This weekend, a complimentary pair of events gives two perspectives on art. The Saint Louis Art Fair in Clayton brings a selection of juried artists from all over the world. Just down the road in Maplewood, Art Outside at the Schlafly Bottleworks showcases artists from within 125 miles of the city. With both running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can see the world and shore up your hometown pride.
There’s plenty new to see at the 22nd annual Cultural Festivals-produced Saint Louis Arts Fair. “One of our stages is dedicated to all jazz,” says Cindy Lerick, president and executive director of Cultural Festivals. “It’s kind of funny because that’s how it used to be like 20 years ago.”
The show features 150 artists, coming from as far afield as Canada, Argentina, the Czech Republic, and Israel. As is typical, about a third are first-timers at the fair, with a third coming right back after last year and a third having exhibited in years past. “There were 1,400 applicants,” Lerick says. “It’s a juried art fair.”
The work ranges from whimsical to graceful, she says. “Everything makes you think and get out of your comfort zone.”
Aloft Aerial Circus performs in three locations, with the eye-catching cyr wheel, aerial rope, and silks. At the Creative Castle, kids can make art that’s perhaps a step above their at-home crayon masterpieces. On Saturday and Sunday morning, arrive early for a 9 a.m. yoga class.
And for the selfie-conscious, a new app lets you turn your snaps into prizes. GoldCamera lets you geotag your shots and, if you upload all of the six locations on a scavenger hunt to social media, you’ll be entered to win either a print or a ceramic piece.
Obviously, all of this will work up an appetite. “We don’t have festival food; we have restaurant food,” Lerick says. Think sushi and caprese salad, not funnel cake and cheese curds a la the state fair.
The festival T-shirt, too, transcends its humble role. “It’s gorgeous, printed completely all around in the material,” Lerick says. “It’s a V-neck, Sarah Giannobile print. She’s a local artist who just got featured in Crate & Barrel. It doesn’t look like a festival shirt; it looks like a shirt you buy in a boutique.”
Besides killer art from your neighbors and a chance to rock out to bands who also hew to the 125-mile radius rule, Art Outside at Schlafly offers the chance to sample a rare brew. “This year, we made a special series 750-milliliter bottle,” says Susan Haberer, Schlafly’s event coordinator. The brew, King Kaya Blond Ale, features rad label art by local artist Ryan Frank. For a while, it was available at the breweries and in retail outlets. “It did really well—we’re kinda out,” Haberer says. If you’d like to try it, check out the top-secret King Kaya installation. Inside, the final reserves of the elusive King Kaya Blond Ale will be available for sampling.
For more information, check out culturalfestivals.com and schalfly.com/events/calendar/2015/09/11/art-outside/.
