As I was walking up and down the front lobby of the Jewish Community Center preparing for the Jewish Light’s 16th annual Unsung Hero Awards ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 26, I could not help but notice and re-notice the artwork that hung on the walls. All of them had the same name on the placard next to the piece: James Smith.
His name is familiar to me, as I’ve written about him before, but this time, surrounded by his work in person, the experience felt different. I stopped in front of one painting in particular, “The Burning Bush,” a swirling field of color.
Then I remembered that just a week earlier, I had received an email from Smith’s wife, Mary, letting me know about an upcoming show featuring her husband’s art. You know I love connections like that.
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The new James Smith art exhibition at McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts Gallery in Webster Groves brings together many of the works that have become part of our community spaces.
Art in the community
James Smith was not Jewish, but his art became part of the daily life of Jewish community centers across the Midwest. Walk through the J in St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Omaha, or St. Paul and you’ll find his work on the walls.
Much of this connection came through his friendship with St. Louis developer and philanthropist Michael Staenberg, who commissioned Smith to create Judaic artwork for several Js and federation buildings. Among those pieces are “The Western Wall,” “The Shofar” and a series of plant images that carry symbolic meaning in Jewish culture.
Building a legacy
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Smith’s work is part of several private collections, including those of Staenberg, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg and the Horseman Foundation. His Native American heritage influenced his private work, and that influence can be seen throughout the new exhibition.
Mary Smith, his widow, said she hopes people will come and see her late husband’s artwork, which she describes as deeply personal and spiritually grounded. She noted that Staenberg’s support made it possible for James to create Judaic art that now lives in Jewish communal spaces across the country.
The new exhibition
The James Smith art exhibition opens Thursday, Nov. 14, with an evening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts Gallery, 117 W. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. The exhibit will run for two weeks.
When: Opening reception Thursday, Nov. 14, 5–8 p.m.
Where: McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts Gallery, 117 W. Lockwood Ave
Admission: Free and open to the public
More info: jamesmsmithart.com
