Leslie Laskey: A Gathering: Muses-Fates-Furies by Bruno David Gallery

LESLIE LA SK E Y A GATHERING: MUSES-FATES-FURIES

bruno david gallery

LESLIE LASKEY

A Gathering: Muses-Fates-Furies September 11 - October 31, 2015 Bruno David Gallery 3721 Washington Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63108 USA info@brunodavidgallery.com www.brunodavidgallery.com Director: Bruno L. David This catalogue was published in conjunction with the exhibition “ A Gathering: Muses-Fates-Furies” at Bruno David Gallery Editor: Bruno L. David Catalog Designer: Ashley SeoHyung Lee and Thomas J. Fruhauf Design Assistant: Claudia R. David Printed in USA All works courtesy of Leslie Laskey and Bruno David Gallery Photographs by Bruno David Gallery Cover image: A Gathering: Muses-Fates-Furies (Installation view-detail) Bruno David Gallery, 2015 Copyright © 2016 Bruno David Gallery and Bruno David Projects All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Bruno David Gallery and Bruno David Projects

CONTENTS

A GATHERING by Leslie Laskey AFTERWORD by Bruno L. David CHECKLIST AND IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION BIOGRAPHY

A GATHERING: MUSES - FATES - FURIES by Leslie Laskey 2

MYTH – SONGS – HISTORY DOESN’T ALL ART BEGIN HERE? TO REMEMBER A STORY A COLOR A NAME PLACING IT IN THE CHAIN OF EVENTS, WEAVING THAT TAPESTRY; TO MAKE A NEW WORLD VISIBLE. TO TRANSLATE STORY INTO A PLACE. MADE REAL WITH COLOUR, SHAPE, AND LINE. THAT’S THE ARTIST’S CHORE / TASK / JOY. I SEARCH FOR A PERCH WHERE THE WORLD, SEPARATES AND FORM MEMORY INTO NOW. HOLDING AND IDEA TO LET IT – TUMBLE AND REASSEMBLE INTO AN ORDER, I CAN MAKE VISIBLE. I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT I SEE. I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT I HEAR. LISTEN LOOK BE AMAZED GO AND TELL YOUR OWN STORIES SING NEW SONGS. 3

AFTERWORD by Bruno L. David 4

I am pleased to present a new exhibition titled “A Gathering: Muses-Fates-Furies” by Leslie Laskey and, his seventh solo exhibition with the Bruno David Gallery. Leslie Laskey, now 94 years-old, is one of the most successful and experienced working artists in the St. Louis area. He is an innovative thinker whose work never fails to make an impact on viewer perceptions. Leslie Laskey’s media of choice is ever changing, and characteristic of his work. In this new oeuvre, he incorporates collage, oil paint, acrylic, and crayon. It is this variety of media and style, which adds to the engaging quality of his work and its subsequent effect on viewers. Born in Michigan in 1921, Laskey served in a combat unit in Europe and was among the troops that landed on Omaha Beach early on 1944 D-Day. He studied at Indiana University and at the Institute of Design in Chicago (now the Illinois Institute of Technology) with founder and American Bauhaus pioneer Lászlò Moholy-Nagy. Currently, he divides his time between St. Louis, Key West, Florida and Manistee, Michigan and is a Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis. Support for the creation of significant new works of art has been the core to the mission and program of the Bruno David Gallery since its founding in 2005. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Leslie Laskey for his thoughtful poem. I am deeply grateful to Ashley SeoHyung Lee and Thomas J. Fruhauf, who gave much time, talent, and expertise to the production of this catalogue. Invaluable gallery staff support for the exhibition was provided by Cleo Azariadis, Alex DeRosa, and Orianna Montenegro.

CHECKLIST & IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

Calliode, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 32 x 24 1/4 (81.28 x 61.59cm)

Melpomene, 2015 Collages on paper 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 in (framed) (31.75 x 31.75 cm)

The Gathering, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 15 1/4 x 18 1/4 in(framed) (38.73 x 46.35 cm)

Urania, 2015 Collages and Mixed Media on paper 13 x 9 in (framed) (33.02 x 22.86 cm)

Erato, 2015 Collages on paper 14 x 11 in (framed) (35.56 x 27.94 cm)

Terpsichore, 2015 Collages on paper 18 1/2 x 14 1/2 in (framed) (47.62 x 36.83 cm)

The Gathering, 2015 Digital Print on paper 35 1/4 x 25 1/4 in(sheet size) (89.53 x 64.13 cm)

Chaos, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 18 x 21 1/4 in (framed) (45.72 x 53.97 cm)

Melpomene, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 32 x 24 1/2 in (framed) (81.28 x 62.23 cm)

Thalia, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 32 x 23 1/2 in (framed) (81.28 x 59.69 cm)

Thalia, 2015 Collages on paper 12 x 10 1/2 in (framed) (30.48 x 26.67 cm)

Euterpe, 2015 Collages on paper 13 x 13 in (framed) (33.02 x 33.02 cm)

Cilio, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 27 1/2 x 25 3/4 (framed) (69.88 x 65.40 cm)

Erato, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 25 1/2 x 20 in (framed) (65.40 x 50.8 cm)

Terpsichore, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 21 x 25 3/4 in (framed) (53.34 x 65.40 cm)

The Gathering, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 16 x 21 in (framed) (40.64 x 53.34)

Clio, 2015 Collages on paper 11 X 9 in (framed) (27.94 x 22.86 cm)

Muse, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 26 1/2 x 20 3/4 in (framed) (67.31 x 20.75 cm)

A Congress of the Muses, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 31 1/2 x 23 3/4 in (framed) (80.01`x 60.33 cm)

Polyhymnia, 2015 Acrylic and Mixed Media on paper 18 3/4 x 13 in (framed) (47.62 x 33.02 cm)

Leslie Laskey: A Gathering of Muses-Fates-Furies (September 11 - October 10, 2015), Instalation View

LESLIE LASKEY American, b. 1921 Lives and works in St. Louis, Missouri and Manistee, Michigan

EDUCATION Institute of Design (Illinois Institute of Technology), Chicago, IL

ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2004

Bruno David Gallery, A Gathering: Muses-Fates-Furies, SeptemberOctober, St. Louis, MO (Catalogue) Bruno David Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Embrology, October, St. Louis, MO (Catalogue) Bruno David Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Windows, September, St. Louis, MO (Catalogue) Manierre Dawson Gallery, Leslie Laskey, Community College, Scottville, MI Bruno David Gallery, Leslie Laskey: S.E.N.T., September-October, St. Louis, MO Steinberg Hall Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Retrospective, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, September 9-October 1, St. Louis, MO Bruno David Gallery, Portrait: Artist and Friends, November, St. Louis, MO Bruno David Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Tango, September-October, St. Louis, MO Bruno David Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Work, March-April, St. Louis, MO New Space Gallery, Leslie Laskey and Frank Schwaiger, May, St. Louis, MO Bruno David Gallery (New Media Room), Archeologie, July-August, St. Louis, MO Sheldon Art Galleries, Ars Botanica: Works by Leslie Laskey, September 29, 2006 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January 27, 2007, St. Louis, MO Ellen Curlee Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Lilium, September-October, 2006 Bruno David Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Realms, May 5-27, St. Louis, MO Gallery of Contemporary Art, Journeys, Territories, Adventures, (St. Louis Community College-Forest Park), February, St. Louis, MO Columbia Foundation, MMIII (with Frank Schwaiger), St. Louis, MO Cherokee Gallery, Doll (Portraits), St. Louis, MO

2003 2001 1999 1995 1989 1987 1987 1985 1984 1980 1979 1978

Columbia Foundation, Redux: Work on Paper (Amaryllis Suite), St. Louis, MO Columbia Foundation, Duet (with Frank Schwaiger), St. Louis, MO Columbia Foundation, New Works (with Frank Schwaiger), St. Louis, MO Gallery of Contemporary Art, Opus 1995 Variations, (St. Louis Community College-Forest Park), September, St. Louis, MO Elliot Smith Gallery, Leslie Laskey: Encounters: Prints, Drawings, Paintings, Sculpture, September-October, St. Louis, MO Bixby Gallery, Leslie Laskey Retrospective, St. Louis, MO Elliot Smith Gallery, Sticks, St. Louis, MO North Carolina State Museum, Leslie Laskey, Raleigh, NC Elliot Smith Gallery, On Paper: Leslie Laskey Suite of New Drawings, St. Louis, MO Martin Schweig Gallery, Leslie Laskey, St. Louis, MO Talisman Gallery, Leslie Laskey, St. Louis, MO St. George’s Gallery, Leslie Laskey, London, England

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002

Halftone, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO OVERVIEW_2014, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO BLUE-WHITE-RED, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO W.O.P. I, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO OVERVIEW_10, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO OVERVIEW_09, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO OVERVIEW_08, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO ArtsDesire, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. OVERVIEW_07, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO OVERVIEW, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO Inaugural Exhibition, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO RITUAL, Zeitgeist Gallery, October-November, Nashville, TN Mentors: Inspiration, Influence, Expertise, St. Louis Artists’ Guild Gallery, St. Louis, MO The Bauhaus Legacy in St. Louis: Woodcuts by Werner Drewes, Leslie Laskey, and Jim Harris, Curated by Olivia Lahs-Gonzales,

2002 1988 1987 1986 1983

Sheldon Art Galleries, St. Louis, MO Directions ‘88, Elliot Smith Gallery St. Louis, MO House, Garden: A Sense of Place, Elliot Smith Gallery St. Louis, MO Directions ‘87, Elliot Smith Gallery St. Louis, MO Directions ‘86, Elliot Smith Gallery St. Louis, MO Group Exhibition, Print Club Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

BIBLIOGRAPHY Lowenstein, Michael Fowler, Nancy & Arnold, Willis Griesbach, Hermes Sarah

“The Art of the Process.” Bruno David Gallery Publications (catalogue) November 2014 “Leslie Laskey and Frank Schwaiger.” NPR/KWMU, October 23, 2014

Gay, Malcolm

“And suddenly, there was a frame.” Bruno David Gallery Publications (catalogue) September 2013

Fowler, Nancy Harris, Jim

“Leslie Laskey: The Art of Life, A Life in Art.” St. Louis Beacon, September 7, 2011 “Leslie Laskey.” Bruno David Gallery Publications (catalogue) September 2011

“Artists plumb their unconscious for Bruno David.” St. Louis Beacon, September 23, 2013

Vallowe, Megan “S.E.N.T. Security Envelopes Now Tampered.” Bruno David Gallery Publications (catalogue) September 2011 Harris, Jim “Leslie Laskey: Tango.” Bruno David Gallery Publications (catalogue) September 2009 Bonetti, David. “Leslie Laskey: Shows Illustrate Art-design Connection.”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 30, 2008 Gay, Malcolm “Art Capsules: Leslie Laskey.” Riverfront Times, March 12, 2008 Duffy, Robert “A Testament of Blossoms and Bones.” Bruno David Gallery Publications (catalogue) March 2008 ____________. “Leslie Laskey.” Art-Patrol, March 19, 2008 Gay, Malcolm “Everything’s Coming Up Laskey.” Riverfront Times, September 28, 2006 Friswold, Paul . “Coin of the Realms.” Riverfront Times. p. 25, May 4, 2006 Duffy, Robert “Ars Botanica: Works by Leslie J. Laskey.” Riverfront Times, November 2006 Drury Dubinsky, Yvette. “Leslie Laskey: Realms.” Bruno David Gallery Publication, May 5, 2006

Miller, Rob. ____________. Murphy, Ann ____________. Crone, Tomas. Beall, Hugh. Miller, Rob. Cooper, Ivy. Bonetti, David. Crone, Tomas. Miller, Rob. Bonetti, David. Sieloff, Alison. Bonetti, David. Murphy, Anne. Miller, Rob. Beall, Hugh. Griffin, William Bonetti, David. Sieloff, Alison. Bonetti, David. Murphy, Anne. ____________. Otten, Liam. Church, Amanda

“’Leslie Laskey: Realms” Saintlouisart, May 24, 2006. http://saintlouisart.blogspot.com/ “Doll face”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, April 21, 2005 “ARTful Living,” The Healthy Planet, February 2005 “Leslie Laskey”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, September 27, 2005 “Bruno David to Open on Friday”, 52nd City, October 2005 “The Bruno buzz”, West End Word, October 26, 2005 “’Over hung’ show or ‘Hung over’ critic?” Saintlouisart, November 17, 2005 “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Riverfront Times, November 9, 2005 “Bruno David Gallery”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, November 9, 2005 “Bruno David Gallery”, 52nd City, October 2005, http://blog.52ndcity.com/archives “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Saintlouisart, October 25, 2005. http://saintlouisart.blogspot.com/ “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 20, 2005 “Grand Grand Center”, Riverfront Times, October 19, 2005 “Gallery musical chairs”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 1, 2005 “Art News”, The Healthy Planet, September 2005, http://www.thehealthyplanet.com/sept05_artfulliving.htm “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Saintlouisart, October 25, 2005. http://saintlouisart.blogspot.com/ “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Illusion Junkie, October 25, 2005. Web Video. http://illusionjunkie.blogspot.com/2005/10/bruno-david-inaugural-exhibition.html “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 20, 2005 “Grand Grand Center”, Riverfront Times, October 19, 2005 “Gallery musical chairs”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 1, 2005 “Art News”, The Healthy Planet, September 2005, http://www.thehealthyplanet.com/sept05_artfulliving.htm “Leslie Laskey.” Riverfront Times, September 25, 2002 “Three degrees of Bauhaus”, Record, February 15, 2002 “Beautiful You.” Artnet Magazine, October 24, 2001

PUBLICATIONS - FILM “Forty-seven Views of Leslie Laskey” directed and produced by Lulu Gargiulo and David Wild.

GRANTS & AWARDS 1982 1986 1987

Rockefeller Foundation Grant (Print Making and Graphic Arts) Washington University Distinguished Faculty Award Distinguished Professor Award (Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture) Washington University Professor Emeritus

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ARTISTS Laura Beard Heather Bennett Lisa K. Blatt Michael Byron Bunny Burson Judy Child Carmon Colangelo Alex Couwenberg Jill Downen Yvette Drury Dubinsky Damon Freed Douglass Freed Ellen Jantzen

Michael Jantzen Kelley Johnson Howard Jones (Estate) Chris Kahler Xizi Liu Kahlil Irving Bill Kohn (Estate) Leslie Laskey Yvonne Osei Patricia Olynyk Gary Passanise Judy Pfaff

Charles P. Reay Daniel Raedeke Tom Reed Frank Schwaiger Charles Schwall Christina Shmigel Thomas Sleet Shane Simmons Buzz Spector Cindy Tower Ann Wimsatt Monika Wulfers