St. Louis Artist's Guild Celebrates 125 Years

In 1886, a small group of people from the St. Louis Sketch Club met to discuss starting a new art organization. The seed planted that day  has grown into the St. Louis Artists' Guild, which will celebrate the start of its 125th anniversary Dec. 15 at its headquarters in Clayton's Oak Knoll Park.

The members of the sketch-club splinter group decided to meet primarily because they wanted to include women in their new organization.

"They were committed to admitting women, so they founded St. Louis Artists' Guild to tackle issues of gender," said Gina Alvarez, gallery and education director of the artists' guild. "This was the late 1800s."

They met in homes and basements until donations from members, art patrons and civic leaders such as Bill Bixby—president of the St. Louis Art Museum at the time—enabled them to open a new space on North Union Boulevard.

In 1916, curators enlarged the facility to include more gallery and meeting space, and a theater.

"That building had a lot of history," Alvarez said. "Tennessee Williams produced plays there. Picasso exhibited there."

The artists' guild sold the building in 1973 and moved into a three-story house in Webster Groves. In 1989, it signed the lease on its Clayton headquarters.

But the space wasn't ready for occupancy.

"From 1989 and 1995, we raised over $700,000 for renovations," Alvarez said.

Once the renovations had been completed, the artists' guild moved into its new building.

The theme for the Dec. 15 event is, "Celebrating today, feeling the spirit of the past and looking forward to a strong future." The gathering will feature fine food, art displays in the galleries, artists painting on-site and a silent auction. Artist-created ornaments will be on sale for those seeking holiday gifts.

The great-grandson of the original benefactor and founder of the artists' guild, William Bixby Sheldon, is expected to be in attendance as the guest of honor.

Alvarez said she expects the future of the artists' guild to be exciting.

"We've had such a strong past, and we hope the future will be as strong if not stronger," she said. "With our programming and education, we'll be able to strengthen the St. Louis arts community."

At the same time, the artists' guild is cognizant of the down economy, which has made its need for funds more immediate than at other times.

"We want to keep our doors open," Alvarez said. "That's not so easy in this economy."