Courtesy Kranzberg Arts Foundation
The Kranzberg Arts Foundation's footprint continues to expand in Grand Center. The latest addition: a multi-purpose development at 3333 Washington Avenue—simply known as the 3333 building. The complex opened softly earlier this month; the official opening is October 1.
“We’ll be celebrating that weekedd by kicking off our first Friday Art Walk in the Grand Center Arts District and our first public opening of our new exhibit, ‘FLY O’ER,’” said Chris Hansen, executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “We’ll be featuring our resident DJs all week long. We’ve got a whole weekend of visual arts, the best DJs in our market, storytelling, an amazing cocktail program and great stuff ready to receive folks all weekend long.”
The two-story, 36,000-square-foot building will encompass both commercial and creative-use spaces, including the recently relocated Sophie’s Artist Lounge, Saint Louis Fashion Fund, and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's offices. Other occupants include Open Studio, Mike Martin Media, Convene Event Space, Mark Buckheit Framing, and Paige Avenue Photography, as well as an art studio and scene shop for building sets.
“This is a building that helps keep the momentum of our district going by providing new community benefits, attracting jobs and small businesses, bringing together creative industries and the arts industry to show that we’re not only a force in development, but also a place where people can come and celebrate public art and enjoy the best that our market has to offer,” Hansen said.
Courtesy Kranzberg Arts Foundation
The aptly named "Rainbow Bar" boasts a light feature that changes colors.
Sophie’s Artist Lounge, which relocated from its original location on the second floor of the .ZACK building, will continue to offer a creative cocktail-focused menu with sommelier-curated wine, a bubbles list, and locally focused beverages, as well as gourmet bar snacks. Groups of four and more can reserve lounge sections and share a spread of dips, boards, and party platters, alongside bottle and carafe cocktail service. The lounge will be open 5 p.m.–1:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Sophie’s gallery will also rotate exhibits, guided and curated by Gina Grafos and Mary Ann Srenco. The inaugural exhibit, FLY O’ER, aims to amplify “regional St. Louis artists who continue to lift and redefine visual art in expansive ways, ultimately shifting and challenging the thought that St. Louis is just another 'fly-over' city.”
“St. Louis hasn’t seen a lounge like this yet,” Hansen said. “It’s a high fidelity audio-visual experience for our great storytellers to really give people a real listening experience. We've elevated street art and mural artists onto this beautiful gallery that connects not only into Sophie's Lounge but into our common area corridors throughout the building. So, for artists, it's another platform to elevate their careers and connect with their audiences.”
Courtesy Kranzberg Arts Foundation
Since its foundation in 2006, the Kranzberg Arts Foundation has been committed to providing local and emerging artists, as well as community arts organizations, the space, tools, and opportunities to showcase their artwork in the greater St. Louis area. The foundation aims to develop artistic venues, workspaces, residencies, and community-based programming.
Courtesy Kranzberg Arts Foundation
"We are thrilled to add 3333 to the growing family of Kranzberg Arts Foundation spaces as we continue to invest in St. Louis' arts economy," says Kranzberg Arts Foundation executive director Chris Hansen. “The arts and artists are a critical part of our region’s overall economic success and, with the right venues and tools, will continue to grow. Now, more than ever, the arts are alive in St. Louis.”
