Arts Interview with Nancy Kranzberg

Quinn Antonio Briceño, a Nicaraguan-American artist in St. Louis, earned his bachelor's degree in fine art from the San Francisco Art Institute (2017) and a master's degree from the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Art (2022). Notable achievements include winning the Ann Metzger National Biennial in 2019 and being a finalist for the AXA Art Prize in 2021. Featured in publications such as All the Art, Friend of the Artist (Issue 10), St. Louis Magazine, Design St. Louis, and New American Paintings (No. 155, 165, 167), Briceño's works grace private collections nationwide. ------ Briceño’s art, a reflection of dualities shaped by two countries, languages, and cultures, explores the perpetual pressure to choose between them. Consciously integrating Americana with Latinx influences, Briceño constructs a visual language bridging cultural gaps. His creations carve a unique space, offering solace to those burdened by societal expectations, and through painting and collage, he weaves a tapestry celebrating identity. Briceño's work is a dual exploration, sharing his personal struggle and narrating a journey towards acceptance, inclusion, and empowerment for the marginalized and forgotten. -----

Central Print was founded in 2014, by Eric Woods, as an extension of the programs, workshops, and community outreach that were being hosted at his for-profit letterpress studio, The Firecracker Press. Along with the design and printing of posters, stationery, and paper goods, The Firecracker Press was hosting tours, working with community organizations, and offering classes after-hours. As these not-necessarily-profitable aspects of a for-profit business gained popularity it became clear that dedicated time and space were needed to effectively address the growing interest in letterpress printing. ----- A space was secured in Old North St. Louis (formerly a Sobel’s department store) and the work of building Central Print’s headquarters began. An outline for the acquisition of new presses quickly grew and within a few months Central Print became print-ready. Construction began to accommodate printing classes, facilities were installed for an events venue, and storage/restoration areas were built for incoming equipment. The far-end of the space was reserved as an extension for The Firecracker Press, a temporary second location serving as support, and on July 1, 2014 Central Print officially opened its doors. ----- To fully commit to education and outreach Marie Oberkirsch, was brought in as Central Print’s first director. She continues to manage and develop the organization as it changes and grows. ----

Gina Grafos, Director and Chief Curator for Visual and Literary Arts for the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the happenings at the foundation.

Dr. Frances Levine has had a varied career, from teaching to heading up various major museums, writing books. Now, she has written "Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail," after many years of passionate research. Through diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts, Levine seeks to understand the experiences of women who journeyed from St. Louis to Santa Fe, as well as some who made an eastward crossing. Crossings focuses on women who traveled during the most crucial period of Santa Fe Trail trade from the early 1820s to the later 1870s, ending as railroads made cross-continental movement a safer and more leisurely experience for travelers. Several of the women made multiple crossings, adding to the depth of their observations of the changing country and dispelling the myth of women in this period as averse to the risks of trail life.

Singer/Songwriter/Pianist, Katarra, stopped by to speak with Nancy about her career, her life and her writing process.   

Rebekah Scallet, Artistic Director for The New Jewish Theatre, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the institution and what is coming up including "First Date" (November 21 until December 8, 2024).

The Bingham Trust will host a two-day symposium on George Caleb Bingham that honors and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Missouri Governor Christopher S. “Kit” Bond’s public subscription campaign to acquire 112 preliminary drawings for Bingham’s genre paintings. The event is free; tickets and registration are not required. A symposium schedule is below.

At The Tesseract Theatre Company, the mission is to elevate professional theatre in the St. Louis area by telling powerful, transformative stories on an intimate scale. They are committed to showcasing innovative narratives and diverse voices with creativity and precision, proving that even the smallest stage can hold a monumental impact. By fostering a supportive environment for emerging talent and prioritizing artistic integrity, they seek to enrich the cultural fabric of our community and inspire meaningful connections through the art of theatre.

Prison Performing Arts is a multi-discipline, literacy and performing arts program dedicated to enriching the lives of youth and adults in Missouri’s criminal and juvenile justice systems. They foster individual and social change by providing incarcerated adults, justice-involved youth, and returning citizens with opportunities to participate in the arts as artists, students, and audience members. Participants learn creative and constructive ways to express emotions, build trust, and work in collaboration with one another. Their programs aim to improve literacy and communication skills, instill responsibility to self and others, and to promote non-violent expression of emotion. ----- Long-time PPA collaborator, John Wolbers (he/him), steps into the role of Executive Director bringing over fifteen years of experience in the non-profit world. Most recently, he served as the Producing Associate for Metro Theater Company where he navigated many facets of company management: from development and production to COVID safety protocols and education. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Southwestern University in Texas, and is a respected director, administrator, educator, actor, and playwright. John is passionately dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and support in the St. Louis arts community. -----

Robert Ashton, Artistic Director of Albion Theatre stopped by to talk with Nacy about the company and there play "Lungs." 

Chris Hansen, Executive Director of the KRANZBERG ARTS FOUNDATION stopped by to speak with Nancy about the happenings at the foundation, including the Music at the Intersection Festival, happening on September 14-15th in the Grand Center Arts District and other associated events. 

Jacqueline Thompson/Artist director and Jessie Youngblood/Managing Director of Metro Theater Company stopped by to speak with Nancy about the company and its works.

Liz Crabtree and Joe Mancuso stopped by to discuss the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center and all the happenings there coming up.

Lisa Melandri, Executive Director of CAM, stopped by to discuss the happenings at the museum with Nancy.

Kelly Plunkett, Museum Curator for Jefferson Barracks, The General Daniel Bissell House, and Fort Bellefontaine... stopped by to talk with  Nancy about the various aspects of the County Parks Department.

Dana Turkovic, Curator of the Laumeier Sculpture Park, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the sculpture park, and her career.   Founded in 1976, Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the country. In 1968, Mrs. Matilda Laumeier bequeathed the first 72 acres of the future Laumeier Sculpture Park to St. Louis County in memory of her husband, Henry Laumeier. In 1976, local artist Ernest Trova gifted 40 artworks, with an estimated market value of approximately one million dollars, to St. Louis County for the formation of a sculpture park and gallery. Laumeier Sculpture Park opened as part of the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation system on July 7, 1976. One year later, Laumeier Sculpture Park was officially incorporated. Today, Laumeier is an internationally recognized, nonprofit arts organization that is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and operates in partnership with St. Louis County Parks. Projects and programs are supported by the Mark Twain Laumeier Endowment Fund, the Regional Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Laumeier presents more than 70 works of large-scale outdoor sculpture in a 105-acre park located in the heart of St. Louis County. Free and open daily, Laumeier serves 350,000 visitors of all ages each year through sculpture conservation, education programs, temporary exhibitions and public events.

Matthew Kearns: President and Artistic Director of St. Lou Fringe, stopped by to talk with Nancy about this year's festival. ---  About the festival: "It all started in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland, as an alternative festival that played concurrently with the Edinburgh International Festival. In 1948, Robert Kemp, a local journalist, gave it the name Fringe: “Round the fringe of official Festival drama, there seems to be more private enterprise than before…” ---- Since then, it has grown into an international phenomenon with more than a hundred Fringe Festivals worldwide. ----  This year's festival runs August 12th through August 18th. ----          

Born in Syria to a Christian family in 1966, Nabil Mousa emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 12. After a career in business, in the 2000s he turned to the visual arts, particularly painting. This decision coincided with two important events, one public and one personal: first, the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. were a seminal moment in U.S. and global history. The fall of the twin towers ushered in an era of stigmatization and suspicion of people of Arab backgrounds, particularly in Western countries, as well as an on-going period of religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Second, when he decided to no longer live as a closeted gay man, Mousa came out to his family—resulting in his family rejecting him. Much of Mousa’s work reflects directly or indirectly on these personally significant events and have been springboards for his ongoing commitment to arts activism in the name of social justice. Paralleling these efforts, he has drawn upon his ability as a colorist and gestural abstractionist to investigate concepts of beauty, often inspired by Arab visual culture.

About Carrie: Carrie Houk has spent her professional life as an actor, casting director, producer and teaching artist. Educated at HB Studio in NYC and the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, she began her acting career at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and from there worked in NYC, LA and Chicago. The Tennessee Williams Festival of St. Louis has a mission  to enrich the cultural life of St. Louis by producing an annual theater festival and other artistic and educational events that celebrate the art and influence of Tennessee Williams. The 2024 festival runs August 8th-18th.    

Andrew Jorgensen, General Director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, stopped by to talk about the happenings at the organization. Topics include the summer season and education programs. About Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: Opera Theatre’s mission is to shape a vibrant future for opera by connecting, inspiring, and entertaining our communities through the power and beauty of the art form; to foster the next generation by empowering a diverse group of artists, artisans, and administrators at the highest level; and to make opera accessible and inclusive through innovative and collaborative storytelling that reflects, engages, and strengthens the St. Louis community, and attracts national and international audiences.