July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
May 20, 2015
Making a difference through art
Recipe
11
Summer and the grilling is easy
Around Town
5
Feature Section
4
Business
7
Movie
9
Scouts partcipate in PrepareAthon
Zack Smithey displays artwork in his studio on May 12. Smithey created 1,000 acrylic and enamel paintings and launched the Easter Art Search in March.
Photos by Ray Rockwell
Local artist reaches out to the community to raise money for charity different, individual experience. Between meeting people and hearing so many cool stories on the Internet, it changed how I want to present myself as an artist in a new direction. I don’t Zack Smithey took a leap in the name of art and positivity. The 32-year-old St. Charles native created 1,000 acrylic want to hide out in the studio.” Smithey has been an artist, whether he realized it or not, for and enamel paintings and launched the Easter Art Search in March. Little by little Smithey pounded the pavement and as long as he can remember. “My grandmother would set a still life at the center of a table,” Facebook, stashing the pieces throughout the region, usually at non-profit organizations, and then posted clues and loca- he said. “I would draw it from one side and she would draw it from another then we would critique each other’s work.” tion hints. Smithey taught art at Francis Howell North High School Citing the disruptions in Ferguson and the general unrest in from 2006 to 2013, painted backSt. Louis, Smithey was motivated drops at the Muny, created videos to try and bring people together for the Chamber Music Society of and showcase a spirit in the area. Lincoln Center and plays the vioThe response was overwhelmla. He lives in St. Charles where ing. His followers on social mehe owns the restaurant and art dia went ballistic as he soon gallery Miss Aimee B’s. maxed out his Facebook friends’ In order to churn out 1,000 requests. Local news outlets pieces, Smithey had to adjust his caught wind and more and more creative method. got behind his cause. When it “I had to get innovative,” he was all said and done, at a signsaid. “I had to adapt and evolve ing at Cicero’s, Smithey spent as an artist. It was like three years more than four hours signing Zack Smithey stands in front of some of his artwork in his studio on May 12. of training in three months.” his paintings and anything else As far as Easter art hunt in 2016, Smithey is still tinkering as the line spilled out of the restaurant. The experience not only unified members of different com- with some ideas. “I’m not going to do the same thing twice,” Smithey said. “I munities but raffles and donations benefited local non-profits. The Easter Art Search raised over $4,000 for Covenant have already started my notes. This year, it got huge but I could House and countless donations of food, clothing, diapers and have made a bigger impact. I could have gotten the word out sports equipment. At Stray Rescue he raised $2,500 and Five and promoted it but I was too busy creating the work.” And though Smithey is a whirlwind of activity he’s learned Acres Animal Shelter in St. Charles, it was over $1,000. He also raffled off paintings and raised $2,000 to be shared by Growing that it’s OK to raise a hand for some help. “I learned not to do everything yourself,” he said. “The projAmerican Youth and a local cancer patient’s medical expenses. “It was different than the normal gallery show which can ect was enormous. It was stressful but awesome.” For more on Smithey, including plenty examples of his be kind of cold with just a few pieces and there’s a disconnect between the viewer and the artist,” Smithey said. “There was a work, visit www.zacksmithey.com.
By Brett Auten
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