Two Exhibitions Open At Vaughn Cultural Center
April 6th, 2015 - Maryland Heights, MO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Freida L. Wheaton,
Director and Curator
Vaughn Cultural Center
314.494.4660
FreiWhea@aol.com
Two Exhibitions Open at Vaughn Cultural Center
“Faces Not Forgotten” and “Vernon Smith RETRO”
The Vaughn Cultural Center opens this month with two concurrent exhibits, “Faces Not Forgotten” and “Vernon Smith RETRO: Presenting the Culture.” While divergent in many respects the exhibits offer the public an opportunity to explore transitions affecting St. Louis in subtle, yet impactful, ways.
“Faces Not Forgotten” is presented by the Faces Project, in collaboration with the Crime Victim Advocacy Center of St. Louis. The Faces exhibit is on view April 7 - May 8. The opening reception and program will be Thursday, April 16 from 5-7pm. Families of the child victims as well as the public are invited to attend the special program and reception during which each child’s name will be read aloud.
The Faces Project is the brainchild of artist Christine Ilewski, who also curated the exhibit. With the family’s permission, through the Crime Victim Advocacy Center, numerous artists paint portraits of children age 20 and under who died as the result of gun violence. The portrait of each child’s face is then transferred onto a vintage handkerchief and mounted on black canvas. Families receive the original portraits as a memorial gift; the canvasses are placed in exhibition. The Vaughn exhibit includes 45 Faces canvasses, 20 of which were painted by Ilewski. More than 20 other artists participated. Please visit the Faces website at www.facesnotforgotten.com.
“Vernon Smith RETRO: Presenting the Culture,” was curated by Freida L. Wheaton, director and curator of the Vaughn Cultural Center. RETRO is a survey of artist Vernon Smith’s work created in the late 1980s. A gallery talk by Smith and a reception will be held Tuesday, April 21 from 5-8pm.
For most of Smith’s career portraiture was his forte. He was commissioned by Acme Arts and Social Club to paint the portrait of Mrs. A.N. Vaughn that hangs in the Vaughn Culture Center. His portraits have also garnered Smith significant awards. Smith, who has been creating art for more than 50 years, brings a clear cultural connection to his work. Themes that resonate from African roots are music, adornments, community, and festivals. Presenting in charcoal, oil, and wood, Smith draws upon his extensive socio-cultural historical knowledge of the diaspora in creating his art, incorporating his heritage. Educated at the Washington University School of Fine Art in the1960s, Smith also taught in the art department at Meramec Community College in 1973.
“Faces Not Forgotten” and “Vernon Smith RETRO: Presenting the Culture” are presented with the support of the Regional Arts Commission.
Vaughn Cultural Center, founded in 1978, is the arts and culture program of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. The Vaughn is located in Grand Center at 3701 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63108 in the Urban League Building. Open hours are from 10am until 5pm. Exhibits and opening events are open to the public.