How do you/we/they think about St. Louis? How does St. Louis hold you, or need to be held? How does its artists? Considering St. Louis began with a question, and through time and space, hasn’t arrived at an answer, but a deepened inquisition of what drives the artistic pursuit of St. Louis based artists, and how they serve as the threads of a city often considered tattered, or not considered at all. Featuring 30 interviews with creatives across disciplines, and a presentation of works made by contemporary local artists, this exhibition is an offering for your consideration. 

Considering St. Louis is the culminating exhibition of a year-long research project that centers St. Louis’ artists, artistic spaces, and institutions, and how they contribute to the artistic landscape and ecosystem of this beloved Midwestern city. 

This exhibition was made possible by the generous support of The Luminary's funders: The Crawford Taylor Foundation, The Missouri Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Ruth Foundation, the Regional Arts Comission, and the Tieger Foundation.

Ciera Alyse McKissick is an independent, curator, event producer, writer, and the founder of AMFM, an organization whose mission is to provide a platform for emerging artists and creatives. McKissick created AMFM, originally a web magazine, as an independent study project in 2009 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied Journalism and Mass Communications. Her work since then has involved supporting and uplifting the work and practice of Black and brown artists through writing, exhibitions, partnerships, and activations in collaboration with local arts organizations and institutions. Ultimately, she seeks to stimulate community engagement that's driven by inclusivity, accessibility, intention, and care. She recently launched a new contemporary art space, cam.contemporarie, in 2024,  was the Inaugural Curatorial Fellow with The Luminary in 2023, and was a participant in the Independent Curators International’s Chicago Curatorial Seminar in 2022. Currently, she is also the Public Programs Manager at the Hyde Park Art Center. 

McKissick, along with projects and events, have been featured in Artsy, Terremoto MX, Newcity, Sixty Inches From Center, Saatchi Art, ABC 7 Chicago, The Chicago Tribune, WGN, WTTW, Chicago Reader, The Chicago Sun Times, South Side Weekly, Afropunk, and more.

• Opening Reception

The Luminary, 2701 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118

Friday, May 31st 6-9PM

The Luminary presents the opening reception for Considering St. Louis, an exhibition which culminates a year-long research project from its inaugural Curatorial Fellow, Ciera Alyse McKissick. The opening reception will present DJ sets by Makeda Kravitz and Noel Spiva, and a new animation by artist Carmen Ribaudo accompanied by a live score by Lucy Dougherty. 

• Considering St. Louis Film Fest

High Low (The Listening Room) 3301 Washington Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103

Saturday June 30th, 1-3PM

RSVP on eventbrite here.

In conjunction with the exhibition and in partnership with The Kranzberg Foundation and My Friends and I, join us for screenings of short films featured in the Considering St. Louis exhibition by artists, Yvonne Osei, Dail Chambers, Taylor Yacom, Carmen Ribaudo, and Cami Thomas, alongside selected short films by local St. Louis based film-based artists.

• Meetup at NEU ER World

Saturday June 29th, 12-2PM

RSVP on eventbrite here.

Got a project you’re working on and want feedback about it? Want to connect with other like minded local artists? Looking for collaborators or just to network? Join us and the curator of Considering St. Louis, Ciera Alyse McKissick, at NEU ER WORLD, for an artist meet up!

• Considering St. Louis Artist Dinner in partnership with Intersect Arts Center

Intersect Arts Center, 636 Texas Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118

Friday, July 12, 5 - 7PM

In conjunction with Intersect Arts Center’s monthly studio artist dinner, Considering St. Louis exhibition and interview artists are invited to a celebratory dinner as the exhibition closes. This event is by invitation only.

• Studio Visits / Portfolio Reviews with Chicago Curators

 Intersect Arts Center & The Luminary

Saturday July 13th, 11AM-3PM

So what's next? In an effort to create bridges between St. Louis and regional cities in the Midwest like Chicago, Considering St. Louis invites St. Louis based visual artists to participate in studio visits and portfolio reviews with visiting Chicago curators and gallerists.

• mi·lieu ((a Sunday Morning social))

*Member Event

The Luminary, 2701 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118

Sunday July 14th, 11AM - 3PM

A contextualizing social environment designed to
engage themes of our current moment. With curated brunch selects, a private exhibition tour, and context and conversation with 2023 Curatorial Fellow and exhibition curator Ciera Alyse McKissick in response to the current exhibition, Considering St. Louis.

*Member levels: Volunteer & Sustainer

Learn more about The Luminary’s Membership Program

1. Boat of Feathers, Damon Davis, 2021, Mixed media, 14 x 187 x 35.5 inches

2. dirt mound with seeds source from Dail Chambers' garden with fan from Counterpublic closing

3. Vincent Stemmler, Untitled Column, 2023, concrete, water, dirt, live plants, ~12" x 12" x 10"

4. Carrie Gillen, Thing 2, 2022, wooden armature, foam, tile, grout, paint, dipped fake plants, 33" x 19" x 5"

5. WORK/PLAY, Sanctuary (Reconnect), 2024, Digital print on PSV, essential oils, diffuser, 76" x 43.5"

6. Charlie Bosco, Fielding, 2024, thread on fabric, 16" x 20"

7. Yvonne Osei, Africa Clothe Me Bare, 2015-present, video, 14:04

8. Cami Thomas, Summer in St. Louis, 2021, video, 1:31

9. Dail Chambers, Lifeconceptual Biomythology, 2023, video, 2:05

10. simiya sudduth, Lovers, 2024, digital illustration on paper mounted on faux brick, 4' x 8'

11. Jen Everett, Unheard sounds Come Through, ongoing, found objects, dimensions variable

12. Stan Chisholm, Stay Bent, Stay Busy, 2019, two foam panels, 36" x 48"

13. Marina Peng, One Way (rat runner), 2023, cotton, wool, 19.5" x 92"

14. Vincent Stemmler, Stillness, 2017, rebar, cement, plant matter, ~15" x 17" x 8"

15. Damon Davis, Cracks XX, 2022, denim, concrete, and metal, 30" x 21" x 6"

16. Taylor Yocom, just because!, 2021, video, 3:00

17. Carrie Gillen, Spilt Milk, 2022, tile, grout, paint, 80" x 27" x 2.5" and 34" x 18" x 3"

18. Jess T. Dugan, Cai at sunrise, 2019, photograph on monitor, dimensions variable

19. Jess T. Dugan, Wisteria, 2021, photograph on PSV, 70" x 52.5"

20. Jess T. Dugan, Kavlen at sunset, 2021, photograph on monitor, dimensions variable

21. Jess T. Dugan, Window at sunrise, 2021, photograph on PSV, 70" x 52.5"

22. Tiff J. Sutton, A Kiss Out of Focus (From the Woman Vera Series), 2002, photograph, 8' x 8'

23. Tiff J. Sutton, Untitled II (From the Woman Named Vera Series) , 2002, photograph, 8' x 8'