Salutary Sculpture

 

The exhibition at Laumeier from February 12 through May 15, 2022 seems well placed in the timeline of our lives recently. It features a group of artists with unique trauma informed practices. The show is a cause for some deep reflection. I hope it leads fans of our sculpture park to a place where there is again a joyous return of the annual tradition of Mother’s Day and the celebratiaon that surrounds the art, nature and craft of the annual Laumier Sculpture Park Art Fair in May.

Curator Dana Turkavic and director Lauren Ross are listed as authors of the brochure that outlines the current exhibition. The small print list recognizing of generosity of groups and individuals is reminder enough that it takes the vision and support to shine a light on the work of art as it lives in the context of adversity and renaissance at the same time. Saint Louis County Parks, Regional Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council, Arts & Education Council, Covid-19 Relief Fund (National Endowment for the Arts), Wingate Foundation, U.S. Small Business Administration, Saint Louis Small Business Administration, Saint Louis County Small Business Relief Program. Whitaker Foundation, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Joan and Mitchell Markow, Two Sisters Foundation, Mary Ann and Andy Srenco.

SALUTARY (adjective) 1. Producting a beneficial effect: REMEDIAL salutary influences 2. Promoting health: CURATIVE

Salutary Sculpture features eight artists who use their practice to sooth, heal, and work through trauma. It is at the same time sad and joyous. Mostly, I think, it is inspirational and encouraging for all of us who embrace the redemptive nature of art. ARTISTS: James Sterling ceramic and wood sculptures were created after the artist suffered a  head injury; Lauren Youden performance/installation work is driven by diagnosing and treating chronic illness; Thomas J Condon lost his eyesight and refocused from painting to photography as he underwent years regaining his sight; Guadalupe Maravilla fled El Salvador to the U.S. at the age of eight and as a young man in his 30s overcame colon cancer; Basil Kincaid in is an African American who addresses “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome” with fabrics and quilts that for this exhibition includes another layer around our Manuel Neri figure; Marcus Lutyens pushes boundaries of traditional healing and art forms in work at a clinic in Germany for stroke victim rehab; Dario Roberto replicates the earliest (circa 1876-1896) wave form recordings of blood flow and presents his film The Aorta of an Anarchist (2021); Hope Ginsburg blends deep sea diving gear and techniques in meditation.  

Note to readers of our Daily Newspaper - The Saint Louis Post / Dispatch has a nice article about this show in Sunday's Newspaper 3/27/2022.

Need4Speed - AMA Conference 2022

 

Photo: Curtis Francois is interviewed by Bill Ellis as AMA chapter president Nick Niehaus (foreground) works with other AMA volunteers to produce a concurrent live/virtual marketing conference

Need4Speed - The American Marketing Association, Saint Louis Chapter once again delivered an incredible conference. This was our 61st annual conference dedicated to the study and practice of the marketing profession. We once again featured a range of relevant, compelling and inspirational speakers with a range of marketing stories from which we all can learn. The world is slowly recovering from the new normal environment created by the pandemic but our AMA chapter delivered meaningful content and a great show on Friday March 4, 2022. Need4Speed. our 61^st annual conference, was pretty remarkable. 

Mark Engel – Founder Fifth Taste Foods. Mark Engel is on a mission to make plant-based eating craveable for everyone.  With over 25 years of experience leading product development and innovation teams for a diverse group of Fortune 100 companies, Mark left the corporate world in 2019 as founder Fifth Taste Foods. In just 9 months from R&D to commercialization, Mark launched his first line of products, oo’mämē Chile Crisps. 

Elise L. Connors, Director of Marketing, Brown & Crouppen Law Firm. She embraced the Need4Speed in today’s marketing environment with an exception of careful slow and thoughtful planning. Her firm has seen great success with innovative programing such as B&CTV.  

Tessa Garcia-Collart, PhD Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business, University of Missouri-St Louis was an enthusiastic presenter on the subject of marketing with the an understanding and appreciation of how the world of Emoji communication fits into the marketing scheme of things.

Curtis Francois is the owner of World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR), located east of downtown St. Louis in Madison, Illinois. Curtis was conversational about the place marketing has in the mix of marketing, consumer experience and community involvement.

Michael Garlock Marketing Department Graduate Student at University of Missouri – Saint Louis graciously accepted this year’s Collegiate Excellence in the study and practice of marketing. Congratulations UMSL Marketing Club and UMSL College of Business.

The AMA, Saint Louis Chapter did a great job putting on a conference with expert guidance of speakers and events by our moderator and master of ceremonies Bill Ellis. Congratulations chapter president Nick Niehaus and the board of the Saint Louis Chapter of the American Marketing Association. Special Thanks to the University of Missouri - Saint Louis College of Business for hosting this year's production.