSentation", the curtain will rise to PRINTING PRESS DEMOS! Matty Kleinberg, shop manager, will also be present demonstrating how to give the best PUNCH — stand by for a knock out! Leading to Michelle LeBeau with PR/Accounts.

Snacks and drinks will be available — roll in early and stay late for libations and vibrations! Plenty of street parking is available!

So come out and join us for what is sure to be the sizzlin' HOT and fun event! 5:30 - 8:30pm

Free for Ad Club members | Non-members $10 at the door

Must be 21 years of age or older

More information here.

the FIRECRACKER PRESS
2838 Cherokee Street
Saint Louis, MO 63118
(314)776-7271

WHAT CHEER?! BRIGADE @ CAMP

From Lyndsey Scott on August 3:

Hey neighborhood! Ready for more play?

Yesterday the 3200 Nebraska block was such pretty public space ... big ups to Carrie for getting horse rides and hip hop on the same page with plentiful cheese curls for all!

This weekend offers another joyful opportunity to get down -- The Community Arts and Media Project will host an exceptionally funky 20+piece marching band from the east coast.

Early, family-friendly show starts at 6:00 p.m. followed up by very danceable Javelin. Your $5-$15 donation will support the bike shop's continuing evolution! (Neighborhood friends and those in need welcome to donate $1 and/or volunteer time -- barter welcome.)

www.stlcamp.org
FRIDAY AUG 7 @ 6pm
3026 Cherokee Street
WHAT CHEER!? BRIGADE

Big Free Comedy Tonight!

*WHAT? Long Form Improv Comedy & Jam!!*
*WHEN? **Tuesdays at 7:30pm!*
*WHERE? Improv Trick Comedy Underground! *
*WHY? It's Fun! It's Funny! It's FREE! *

** *AND This Tuesday August 4th ONLY!!*
By special arrangement: local psychotronic acoustic guitarist *Bill Boll* opens the show with his sometimes touching, sometimes humorous, *always dynamic* combination of originals and covers.

*Bill Chott's* Improv Trick Comedy Underground is located at 2715 Cherokee, between Iowa and Ohio. The show starts at 7:30pm LIVE music and doors open at 7:00pm. Admission is FREE and you may B.Y.O.B.

What the heck is longform? If you've never seen longform improv (and even if you have) you will be amazed as teams of improv actors create an entire play-let, from a single audience suggestion, right before your very eyes!

Tuesday Nights at the Improv Trick feature a sampling of longforms, like:

- *Dream* (an audience member recounts their day, as our players portray that night's possible dream);
- *Armando* (a player provides comedy monologues based on an audience suggestion, and the other players create a montage of scenes, based on ideas generated from the monologues);
- *Ugly Coyote: Harold *(three different scenes revisited three times with palate cleansing short-form games between). Ugly Coyote stars: Lindsey Barrow, David Imler, Mike Lara, Han Lim, George Malich, Theresa Masters, John Stumpf and Ric Syberg.

A typical (though there's nothing typical about it!) longform night also features several short form games, musical numbers, and opportunities for audience members to get up and "jam" too!

If you're a fan of longform ... come on out! Maybe even join the jam? If this sounds like some sort of freaky spectacle ... then come to the freak show and meet the freaks!

Please visit www.theimprovtrick.com for more information.

Original comedy August 6-8 at the Tin Ceiling Theater

Seen in NYC! Come see the St. Louis premiere!

"Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite", an original two-person comedy about a very "talented" middle school

• Thursday, August 6 at 8pm
• Friday, August 7 at 8pm
• Saturday, August 8 at 8pm
• with a special LATE-NIGHT SHOW Friday, August 7 at 10pm

Created and performed by Jo Firestone and Dylan Marron

"Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite" is a comedic tribute to middle school talent shows everywhere and the ugly and/or passion they try so hard to contain. An original play created and performed by two people who like themselves more now that they are no longer in middle school, "Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite" is a play for anyone who ever thought it couldn't get any better than a moon bounce.

The Tin Ceiling
3159 Cherokee Street
(at the corner of Cherokee and Compton)
St. Louis, MO 63118

Tickets are $10

For ticket reservations, email ridgefieldtheplay (at) gmail (dot) com

Meth, Hotdogs, Bigfoot and Sledge Hammers

From the gang at Cranky Yellow:

Hello Crankies!

Time for our annual, once in a while newsletter!

We've got some major happenings and goings-on you're gonna want to check out! Here be the list:

Friday, August 7th, from 7-11: Meth and Hotdogs in the main gallery and Claude in the installation room!

Meth and Hotdogs features 30-40 deranged artists and their mischievous creations! Cartoon dogs doin' naughty things, homicidal bunnies, and more! All this wrapped up in Missouri's no.1 Industry and no.1 pastime! Hotdogs (and veggie dogs) will be served! You'll have to hook the Meth from somewhere else though!

Claude! Claude is a big brown bundle of brumbly charm! This plushy creature has traveled the country, bringing joy to children, solving mysteries, and eating lots and lots of snowcones! Is he a bear? Is he a yeti? Is he my really hairy uncle? Find out for yourself and have your picture taken with him!

Bands, bands, bands! Here's Cranky Yellow's upcoming band schedule:

Sunday, August 2nd: Tiny Tornados, and Sleepy Kitty
Tuesday, August 18th: Tyler Bisson, Broken Records

Other stuff:
Remember everyone, the third Friday of every month is "bring your sledgehammer to Cranky Yellow Day"! Everyone who brings in a sledgehammer gets two free buttons from our button pile! Or perhaps something else lovely for free! (Void for anyone from New Hampshire). No, really. We're serious.

Also, we are still looking for artists! We have lots of space to fill and we love supporting and promoting the work of the coolest cats in Saint Louis (and beyond)! If you or anyone you know does some neat artwork, craftwork, videos, literature, music...ANYTHING...have them contact us or come by sometime!

In addition, we are looking for local bands to play in our underground venue! If you can rock "the house", so to speak, please give us a "brrr, de nrrr, nrrrrr" (guitar sounds) sometime soon!

Finally, Cranky Yellow needs volunteers! We are working on putting together a street team to help us spread the word! Contact us if you'd like to help out! Yay!

And as always we are located at: 2847 Cherokee Street, Saint Louis MO, 63118! Visit us!

Thanks,
-The Cranky Yellow Team of Awesome Losers

Cranky Yellow
Phone: 314-773-4499

40% (!!!) OFF Sale at City Art Supply

Whoa! This is quite a sale:

Did you see the latest news on consumer prices? STL Today article.

Prices shot up in June ... but not at City Art Supply. In fact, prices have shot DOWN and they're going to be even lower for the next 17 days. Starting today and ending on July 31 ALL items at City Art Supply will be an additional 40% OFF the already low price. This includes all paints, brushes, canvases, paper, ink, pens, printing supplies, cutting material, mediums, gesso, everything.

All in-stock items are 40% off July 15 - 31. Stop in today to take advantage of these low prices.

Please take note of our new store hours:
Tuesday - Saturday
12pm - 6pm

We're overhauling our website and it should be up and running soon. In the meantime you can become a fan on Facebook or a friend on MySpace. Next month we have a couple events booked, stay tuned for more info soon.

The wonderful Thomas Crone wrote a nice piece on City Art Supply that appeared in the Saint Louis Beacon. You can see the article here.

Thank you.
City Art Supply
3215 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-771-5375
TUE - SAT
12pm - 6pm
www.cityartsupply.org