"I could lie motionless in the middle of the mess, finally able to stay afloat, at least for a little while."—Alice Nguyen

In the Middle of the Mess

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the Washington University in St. Louis chancellor announced in an email to all students the closure of residential housing and a transition to online education in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The university’s decision echoes similar responses from universities nationwide. The announcement came…

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Artist Notes from a Pandemic: Christine Corday

“I’m talking about how art finds a way.” Christine Corday is in her studio about an hour-and-a-half north of New York City, and only half-an-hour away from Westchester County, the location of the original coronavirus epicenter in New York.

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Art at Home: Colored Pencil Blending

Local artist Cecily Fergeson, one of CAM’s recurring teaching artists for our monthly Stroller Tour and Morning Play Date series, shares a virtual colored pencil blending tutorial that kids and adults alike can practice at home! Have you ever wondered the best way to choose your colors before starting…

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Art at Home: Blind Contour Drawing

Running out of Saturday night social distancing ideas? Natalie, one of CAM’s Visitor Services Associates, shares a great way to stay entertained—blind contour drawing!

Watch the video below to see Natalie’s simple tutorial, then grab your quarantine partner (or your pet, or a plant!), keep your eyes…

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Art at Home: Paper Collage

Derek Fordjour’s paintings were created from years of experimentation. The artist developed his unique process using humble materials, chosen for their affordability: charcoal, newspaper, cardboard, foil. To make his paintings, the artist begins by creating a base layer of tiled colored cardboard on canvas. He then wraps the canvas in…

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Stephanie Syjuco: “This is a time to mourn, not just my plans, but also mourning for what I don’t even know yet.”
Stephanie Syjuco: “This is a time to mourn, not just my plans, but also mourning for what I don’t even know yet.”

Artist Notes from a Pandemic: Stephanie Syjuco

Not long into our phone conversation, Stephanie Syjuco tells me: “My parents are in the Philippines, a developing country that’s going to be hit very hard. Working on my own artwork, right now, it feels rather insignificant. This sounds like a harsh way to say it, but that’s…

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Marina Zurkow, The Thirsty Bird (still), 2012.
Marina Zurkow, The Thirsty Bird (still), 2012.

Art at Home: The Thirsty Bird Flip-book

Currently on view on CAM’s facade is Marina Zurkow: The Thirsty Bird. On one side of this split screen video, viewers witness the seemingly eternal motion of an oil pump jack (known colloquially as a “thirsty bird”), and on the other side, a range of archetypal figures drinking from a…

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“This moment enforces my belief that we need each other. It sinks in day by day.
“This moment enforces my belief that we need each other. It sinks in day by day." Liz Johnson Artur selfie. Courtesy the artist.

Artist Notes from a Pandemic: Liz Johnson Artur

Liz Johnson Artur takes photographs of people as a means toward connection. As viewers of the photographs, we connect with the people in the pictures. These connections are powerful—one human being, a group of human beings, linked to each other in the space of a museum. A…

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Courtesy Janie Stamm.
Courtesy Janie Stamm.

Art at Home: Embroidery with Janie Stamm

It seems forever ago, but at CAM’s March First Friday event, artist Janie Stamm taught embroidery to anyone who was willing to try, which became an ever expanding group of visitors before the evening was over. Janie was a teaching artist for LEAP Middle School Initiative this season, leading…

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Jen Nugent and Caleb Hauck shovel dirt into Derek Fordjour's installation <em>SHELTER</em>. Photo: Robert Cohen, <em>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</em>
Jen Nugent and Caleb Hauck shovel dirt into Derek Fordjour's installation SHELTER. Photo: Robert Cohen, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Where the Magic Happens

Empty crates stand in CAM’s Receiving Area, stored there after the artwork they contained has been put on display. The room is filled with construction materials and meticulously labeled tool boxes, with a paint storage cabinet and a woodshop enclosed within. Jen Nugent leads me around the Staff…

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