January–March 2024 Art Exhibit Brochure

690 CHESTERFIELD PKWY W | CHESTERFIELD, MO 63017 | 636.537.4000 | CHESTERFIELD.MO.US

If you would like to exhibit in upcoming Art events and shows, please contact:

ALEAH VOSE SENIOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SPECIALIST 314.915.0656 AVOSE@CHESTERFIELD.MO.US © City of Chesterfield, 2024

JANUARY – MARCH MONDAY – FRIDAY | 8:30 A.M.-5 P.M.

SUE ALEXANDER With a degree in Piano Pedagogy, Sue Alexander had dedicated over 35 years to teaching music. Yet, there was an artistic calling within her that yearned to be explored. An unplanned discovery of a restaurant painting class in 2013 was the spark. Even though the class wasn’t really enlightening, it awakened her dormant love for painting.

WELCOME TO THE ART EXHIBIT AT CITY HALL! The Art Exhibit at Chesterfield City Hall brings access and education to art within our community and features two-dimensional artwork, including mixed media, paintings and sculptures from established regional artists. Inside this guide, you will find artist bios and a brief synopsis of the art on display.

City Hall will feature several Art Exhibits throughout the year, showcasing different artists and a variety of art styles. This Art Exhibit will be open Monday through Friday, January through March, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.

Information about the artists will be available on each piece of artwork, in this guide and at the informational display in the lobby. All details about upcoming Art Exhibits and events are available on the City’s website at https://www.chesterfield.mo.us/art-exhibit-at-city-hall.html for more information.

Chesterfield Parks, Recreation & Arts would like to thank all of our exhibitors, residents, businesses and our staff for their support in our Art program. Please enjoy the Art Exhibit at City Hall!

Sincerely,

TW Dieckmann Director of Chesterfield Parks, Recreation & Arts

The gorgeous land and seascapes of the east coast, where she lived for 17 years, were her initial muses. Her two decades as a floral designer also influenced her canvases with flowers frequently the subjects. Two friends nudged her towards pet portraits, which quickly became a crowd favorite. During Covid lockdown, when her imagination yearned for fresh inspiration, YouTube became Sue’s guide. That’s where she stumbled upon Fluid Art. This technique soon enchanted her, leading her to diverse creations like jewelry, jewelry boxes, trivets and coasters. Her ventures even caught the eye of a Montrealbased company and now they have collaborated to imprint her art on clothing and home goods.

As she states, “my conventional paintings are not just strokes on a canvas; they’re portals. They transport me to the places and moments I paint and I ardently hope they have that effect on those who gaze upon them.” The transformative power of art, the liberation it grants, and the unbridled creativity it unleashes is why she paints! Now, a life without art seems unimaginable. It’s not just a hobby; it’s her hearts’ calling.

SUE ALEXANDER’S WORK Title: Dragon Dimensions: 10” x 20” Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Price: $185 Title: Purple Pansy Dimensions: 10” x 20” Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Price: $300

Title: Montana Stream Dimensions: 16” x 20” Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Price: $400

REBEKAH CHAUVIN With a Neo-Impressionistic style, I view my work as active participation in cocreation. Man-made architecture and natural landscapes are brought to life through a colorful multi-layered deconstruction process, showing the viewer that the complexities of life are easier to understand when brought back to their basic forms. I believe that the world is too full of NOISE, and I hope to mellow down this noise with paintings that are visually appealing and subtly impactful. My hope is that the viewer can sit back, breathe, and just take in the beauty around them, whether that be a painting, nature, or those around them.

REBEKAH CHAUVIN’S WORK Title: Caribbean Dreamin’ Dimensions: 12” x 36” Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Price: $1,140

Title: Indiana Dunes Dimensions: 24” x 30” Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Price: $1,620 Title: Rocky Mountains Emerald Lake Dimensions: 24” x 36” Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Price: $1,800

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CHRISTINE GRUENWALD Christine Gruenwald is a black-and-white fine art photographer who lives and works in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her BFA from Northwest Missouri State University and has more than 10 years of experience with commercial photography, but prefers the slower pace and authenticity of nature photography.

She has always looked at the world from a creative perspective, seeking the quiet moments in everyday life. Exploring nature is her inspiration and she loves to get lost in the details of anything she is shooting. Every piece invites the viewer on a journey to explore texture, contrast, space and composition.

ARTIST STATEMENT: This collection of photos is part of my In the Garden series. In the Garden focuses on the simplicity and beauty of local flowers and vegetation grown in my garden and surrounding areas near my studio.

Even though this series was shot in digital, I used my experience from the commercial photography world to get it right the first time, on camera, with little to no editing. This is a nod to the authenticity pursued by a group of early 20th-century photographers from the San Francisco Bay Area with their aesthetic of high contrast images of natural forms. The most famous of these photographers was Ansel Adams.

CHRISTINE GRUENWALD’S WORK

Title: Toadflax Dimensions: 10” x 13” Medium: Digital Photography, Pigment on Paper Price: $55

Title: Summer Marigold Dimensions: 8” x 10” Medium: Digital Photography, Pigment on Paper Price: $40

The act of gardening improves focus, builds self-esteem, connects one with nature and provides an opportunity to relax and be present. Gardening has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It has been especially important to me during times of high stress and anxiety.

Title: Basil Leaves Dimensions: 10” x 13” Medium: Digital Photography, Pigment on Paper Price: $55