Photo caption: Reach for the Stars, quilt by Lois Hayes, at U. City Public Library
By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky,
Healthy Planet Arts Editor
Autumn is just a delightful time of year, with its crisp temperatures, nature’s own art show of color, and plenty of ARTful events to enjoy. Gotta love it!
Missouri Botanical Garden hosts its great Best of Missouri Market on October 6-8. Artists, food producers, wineries, musicians, and much more present their very best in an awesome autumn celebration. Ya’ gotta go there! www.mobot.org
Just outside the Garden’s gates, the Historic Shaw Art Fair runs October 7-8. Artists from around the country offer their work during this annual outdoor festival. www.shawstlouis.org
Twenty-two artists from Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois exhibit their works on the thought-provoking theme Peace: Who Is God? At Gretchen Brigham Gallery, Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 N. Union Blvd. The exhibition runs October 5 – November 25, with opening reception 1-5 p.m. on October 7.
October 20th is Third Friday at Third Degree Glass, 5200 Delmar, celebrating their 21st anniversary. The party goes 6-10 p.m. with glassblowing demos, cash bar (with Alpha Brewing Company’s special Oktoberfest brew: Toasted, Not Roasted), fire performances, live music, and fun! www.stlglass.com
Norton’s Fine Art & Framing, 2025 S. Big Bend, welcomes Gateway Pastel Artist with Luminance of Pastel Painting, the 25th Annual Members Competition. The show runs October 28-November 25. www.nortonsfineart.com
Through October 28, check out the diverse exhibitions at Bruno David Gallery, 7513 Forsyth: Lisa K. Blatt: Corruption; Seulki Seo: I Have a Dream, Damon Freed: Obstacle and Void; Lisa Bulawsky: there are millions of suns left; Arny Nadler: Window on Forsyth. www.brunodavidgallery.com
University City Public Library welcomes Circle in the Square Quilters for a colorful and complex show, Quintessential Quilt 2023, Oct. 1-28. Opening reception on October 6 begins at 6 p.m. www.ucitylibrary.org
A different type of “stitching,” St. Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective serves to document St. Louis through art and word to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Tours of The Center (its studio space for creative youth) at 3701 Grandel Square on October 17. Check out the good work they do! www.storystitchers.org
The Black Opry Revue takes the stage at 8 p.m. on October 6 for the first of The Sheldon’s Folk Series. On October 10, it’s Elsie Parker & the Poor People of Paris (one of my favs!). The Dias de los Muertos Family Event takes place on October 28. And there’s even more happening this month at 3648 Washington! www.thesheldon.org
Intercultural Music Initiative brings Amanda Collins to the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, 45 W. Lockwood, on October 8, 3 p.m. The concert, featuring works by diverse composers, is a reprisal of the Horn Suite. www.imusici.org
The Cathedral Basilica, 4431 Lindell, hosts Voce8 on October 20 at 8 p.m. This renowned British a cappella group features superb male and female voices. www.cathedralconcerts.org
While Powell Hall undergoes some renovations, the St. Louis Symphony performs at the Touhill (on UMSL’s campus). Featured on October 20 (10:30 a.m.) and October 21 (7 p.m.) is Beethoven’s Piano Cycle: Ingrid Fliter Plays the Third.
From John Williams’ Flying (theme from E.T.) to Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee, SLSO’s Family Concert: A Zoo Called Earth on October 22, 3 p.m. is sure to delight all ages. www.slso.org
The Bach Society of St. Louis perform Howard Goodall’s powerful Eternal Light: A Requiem at 3 p..m. on October 22 at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. www.bachsociety.org
A moving dance performance that’s actually InTransit? Exactly! Karlovsky & Company dancers present site-specific performances, with live music, at four different locations in Grand Center at 5:30 p.m. on October 6. The full ensemble then convenes at the Grand Center Arts Plaza at 6 p.m. www.karlovskydance.org
Secrets, deceptions and denials abound in the U.S. premiere of Bitter Fruit by Argentinian-playwright Hector Levy-Daniel. Presented by Upstream Theater, performances run Oct. 13-15, 19-22, 26-29 at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive. www.upstreamtheater.org
October can’t go by without mentioning something spooky, and this one is fun: National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, offers Trick or Track on October 21. By day (11 a.m.-3 p.m.), “little ones” are invited to arrive in costume for treats of all kinds. By night (door open at 5:30 p.m.), “bigger ones” can experience a spooky train ride in the dark. Reserve tickets at www.tnmot.org