Webster Arts will open its newest exhibit, Unsung, with a reception at the Summit Avenue gallery on Friday. The exhibit is composed of art submitted by both local and non-local artists united by the theme of shining a spotlight on personal heroes and those who might not normally receive recognition for their contributions to our community.
Webster Arts president Patrick Murphy says some folks don’t understand that heroes are all around us—that is what the exhibit represents.
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“The quiet people who stand up and show up and inspire and support other people are the real heroes, and this gives an opportunity for artists to take on that subject and even express their own experiences with an unsung hero,” Murphy says.
Unsung is a collection of nearly 30 pieces selected from roughly 100 submissions and juried by Humans of St. Louis co-founder Lindy Drew. The exhibit opens to the public on July 28, and Webster Arts will celebrate with a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided, and all pieces are available to purchase.
Each piece of art is accompanied by an artist statement to give the viewer a backstory on the work, including information about why each subject is an “unsung” hero.
“Anyone can come and enter and enjoy it and appreciate it, and I think that’s really important for artists—to have spaces to hang their work, people in the community to go see the work. Every piece of art has a story behind it,” says Drew.
She says it was apparent when people were submitting work with a personal connection, which was a significant factor in the work she chose for the exhibit.
“If I couldn’t make the connection, I didn’t think other people would either,” Drew says. “You could really tell when someone has the heart and the creativity to be able to submit something for this particular show.”
According to Webster Arts communications and marketing director Heather Sparkman, the opening reception will be a great experience for people to connect with the community, and Webster Arts is enthusiastic about fostering that connection through art.
“We chose [Unsung] as a nod to people that are not always the first people we think of when we think of the word ‘hero,’” says Sparkman. “We know, especially now, that there is so much in culture that is about Marvel heroes, the comic book heroes, the big, strong presence, and we wanted to offer a place where we could see the underdogs.”
Unsung runs July 28 through September 1 at Webster Arts (2 Summit).
