Drawing Results

The show at Sunflower Massage Studio has drawn to a close, so we drew a name for the $40 gift certificate.  And the winner is...
Holly Steinbecker
Congratulations and happy holidays!

Don't forget to check out the next show, coming up at the Northern Arts Council 427 Gallery / Pearce Neikirk & Partners, Realtors, LLC.

Coming Soon to the Northern Arts Council

Little Black Dress will be coming to the Northern Arts Council's 427 Gallery / Pearce Neikirk & Partners, Realtors, LLC in Ferguson, MO in January 2014.  There will be a closing reception on Sat., Feb. 1 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM.  In celebration of the theme, we will revisit the impromptu fashion show and all who wear a "little black dress" will get a prize!

The Northern Arts Council presents:

Little Black Dress
solo exhibit
hours by appointment only
427 Gallery / Pearce Neikirk & Partners, Realtors, LLC
427 S. Florissant
Ferguson, MO 63135
Jan. 8 - Feb. 2, 2014

And don't forget to drop by the show at Sunflower Massage Studio to enter the drawing for a chance to win a $40 gift certificate!  The show runs through Dec. 20.

Little Black Dress
solo exhibit
hours by appointment only
Sunflower Massage Studio
2104 Bellevue Ave.
Maplewood, MO
Nov. 5 - Dec. 20, 2013

Sunflower Massage Studio Show

Here are a couple of preview pictures from the Sunflower Massage Studio show.  Remember: there's no formal reception, but please drop in and check it out to enter the drawing for a chance to win a $40 gift certificate.

Next Stop: Sunflower Massage Studio in Maplewood

Little Black Dress will be traveling to Sunflower Massage Studio in Maplewood in November & December.  This show won't have a formal reception but as an added perk anyone who goes can enter a drawing to win a $40 gift certificate!  So please drop by, check it out, and enter for a chance to win.

Little Black Dress
solo exhibit
hours by appointment only
Sunflower Massage Studio
2104 Bellevue Ave.
Maplewood, MO
Nov. 5 - Dec. 20, 2013

Expectations Reception

A hearty thank you to everyone who came out for the reception last night!  We had a wonderful reception and Christine & I each gave a brief talk for the class letting out before visiting with everyone who came.  And it was the perfect opportunity to wear the wonderful mustache hat and Victorian collar that Lillian Bates made for me!

Expectations Show

Here are some photos of the Expectations show at By Design.  I had a lot of fun featuring various miniature works in this exhibit, and it is truly an honor to show alongside Christine Giancola and Lillian Bates.

Expectations
2-person show with Christine Giancola
includes my Little Black Dress traveling project
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
By Design
136 Front St.
Alton, IL
Oct. 2013
Reception: Friday, Oct. 11, 5 - 8 PM

List of Upcoming Events

Check out the new blog feature: I have posted a list of Little Black Dress Shows here on this blog to the right (under the promo postcard image).  As I line up more venues, I will include that information in chronological order, starting at the top of the list with the C.A.M.P. kickoff and progressing from there. This way, you can get a feel for where the project is traveling next; hopefully we'll be coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

And don't forget about the next showing during Expectations with Christine Giancola at By Design in Alton, IL!

Next Showing: Expectations

I'm partnering with Christine Giancola for a collaborative Women's Caucus for Art exhibition entitled Expectations in which we will explore various expectations based on gender roles, location and even some explorations into self-imposed and idealized views.  This show will mark the next showing of the Little Black Dress works and will be at Lillian's By Design in Alton, Illinois in October!

Expectations
2-person show with Christine Giancola
includes my Little Black Dress traveling project
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
By Design
136 Front St.
Alton, IL
Oct. 2013
Reception: Friday, Oct. 11, 5 - 8 PM

CAMP Weekend

 Thank you to everyone who came out for my Little Black Dress event this weekend!  Especially those who came dressed for the occasion in your own variants and interpretations of the "little black dress."

You all rock and thank you again for supporting my show amidst so many events going on!

We're Tig Approved!

Tig spent much of the afternoon with us during the kickoff event today, so Little Black Dress is officially Tig approved!

C.A.M.P. Preview

I began hanging the show today for the upcoming event at C.A.M.P. this weekend!  Here are some teaser photos of a couple of the works as hung in the space, including one taken with the fun throne from the People's Joy Parade.

Little Black Dress
solo exhibit with interactive project kickoff dress exchange & impromptu style event
C.A.M.P.
3026 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO
Sept. 7 & 8, 2013, 1 - 4 PM 

We're Coming to C.A.M.P.!

The Venus Envy showing was a preview for my upcoming solo kickoff event at C.A.M.P. on Cherokee Street on September 7 & 8.

Little Black Dress
solo exhibit with interactive project kickoff dress exchange & impromptu style event
C.A.M.P.
3026 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO
Sept. 7 & 8, 2013, 1 - 4 PM

More Info

This project will be traveling throughout the St. Louis region.  I will note upcoming events and chronicle showings here on my blog in addition to posting show photos to my web page, so be sure to check back for updates and news.

I previewed the project with an accordian clutch book featuring 12 photographs (1 from each shoot) this weekend at Venus Envy.

Venus Envy
http://www.venusenvy.org/

2720 Cherokee
St. Louis, MO 63118
http://2720cherokee.com/

Aug. 16 & 17, 2013

Artist's Statement

"Where'd you go to (high) school?"
This uniquely St. Louis question begs consideration of stereotyping based upon specific locale.  Some perceptions and misconceptions about individuals are based upon where they live, where they grew up, and where they went to school.  These ideas are pervasive, and many people assess one another based upon these factors, both knowingly and unknowingly, sometimes even without ever having met in person.

Assumptions regarding regional identity can extend to physical mannerisms of speech, attitude and dress.  They can act as commodities unto themselves, ideas of self that are "bought into" or refuted.  They can be used to make judgments regarding less easily noticeable characteristics like character, intelligence, belief system & morality, economic standing, etc.  But communities are much more diverse and vibrant than they appear to those outside.  So when explored and applied in real life, some of these notions become little more than caricatures and cartoons, exaggerations that rarely depict those portrayed in an accurate manner.

I have accessorized according to regional preconceptions regarding dress and fashion based on my own personal interpretation of some local St. Louis area stereotypes.  Regardless of accessories and other adornments, the "little black dress" seems as much at home in a classic, upscale setting as a hip, urban scene.  The consistency of the "little black dress" also unifies the scenes to note that, regardless of where we live, grew up or went to school, we are all much more alike than we are different.

Little Black Dress Is Coming...

Little Black Dress is an evolving, interactive project and culmination of photographs documenting myself in a distinctive "little black dress" as taken throughout the St. Louis metro region during summer 2012.  My husband, Charles Wilbur, shot these photographs using his i-phone under my guidance.

This media was chosen for its immediate accessibility, subverted discreetness, and resonance with viewers, many of whom themselves own i-phones and use them to photograph various scenes, people, and other subjects to record where they have been, who they were with, and what they were doing.  Selected photographs are presented together in an exhibition that will travel between various St. Louis venues to further explore this accessibility and resonance.