Bunker Mentality: 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.