St. Louis' Mill Creek Valle - site of a massive new art installation by nationally acclaimed artist and East St. Louis native, Damon Davis. St. Louis’ Mill Creek Valley was once a thriving, predominantly Black neighborhood, home to 20,000 residents, 5,000 houses, businesses, schools, and churches. That was until the late 1950s, when city officials demolished 450 acres of Mill Creek Valley for “urban renewal”, displacing its residents and disrupting their lives.
Today, the location is the site of a massive new art installation by nationally acclaimed, post-disciplinary artist and East St. Louis native Damon Davis. Recognizing the community and the contributions of the people who lived there, the sculptural monument is a tribute to Mill Creek Valley’s past and the neighborhood’s place in the city’s present and future. We hope you will join us for an enlightening tour to learn about this important piece of local history and see how it is captured through the power of art.
Our guide and speaker will be Emma Klues, Vice President of Communications & Outreach, Great Rivers Greenway. She will share with us details of this project, including its significance, the history and landscaping, artist's statement and intent, civic engagement, and interviews with residents.
Pillars of the Valley is a partnership between CITYPARK SC, Great Rivers Greenway, and the City of St. Louis. It is part of a larger installation planned along a one-mile stretch of the transformative Brickline Greenway, a network of paths and places being developed to enhance the St. Louis region.
IMPORTANT: You might enjoy listening to these insights in the artist’s own words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab4FCbcwRt8
For more information about the project: https://greatriversgreenway.org/bg-pillars-of-the-valley-event/
ADMISSION: Reservation is encouraged for this free Art Collaborative event. Walk-ins are welcome, based on availability.
PARKING: CITY Parking Garage, located at 1950 Olive Street. Entry on Olive, east of N 20th. Fees apply. Street Parking is also available.
WHAT IS THE ART COLLABORATIVE? An interactive, dynamic forum aimed at bringing art to people and people to the art, facilitated by Cynthia Correll and Judith Shaw. The idea is to draw together a diverse, creative community of artists and art enthusiasts interested in sharing ideas, inspiration, resources, and information about what drives their creative passion, process, and purpose. The group meets monthly in different art venues for hands-on, immersive experiences. Our goal is to cross pollinate among innovative institutions, organizations, and neighborhoods to showcase the art landscape in our region.
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