Arts Interview With Nancy Kranzberg

Chris Hansen, Executive Director of the KRANZBERG ARTS FOUNDATION stopped by to speak with Nancy about the happenings at the foundation, including the Music at the Intersection Festival, happening on September 14-15th in the Grand Center Arts District and other associated events. 

Kelly Plunkett, Museum Curator for Jefferson Barracks, The General Daniel Bissell House, and Fort Bellefontaine... stopped by to talk with  Nancy about the various aspects of the County Parks Department.

Dana Turkovic, Curator of the Laumeier Sculpture Park, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the sculpture park, and her career.   Founded in 1976, Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the country. In 1968, Mrs. Matilda Laumeier bequeathed the first 72 acres of the future Laumeier Sculpture Park to St. Louis County in memory of her husband, Henry Laumeier. In 1976, local artist Ernest Trova gifted 40 artworks, with an estimated market value of approximately one million dollars, to St. Louis County for the formation of a sculpture park and gallery. Laumeier Sculpture Park opened as part of the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation system on July 7, 1976. One year later, Laumeier Sculpture Park was officially incorporated. Today, Laumeier is an internationally recognized, nonprofit arts organization that is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and operates in partnership with St. Louis County Parks. Projects and programs are supported by the Mark Twain Lau

Matthew Kearns: President and Artistic Director of St. Lou Fringe, stopped by to talk with Nancy about this year's festival. ---  About the festival: "It all started in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland, as an alternative festival that played concurrently with the Edinburgh International Festival. In 1948, Robert Kemp, a local journalist, gave it the name Fringe: “Round the fringe of official Festival drama, there seems to be more private enterprise than before…” ---- Since then, it has grown into an international phenomenon with more than a hundred Fringe Festivals worldwide. ----  This year's festival runs August 12th through August 18th. ----          

Born in Syria to a Christian family in 1966, Nabil Mousa emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 12. After a career in business, in the 2000s he turned to the visual arts, particularly painting. This decision coincided with two important events, one public and one personal: first, the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. were a seminal moment in U.S. and global history. The fall of the twin towers ushered in an era of stigmatization and suspicion of people of Arab backgrounds, particularly in Western countries, as well as an on-going period of religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Second, when he decided to no longer live as a closeted gay man, Mousa came out to his family—resulting in his family rejecting him. Much of Mousa’s work reflects directly or indirectly on these personally significant events and have been springboards for his ongoing commitment to arts activism in the name of social justice. Paralleling these efforts, he has draw

About Carrie: Carrie Houk has spent her professional life as an actor, casting director, producer and teaching artist. Educated at HB Studio in NYC and the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, she began her acting career at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and from there worked in NYC, LA and Chicago. The Tennessee Williams Festival of St. Louis has a mission  to enrich the cultural life of St. Louis by producing an annual theater festival and other artistic and educational events that celebrate the art and influence of Tennessee Williams. The 2024 festival runs August 8th-18th.    

Andrew Jorgensen, General Director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, stopped by to talk about the happenings at the organization. Topics include the summer season and education programs. About Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: Opera Theatre’s mission is to shape a vibrant future for opera by connecting, inspiring, and entertaining our communities through the power and beauty of the art form; to foster the next generation by empowering a diverse group of artists, artisans, and administrators at the highest level; and to make opera accessible and inclusive through innovative and collaborative storytelling that reflects, engages, and strengthens the St. Louis community, and attracts national and international audiences.

Chris Hansen, Executive Director for The Kranzberg Arts Foundation, stopped by to talk about the happenings at KAF, including the Music at the Intersection, coming up in September. For more information on MATI, click here... https://www.musicattheintersection.org/  

Angie Villa, Museum Manager at 21 C Museum Hotel St. Louis, stopped by to speak with Nancy about this new hotel and new concept for hotels. 21c Museum Hotels reimagines a historic St. Louis fixture: the 10-story, Renaissance Revival-style YMCA building. Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, and a short walk from the City Museum and CITYPARK stadium, 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis includes a 173-room boutique hotel, contemporary art museum, Idol Wolf restaurant, Good Press café, and Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club, a full-service wellness center. With more than 14,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting & event space seamlessly integrated into all areas of the property, there are opportunities to discover contemporary art around every corner.

Gerald Brooks, Chairman of the Board for The African Heritage Association, stopped by to speak with Nancy to talk about the St. Louis African Arts Festival. The first St. Louis African Arts Festival was held in 1991 as an outgrowth of the 34th Annual African Studies Conference hosted by Washington University.  A year prior to the conference, a group of academic, business, and community leaders came together to explore ways in which a forum could be established that would bring the  diverse community of St. Louis together for the purpose of learning and celebrating the rich and diverse cultures of African and African American  people. The mission of the festival is to increase the awareness of the global contributions of African people and people of African descent have made through art, cultural, and educational programs. The St. Louis African Arts Festival is held in beautiful Forest Park. Each year the festival attracts a diverse audience of thousands of local residents and out-of-town visitors during the M

Dana Turkovic, Curator at Laumeier Sculpture Park, stopped by to talk about the happenings at the park, including Hugh Hayden: American Vernacular through May 12th. ----- American Vernacular, Hugh Hayden’s first Midwest solo presentation explores a decade of his work in a variety of mediums including newly commissioned works. The exhibition will be on view through May 12, 2024, in the Aronson Fine Arts Center’s Whitaker Foundation Gallery and in the Outdoor Galleries, near The Way Field. This exhibition was organized by deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in consultation with Laumeier and will debut at Laumeier before its presentation at any other U.S. venue. Hayden’s vision draws from his personal memory and experience as an American and African American, born and raised in Texas. Growing up Black and gay in the South, and later training and working for a decade as an architect before becoming an artist, Hayden’s work merges organic materials with built space, and draws on folk and fine art vocabularies to c

Model Maker Artist Tom Casey stopped by to talk with Nancy about his life and career. Tom is an artist who has been making artistic models all his life, but chose a life at sea. After retiring after 40 years as a sailor, he began to concentrate on his art, making about 70% of his life's artistic work. He has an opening of his work at the French Curve, on May 3rd.    

Brian's work is inspired by and questions American society's live-to-work mentality. He is concerned with the cultural and environmental effects of this obsession, as well as the physical and mental health ramifications. In 1931 distinguished economist John Maynard Keynes published a short essay, Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren, where, among other ideas, he states that by 2030 the standard of living would be dramatically higher; people, liberated from want (and without the desire to consume for the sake of consumption), would work no more than fifteen hours a week, devoting the rest of their time to leisure and culture. His work envisions a world where his prediction has come true.

In 2015, the Saint Louis Visionary Awards were relaunched by an independent committee of women to celebrate the numerous contributions and achievements of women who work in or support the arts in St. Louis. From established working arts professionals and arts educators to emerging artists and community impact artists, each year's honorees are truly "visionary". This years award ceremony happens Monday, April 29, 2024 6:00 - 8:00 PM at The Sun Theater, 3625 Grandel Square St. Louis, MO 63108.  

Bryan Knicely, Executive Director of Craft Alliance, stopped by to talk with Nancy about the offerings of the organization. Craft Alliance offers classes in ceramics, wood, metals, blacksmithing, glass, fibers, print, and paper arts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, They have something for everyone!  

Moraa, is a passionate artist specializing in fashion and textiles, drawing inspiration from her rich cultural traditions. With seven years of experience in the Kenyan fashion industry and an MFA in Fibers from SCAD in Savannah, GA. Moraa’s expertise lies in preserving traditional practices through her innovative textile explorations. From her early exposure to fabrics in her mother’s boutique, she developed a deep fascination with colors, textures, and drapery. Moraa’s work is a tribute to her ancestors, recreating the textures, shapes, and emotions associated with traditional body adornment practices. Through unconventional textiles, she simulates skin, hairdos, and beaded jewelry, transforming forgotten traditions into unconventional yet beautiful textile surfaces, challenging negative perceptions, and celebrating the beauty of her heritage.

 Vanessa Rudloff, Arts Relations Manager for ANGAD Arts Hotel stopped by to speak with Nancy about the institution. ---- The ANGAD Arts Hotel is a unique hotel experience with room colors based on Mood, and art everywhere. They also feature art exhibitions, concerts at their rooftop bar, and great food. -----      

Roland Burrow and Sara Kerr stopped by the studio to talk about Roland's art, and about the gallery that represents him, McCaughen and Burr, where Sara Kerr is a dealer. -----  McCaughen and Burr was founded in 1840 and is the oldest continuously operating art gallery west of the Mississippi River. Throughout the years, the gallery has been instrumental in helping to establish St. Louis as a major venue for Artists. From the Westward Expansion to the present, McCaughen and Burr has been integral in the advancement of the Missouri Art Scene. Roland Burrow was born in 1981 in St. Louis, Missouri. From a very early age, Roland began to utilize his artistic ability. Wherever he traveled, he carried a sketch pad and pencil documenting his everyday subject matter of living in Ferguson, Missouri. Roland attended McCluer High School in St. Louis, where he began his formal artistic training. In 1999, Roland enrolled in the Fine Arts Study Program at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) and graduated with a b

Gina Grafos, Chief Curator of Visual and Literary Art for the KAF, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the various endeavors of the foundation. Subjects include the various galleries, exhibits, and projects within the KAF.

Rebekah Scallet, Artistic Director for the New Jewish Theatre in St. Louis, stopped by to talk with Nancy about the theatre, her career and the upcoming season which starts near the end of March 2024. Rebekah Scallet is a stage director, educator, and arts leader. She is currently the Artistic Director for the New Jewish Theatre in St. Louis, and is the past Producing Artistic Director for the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre.  She believes in a theatre that is imaginative, interactive, and accessible for all, and one that can and should play a role in bringing communities together and making them stronger.