Arts & Entertainment
St. Louis Community College-Wildwood Art Students Reach Outside the Classroom
West County auto dealership provides nice backdrop for aspiring local artists.
Select pieces from nine art students of St. Louis Community College-Wildwood recently were displayed at St. Louis Acura automotive dealer in Manchester, MO.
The partnership came out of a conversation between Brandy Wise, relationship manager at St. Louis Acura, and Patrick Vaughn, vice president of academic affairs at the college during a West County Chamber of Commerce luncheon last fall.
“I’m very happy the relationship between St. Louis Acura and STLCC-Wildwood has developed as quickly as it has, and we were excited about the opportunity for our students to present their work in the Acura showroom,” said Vaughn.
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The art was delivered on Feb. 15 and the showroom immediately was buzzing with comments. “All of our staff were talking about it as soon it went up,” said Wise. “Since then, customers have noted that it’s a nice surprise to see art in the showroom. It gives the community a chance to see local students’ art, and the students a chance to display their talent.”
Mark Weber, chair of visual and performing arts at the , asked students in his painting and drawing classes to submit art for the exhibit. Many of the students chose their work based on feedback they received in the classroom from other students, he said.
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The exhibit featured artwork of various sizes and media, and included oil pastels, chalk pastels, mixed media, and oil on board, canvas and clayboard. “It’s great that St. Louis Acura is so supportive of the college,” said Kevin Bullock, one of the art students.
Fellow art students Jo Jasper Dean and Dion Dion agreed the experience was helpful. It was a fabulous opportunity to expose the college and the outstanding art program on campus, while at the same time providing students a chance to serve the interests of the community, said Weber.
"For many students, it was their first time to exhibit art outside of the college, and was an important step in their path to a career in art," he said.
The exhibit ran through Feb. 24.