Every artwork has a beginning, a place where it was created by a skillful master. Given the accelerated pace of 21st-century life, it is vital for contemporary people not to forget where their art came from. Not only is it an integral part of the nation’s culture, but it is also a valuable historical footprint for future generations. If you want to contribute to cultural preservation, you should consider visiting the Saint Louis Art Museum. The fine art museum now holds a unique cultural exhibition titled “Art Along the Rivers: A Bicentennial Celebration.”

Frederick Oakes Sylvester, American, 1869–1915; “The Mississippi at Elsah”, 1903; oil on canvas; 30 1/8 x 45 1/16 inches; Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George Schriever 2021.103; Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri—Columbia

Art Along the Rivers, a not-to-miss cultural exhibition at SLAM

“Art Along the Rivers” combines 156 objects that were produced or collected from the confluence region surrounding St. Louis. The exhibition spans a variety of cultures, including Osage, the ancient Mississippian, French, African American, and German, among others. It is a celebration of the region’s cultural heritage that collectively connects over 1,000 years of history.

Bernard Peters, American, 1893–1949; “Landscape”, c.1930; oil on canvas; 36 x 39 1/2 inches; The John & Susan Horseman Collection 2021.6

The cultural exhibition showcases a variety of objects of historical and national importance. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, metals, ceramics, and textiles are not the full list of what you can see at the art exhibition. It is the first time when people exhibit such unique items from all over the regions together under one roof.

The museum venue is divided and arranged thematically, so you are free to start the exploration wherever you want. One of the main missions of the show is to reveal how cultural and geological confluence shaped the form and content of the area. Besides, there is a contemporary art section so that you can draw a distinction between the past and the present of the region.

Lewis W. Hine, American, 1874–1940; “Newsies at Skeeter Branch, St. Louis, Missouri, 11:00am”, 1910; gelatin silver print; 4 15/16 x 7 inches; The Art Institute of Chicago, Restricted gift of Charles & Ruth Levy Foundation 2021.169; The Art Institute of Chicago / Art Resource, NY

By joining “Art Along the Rivers: A Bicentennial Celebration” at SLAM, you can become part of a vital event to celebrate the vibrant art and culture of the St. Louis region. The cultural exhibition will be on view through January 9, 2022.