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.