Honoring a life dedicated to art is the theme of a new exhibition that pays tribute to St. Louis artist James Smith, who died in 2022, at the McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts Gallery in Webster Groves. Smith, who is not Jewish, is well known in the St. Louis Jewish community as his many pieces are displayed in the public collections of the five Jewish community centers in St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Omaha and St. Paul.
For many years, Smith worked with Michael Staenberg, who was a force behind the development of these Js.
“I first met James in the 1980s at an art show at John Burroughs School,” said Staenberg, the current president of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Light and founder of the Staenberg Family Foundation. “He turned a wooden truck into an amazing piece of art. I bought the trunk and the visited his studio where I saw the ‘Wooden Blue Door’ which has now been in my office since 1986.”
The one day only open exhibition “Intersecting Histories” is May 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. All works on display will be for sale and wil remain on display for several weeks.
“We at McCaughen & Burr have been following Smith’s artistic career for decades and have always believed that he was one of the regions premier contemporary artists,” said Scott Kerr, president of McCaughen & Burr. “An accomplished artist, Smith’s body of work encompasses a wide breadth of styles and mediums.”
James Smith
“Words can never do justice to describe James’ creative abilities. Making paintings was his passion, he had an amazing studio and his dedication to art, research & creativity was limitless,” wrote his family about the artist.
Smith attended the University of Kansas, and graduated with a bachelor of fine art degree followed by a master of fine art from the University of Illinois.
He taught fine art as a grad student at the University of Illinois, followed by the University of Manitoba, University of Illinois, Macomb, University of Missouri, St. Louis, as well as an adjunct professor at St. Louis Community Colleges: Florissant, Meramec, Forest Park and Fontbonne University.
He departed teaching to focus full time on creating and selling his artwork and would often receive letters of appreciation from former students.
“Intersecting Histories”
When: Friday, May 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. – Art will be on display for several weeks.
Where: McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts Gallery, 17 W Lockwood Ave.
More Info: All works on display will be for sale. Visit the gallery online.
