By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Healthy Planet Arts Editor
‘Tis the season—the ARTful season, that is!
Artwork: Handmade ornaments at Craft Alliance.
Check out these wonderful ways to add some art to your calendar. Remember that a piece of ART or tickets to ARTful events make perfect holiday gifts.
This season requires music:
The University City Commission on Arts and Letters honors U.City native and Grammy-nominee Christopher Thomas as University City’s 2024 Returning Artist reception, December 2. Meet this talented bassist at the University City High School Library Media Center, 7401 Balson Avenue. The 7 p.m. reception is free and open to the public but requires advance reservation. www.ucityschools.org/RA2024
From the Connie Han Trio, December 4-8, through New Year’s Eve with Victor Goines & Friends, December 31, Jazz St. Louis knows how to make this season smooth and cool, all at 3536 Washington. Check out the list of December performances at www.jazzstl.org
Do you know that Jazz St. Louis offers specially priced tickets just for students? Swing by the box office from 11a.m.–5p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays with your student ID to scoop up your ticket for only $10! www.jazzstl.org
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra features trumpet and trombone in Live at the Sheldon: Fanfares and Festivals, 7:30 p.m. on December 5 at the Sheldon, 3648 Washington.
Experience the sounds of A Baroque Christmas on Dec 6-7 when the Symphony performs at Washington University’s 560 Music Center. Works by Bach, Corelli, Teleman and Vivaldi are included in the 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances. The Mercy Holiday Celebration with SLSO begins December 17-18, at J.Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, 7:30 p.m. It continues December 21-22 at Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market. www.slso.org
It’s Christmas at the Cathedral with performances December 7 (10:30 a.m.) and December 8 (2:30 p.m.) by the St. Louis Archdiocesan Choir and Orchestra. Reserve tickets, but there’s not a bad seat in the Cathedral Basilica, 4431 Lindell, surrounded by the largest mosaic installation in the western hemisphere. www.cathdralconcerts.org
The Bach Society of St. Louis performs its Candlelight Christmas Concert (oh, wow!!) December 18-19 at 560 Music Center in University City at 7:30 p.m. So beautiful! www.bachsociety.org
The Rep and Stages St. Louis partner to rock the house with Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, December 4-22 at the Loretto-Hilton Theatre, 130 Edgar Road. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins (impersonators, that is!) meet in Sun Records studio to celebrate the season with music. www.repstl.org
COCA, 6880 Washington in University City, offers two family-friendly holiday performances: COCA’s Ballet Electica performs The Nutcracker, December 13-15 with various afternoon and evening times. The Allegro Choral Group sings holiday classics and pop favorites in Joyful, December 21, 7 p.m. www.cocastl.org
Try a laugh-out-loud hip-hop version of Dickens’ classic tale, Christmas Carol: The Remix, presented by St. Louis Shakespeare Festival at ZACK Theatre in Grand Center, through December 22. Recommended for ages 12 and up. www.stlshakes.org
Enjoy holiday shopping at Craft Alliance’s Gallery Shop, 5080 Delmar, expanded with even more unique ARTful items this month by local and national artists. Open daily (closed Sunday) through 6 p.m, with extended Friday hours until 8 p.m. through December 24. www.craftalliance.org/shop/
An Extravagant World: The Art of Robert Allen Nelson opens with a reception on December 2, 3-6 p.m. at Norton’s Fine Art & Framing, 2025 S. Big Bend. Noted for printmaking, drawing and surrealism, Nelson’s work achieved worldwide acclaim, included in such museum collections as MOMA in New York, Smithsonian’s American Art Gallery and the National Museum of Art. The artist died in December 2021. This exhibition and sale of work runs through January 15. www.nortonsfineart.com
The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) kicks off the holiday season with First Friday: Winter Wonderland, December 6, 5–9 p.m. This blissful celebration of ART, music and community spirit is part of First Fridays in Grand Center. www.camstl.org
Through February 16, see the largest exhibition of African art ever organized by the St. Louis Art Museum: Narrative Wisdom and African Arts. Experience free, family-friendly stories, dance and activities from around the globe during Winter Celebrations December 14-15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate Kwanzaa on December 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through African culture, music and art activities. www.slam.org
Third Degree Glass, 5200 Delmar, hosts Third Friday/Holiday Celebration 6-10 p.m. on December 20—music, food, art. Wear your ugly sweater for a fun competition; the “winner” gets a likeness blown in glass! Through January 3 enjoy the inaugural Holiday Window Walk in the Delmar Makers District, featuring displays at 10 businesses. www.thirddegreeglassfactory.com
However you celebrate this season, I wish you joy and peace.