#147: Saint Louis Art Museum

 'Dedicated to Art and Free to All'

Here's a place that you most likely went on a field trip with your high school or grade school Art class: The Saint Louis Art Museum! It is one of the few free art museums in America, not bad for one of the most historically important!

What I mean is this:

• Originally built as the Fine Arts Palace for the 1904 World's Fair.
• It was designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert, who is also responsible for the old St. Louis Public Library and the United States Capitol building!
• The Saint Louis Art Museum started in 1881 and was housed in a building in downtown St. Louis.
• There have been numerous extensions and improvements over the years, including an auditorium in the 1950s.
• Museum holds collections of works of art from just about every culture and time period.
• Its special exhibitions are free as well.

Art museum (along with Art Hill) by day

Art museum by night

The famous King Louis IX of France statue is located right in front of the museum. At one time, it was considered 'the city's icon'....years before the Gateway Arch came along! It is still an iconic treasure though, and definitely worth the photo opportunity.

Statue of  The Apotheosis of Saint Louis, or King Louis IX of France, the city's namesake

Front of the Art Museum

The cake, as designed by Rich Brooks. This has sort of an art museum theme, along with the cake's sponsor, Southwest Airlines:

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Saint Louis Art Museum on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

1 Fine Arts Dr., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63110
Cake artist: Rich Brooks
Cake sponsored by Southwest Airlines

The cake is now on private property.

#97: Centene Center for the Arts & Education

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to the Centene Center.

• Founded in 1963. One of the original four board members was Malcolm W. Martin (see Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park).
• Has raised and distributed more than $100 million in 51 years for area arts and arts education programs.
• It has also hosted hundreds of arts events and activities in the last ten years.
• The building it is located in was built in 1906. Later renovated in 2004.
• The organization moved into the building in 2012.

Right side of the cake

The gothic-like building that serves as its home

 

Official website 

3547 Olive, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103

Cake artist: Emily Cross

#46: Regional Arts Commission

• The Regional Arts Commission organization was founded in 1985, as a way to promote, encourage and prosper the arts and cultural institutions in St. Louis city and county. 
• Its present building on the Delmar loop was built in 2003.
• The main goals of the organization's visionary plan: vitality, value, visibility and sustainability
• Among some of the places they partnered with include the Laumeier Sculpture Park.
• Has invested more than $76 million in the arts

The cake, which focuses on what art is about (or what its supposed to be):

Front and right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

The Regional Arts Commission is a partner with stl250's Cakeway to the West.

Regional Arts Commission on FB
Official website

6128 Delmar Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63112
Cake artists: Alison Rieke and Jess Goldtharpe

#39: COCA (Center of Creative Arts)

 I'd classify this one as part of the 'Delmar Loop' but I don't think it would do this place justice. It's only a street (or two?) away, but I'll keep it at U. City! The above pic was posted on the U. City's Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

• Founded as a non-profit community center in 1986 by Richard Baron
• The Riverfront Times publication has named COCA the 'Best Arts Organization'
• Mission: 'To enrich lives and build community through the arts'
• This 60,000 square feet building contains several classrooms, a 400-seat theater, as well as an art gallery
• Building was formerly B'Nai Amoona Synagogue, which had been there since 1946

Notice the unique bike racks!

A closer look at the sign

Here's the cake sides:

Top of the cake

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

COCA on FB
Official website

524 Trinity Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63130
Cake artist: COCA

#16: Piasa Bird

There are many legends behind this thing. I've been familiar with the Piasa Bird ever since my elementary school days. The most popular version of the legend goes like this: the first non-Indian to see it was Frenchman Father Jacques Marquette, which happened in 1673. At first he and his followers were scared of it (it was believed that the bird was there to scare non-tribespeople), but later were curious of the uniqueness of the painting. He would write about it in his journal or diary, and even draw what he saw.

The Piasa Bird

It would not be called the 'Piasa bird' until 1836, by a professor named John Russell. The name 'Piasa' is believed to have been from the word 'Piasua', which translates to 'the bird that devours men' or 'bird of the evil spirit'. However, these claims have been false according to historians. Another theory is that the bird has been repainted several times during the long period from 1673 to 1836. From 1836 on, it has been restored many times. Some time within 10-20 years ago, the Piasa Bird painting was taken down because it was blamed on traffic accidents on the Great River Road (Illinois Hwy 100) as people stopped in the middle of the road to glance at it.

There is even a legend about there being an actual 'Piasa bird' that killed Native Americans 500 years ago.

Wikipedia link
Page from Alton's website

Illinois State Route 100 (Great River Road), ALTON, IL, 62002
Cake artist: Jennifer Hayes (she also decorated the Famous Footwear/Brown Shoe Co. cake)

UPDATE (9/4/2016): The cake was removed in early 2015, and it was one of 3 cakes donated to the Friends of Haskell House in Alton. It was re-painted into a chalkboard-like cake, so kids can draw on it. It is not publicly displayed, with the exception of private and public Haskell House events.