In tandem with its current exhibit, "Gordon Matta-Clark: Urban Alchemy," The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is presenting a series of interactive events, including a concert series and panels that engage with the themes Matta-Clark took up in his work: neighborhoods, food, community, social justice, ecology, and the role of art in all these things. There is, in fact, a panel this Thursday, with the theme "Redefining Neighborhoods," that will seek to "trace the historical evolution of [St. Louis] neighborhoods, while examining the social, economic, and political influences that help shape their revitalization and development." The panelists include 21st Ward alderman Antonio French; Wash. U. School of Architecture dean Bruce Lindsey; Joe Edwards (who needs no introduction!); Chris Krehmeyer, President/CEO, Beyond Housing, and Sean Thomas, the Executive Director of Old North St. Louis Restoration Group (who I know well - I live in that neighborhood, and I serve on the neighborhood board -- both experiences have been life-changing).
St. Louis is often called "a city of neighborhoods," and by extension, it's also a city of stories. The museum has set up a website (Your Saint Louis), where you can tell the story of your neighborhood by submitting photos to its Flickr group, or images and captions to a Google map; the Pulitzer will also be posting video interviews with various St. Louisans throughout the run of the exhibit. It's also a great warmup to the discussion scheduled for Thursday night. --Stefene Russell
THE DETAILS:
Redefining Neighborhoods
Thursday, February 25, at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm), Free
Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, 3716 Washington, 314-754-1850, www.pulitzerarts.org
