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8 WILL JAMES, 33 Keeping the beat
9 DAVID ROCCO, 30
Prolonging the origins of photography After receiving his MFA in studio art (with an emphasis on photography) from Fontbonne last year, Rocco co-founded Film Base, a darkroom intent on preserving the gelatin silver process that was widespread in
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photography during the 1890s. The uncanny beauty in his photographs is a relentless magnet for the viewer, who is confronted with depictions of everyday, contemporary life through a medium that they associate with times past. Rocco has placed at The Sheldon’s “The City at 250: A Celebration of St. Louis in Photographs” exhibition and collaborated on a video installation at 2014’s Craft Alliance Artists-in-Residence show. His work has also shown at Rochester Art House in LA and Black Box Gallery in Portland, Oregon. Recently, he had a film in the Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, and he serves as a visiting assistant professor at Webster University’s film school. Shown: Michelle with Scarf.
10 NOAH MACMILLIAN, 26 Illustrating at home and beyond
You never know where he’s going to turn up next: on Chipotle’s “Cultivating Thought” cup series, in the pages of ALIVE, on work for the National Humane Society. He’s the mastermind behind the branding for Cherokee Street’s Cinco de Mayo celebration and was also tasked with creating the largest mural in down-
town Chicago (2,500 square feet). Recently, his LA Galaxy v. FC Barcelona match poster for the California league has been selling quickly to sports fans with fantastic taste in art. “As a lifelong soccer super-fan, it’s really exciting to get to make work for some of the best in the world,” he says. Shown: “Messi,” Howler Magazine.
11 ROBERT ZUNGU, 37
Making minimalism so much more Zungu’s latest series, “Measured Painting,” recently shown at Philip Slein Gallery, referenced a phrase from 20th-century painter Hassel Smith, who was “describing the inherent mathematical logic that underscores geometric abstraction,” says Zungu. At the heart of his work is a minimalism featuring neutral color palettes and Smith’s geometry, but also tends to eschew traditional materials for esoteric ones: silk worm cocoons or antique kimono stencils. His work was auctioned at CAM’s Art:314 gala last year and can be found in local and national collections—he also exhibits frequently in NYC. This month, you can find Zungu exhibiting alongside Jessica Baran at Fort Gondo/Beverly in “Windfall.” Shown: “Path.”
All photos courtesy of the artists.
The very foundation of music is rhythm, making a top-notch percussion section critical to any strong ensemble. Enter James, who at 25 became principal percussionist of the St. Louis Symphony— and since then, his influence locally and nationally has only continued to rise. He stuns concert audiences at Powell Hall and around town at events like the Sheldon Classics Concert Series and Pulitzer Foundation Chamber Music Series. Back at the symphony, James coaches members of the SLSO’s Youth Orchestra—and took home a Grammy this year when the symphony won for best orchesteral performance. He’s also a leader in the national percussion community: Besides performing with top national ensembles like the Boston, Chicago and San Diego symphony orchestras, he’s written a critically acclaimed book dissecting the concert snare drum roll, is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, writes for trade publications and is sought after to teach master classes at universities nationwide. Portrait by Tuan Lee.