St. Louis Public Art

Gateway Arch and Graffiti Wall

     The Gateway Arch has been Missouri's claim to fame since the building's completion in 1965. Known for the unique structure and bird's eye views of the downtown cityscape, the Arch is St. Louis's most well known and probably most visited monument.  It is both beautiful and strong, despite what visitors at the bottom and at its peak might think.  It can be seen swaying in the wind from the bottom and felt from inside.  Rest assured, though, it is as structurally sound today as it was 50 years ago.
     The nearby Graffiti Wall, on the riverfront flood wall, is much lesser known, but it is equally as interesting.  The city allows graffiti artists from around the country to come and legally paint on 1.9 miles of the city's flood wall.  Still painted from the 2014 round, the visible artwork includes Disney references, Robin Williams tributes, Star Wars characters, and political statements; the latter can be seen below.

Citygarden
     Citygarden, in the heart of downtown St. Louis, is a family getaway- an oasis- amongst the tall buildings and hot concrete in the city.  Running along Market Street, the park features large sculptures, some of which are interactive.  Some move in the wind, some you can walk through, and many feature water streaming or shooting up from the ground.  It spans a few city blocks and features artworks depicting a large pink suit, a form of Pinocchio, and a pair of white rabbits.  It is  great place to go on hot summer days, especially when you're getting antsy.  And the best part is, this hidden gem is free!

Laumier Sculpture Park

     This unique St. Louis city park, now 105 acres, features large abstract sculptures, primarily from American artists.  It is now famous for being one of only a few open air "museums" in the world.  The park is large and the artwork is distributed throughout it.  Some of its art includes a sugar molecule-balloon dog hybrid, a giant blue eyeball, and an egg-shaped form.  It's a wonderful place for a picnic in the early spring and late fall when the crowds are smaller and when it is cool enough to walk around the park grounds to see the special sculptures.  I went late in the afternoon and was fortunate enough to see the park in the last rays before sunset.

     

“The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close up.” 

                    ― Chuck Palahniuk