By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky,
Healthy Planet Arts Editor
Photo caption: Valley of Oaxaca after Jose Maria Velasco, by Justin Favel at CAM
Grand Center’s big start in the arts reopen September 8 with fall exhibitions:
Contemporary Art Museum, thanks to a National Endowment for the Arts grant, presents new works by Nevada-based artist Justin Favela. Favela uses familiar materials, finding inspiration in traditional Mexican or Latin American craft, especially cartonería (piñata-making). View Dominic Chambers: Birthplace, too. Both exhibitions run through February 11. Opening reception, 6-9 p.m,
Come celebrate at the 20 Years of CAM Block Party, 2-5 p.m. on September 23. What a great institution! www.camstl.org
The Pulitzer hosts Sarah Crowner: Around Orange showcasing three new site-specific works, and Urban Archeology: Lost Buildings of St. Louis. The latter displays architectural elements from the National Building Arts Center. Opening reception, 6-9 p.m. www.pulitzerarts.org
The Sheldon Galleries present Pattie Chalmers: Mudmaid Museum (imaginative exploration of folklore), Arturo Sandoval’s Creative Portal; Alison Ouellette-Kirby and Noah Kirby: You Can’t Run with the Hares & Hunt with the Hounds; Ryan Horvath: Birds of America, and Jason Ackman: In Undertow (site-specific installation). All on view through January 20; opening reception, 6-8 p.m. www.thesheldon.org
Mildred Lane Kemper Museum unveils a major exhibition by Adam Pendleton: To Divide By, September 22. There’s a Q&A with the artist at 6:30 in Steinberg Auditiorium. Borrowing from the Black Dada poet, Amiri Baraka, Pendleton described his own art as “a way to talk about the future while talking about the past; it is our present moment.” The exhibition continues into January. www.kemperartmuseum@wustl.edu
September offers perfect art-fair weather. Cedarhurst Art & Craft Fair in Mount Vernon, Illinois (just 1-1/2 hrs. east) hosts award-winning artists from around the country, on gorgeous museum grounds, September 8-10. www.cedarhurst.org
Closer to home, visit the St. Louis Art Fair, September 8-10, in Clayton. www.saintlouisartfair.com
Francis Park in St. Louis Hills hosts its annual Art in the Park, September 24. www.artintheparkstl.com
The Annual Old North House Tour returns September 16 with a new Arts Fair in Crown Square. The self-guided tour (maps provided) includes gardens, restored historic homes and even a shipping-container home. www.onsl.org
End-of-summer magic dazzles on September 15 at Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar. The Third Friday Open House begins at 6 p.m., with glassblowing demos at 6:30, cash bar, food and raffles all night. Live music by Acoustic Elements revs up the fun at 7:30. Hurry back on September 24 for the largest blown-glass Pumpkin Patch, noon-4 p.m. www.stlglass.com
The Luminary (on Cherokee) supports community through arts programming. Support The Luminary on September 16, at LOT 49, a contemporary art auction and fundraiser. There’s a new Art & Culinary experience on September 15, too. www.theluminaryarts.com
That’s Entertainment Trivia Night, September 23, 7-10 p.m. benefits The Cabaret Project of St. Louis. Fill a table with your besties and pool all your movie and St. Louis knowledge in a fun night at the Jewish Community Center, #2 Millstone Campus. www.thecabaretproject.org
Cathedral Concerts presents three free concerts: September 8, 7 p.m. at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Webster; September 10, 3 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in New Melle; September 7, 7 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in South County. Works by Mozart, Poulenc, and Brahms will be performed.
The 23-24 season for Cathedral Concerts in the Cathedral Basilica, 4431 Lindell, begins September 24 with a free, 2:30 p.m. concert: The Voices of St. Alphonsus. Experience the acclaimed choir of “The Rock” church and their powerful gospel and spiritual music. www.cathedralconcerts.org
Chamber Project StL performs a free 1-hour concert on September 13, 6:30 p.m. at St. Louis County Library Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Drive. Flute, violin, clarinet and cello will be featured. Reservations required https://slcl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=297215&df=list&backTo=List&startDate=2023/09/13&endDate=2023/09/14
A Taste of Chinese Folk Music and Dance, presented by the International Performing Arts Series of UMSL Global, comes to the Touhill on September 23, 8 p.m. www.ticket@umsl.edu
Experience the courage and independence of seven women during World War II in Wrens, a play by Anne V. McGravie, at Kranzberg Black Box Theatre in Grand Center, September 15-24. Prism Theatre Company promotes performance works by women and emerging artists. www.prismtheatrecompany.org
Green Door Gallery, 21 N. Gore, explores what lies ahead in On the Horizon, an exhibition of paintings by Maureen Brodsky, Timothy Hamilton, and Michelle Graf, monoprints by Kay M. Pick Zivkovich and jewelry by Rosemary Werkmeister. Through October 28, with a reception on September 22, 5-8 p.m. www.greendoorartgallery.com
Art St.Louis opens Creatures III, a juried zoo of “animals, critters, creatures and beasts” by regional artists, with a reception on September 23, 5-7 p.m., 1223 Pine. The exhibit remains through October 19. www.artstlouis.org
The International Photography Hall of Fame invites anyone to submit to the annual Open Photo Competition through September 10. (You know that photo you snapped is great, right?) Winners receive cash prizes and exhibition opportunities. www.iphf.org