By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky,
Healthy Planet Arts Editor
Photo Caption: Caption: 23rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase at the Hi-Point.
The 23rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase settles comfortably into Cinema St. Louis’ new home (the Hi-Pointe Theatre) July 21-23 and 28-30 with screenings, filmmaking master classes and a closing night awards party. Built at the intersection of McCausland and Clayton in 1922, the spacious Hi-Pointe was acquired by Cinema St. Louis in January 2023. Find ticket, pass info, and list of films at www.cinemastlouis.org
Webster Arts brings back summer fun with its Gazebo Artists Market in Gazebo Park at 8181 Big Bend. Check out the local artists and musicians July 15, August 19 and September 16, 3 -7 p.m. www.webster-arts.org
Get ready to blast off for an intergalactic joyride at the Touhill with The One-Hour Star Wars Trilogy, 8 p.m. July 13-15 and 20-22, with a 2 p.m. matinee on July 16. Presented by Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre, this fun parody brings the force (of laughter!) to Star Wars fans of all ages. www.touhill.universitytickets.com
WerQFest returns to St. Louis on July 8, in Grand Center’s Big Top tent. This arts and cultural event celebrates LGBTQ+ talent, beginning at 5:30 p.m. www.werqfest.com
Jazz St. Louis swings open its Bistro doors for Summer Spotlight StL Series, now through August 12. Thanks to the generosity of the Steward Family Foundation and World Wide Technology, these live, cool-but-hot performances are free but reservations are required. www.jazzstl.org/summer
Hop in the car and head to historic Ste. Genevieve, Missouri to meet some of the nation’s most noted traditional artists, July 15-16. The free reception and exhibition showcases the special works by these artists, chosen by museum curators for Early American Life’s 2023 Directory of Traditional Crafts, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., hosted at ASL Pewter on 3rd Street. www.aslpewter.com
Through July 13, Art St. Louis presents Honor Awards 2023, at 1223 Pine Street. This exhibition spotlights 48 works by artists who won Awards of Excellence in 2021 juried exhibits at the gallery. Raise Your Voice: Art of Protest & Empowerment runs July 1-September1. This juried exhibition of 2-D art examines what it means to be empowered. www.artstlouis.org
Green Door Gallery, 21 N. Gore, celebrates its 10-yr anniversary and Secret St. Louis exhibition with an opening reception on July 15, 5-8 p.m. The show runs through August 26.
Golf the Galleries is back at The Sheldon, 3648 Washington, through August 6. The entire family will delight in this indoor mini-golf course creatively designed by area artists. www.thesheldon.org
This month, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum hosts multiple exhibitions in its galleries on Washington University’s campus: (through July 24) The Air That Inhabits/ MFA Thesis Exhibition; Killing the Buddha: Reconstructing Zen; (through August 6) African Modernism in America. Additionally, five different exhibitions are provided online to view whenever you wish. www.kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu/exhibitions
Crossroads Arts Council, 310 W. Pearce in Wentzville, celebrates Red, White & Blue artwork, July 1-27. The exhibition includes all mediums. www.crossroadsartscouncil.org
The National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, presents the second 1-hour lecture in its free Speaker Series on July 13. John Drake Robinson discusses A Road Trip into America’s Hidden Heart at 9 a.m. No need to pack a suitcase, but reservations are required. www.tnmot.org
Was it Colonel Mustard with a candlestick in the dining room? Everyone’s favorite murder-mystery game comes to life July 21-August 20 when Clue! is presented by Stages St. Louis at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. It’s not just a game anymore… www.stagesstl.org
It’s not summer in St. Louis unless you “meet me at The Muny in Forest Park.” July sparkles with a great lineup of shows: Chess (July 5-11), West Side Story (July 15-21), and Little Shop of Horrors (July 25-31). www.muny.org
The Luminary’s Summer Exhibition, in collaboration with Counterpublic 2023 and Black Quantum Futurism, Community Futures: Space-Time Liberation Lab, continues through July 15 at 2701 Cherokee. www.theluminaryarts.com