Founded in 1846, the St. Louis Mercantile Library is the oldest library in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The library has remained a vibrant community asset for approaching two centuries, but it also provides so much more than access to collections of books and archival materials. The St. Louis Mercantile Library also was the first art gallery in the region. To this day, its art collections offer important insight into St. Louis, its culture and its history. The Wallace H. Smith Gallery of Art currently features the exhibition Casting a Long Shadow: Frederick Oakes Sylvester & His Circle.
The exhibit explores the time Fredrick Oakes Sylverser spent in St. Louis around the turn of the 20th century and its impact. It offers a unique look at the region’s cultural history. “Sylvester was a central figure in the local art scene, interacting with all of the key players at the time,” explains Julie Dunn-Morton, recently retired fine arts curator. “Using his work and life as a focus allowed us to bring in around 50 other artists, illustrating his influence and how the impact of all these creators spread to St. Louis cultural institutions. It gives a snapshot of the art world from the 1890s into the current day.”
Casting a Long Shadow features artists working in a variety of mediums, including oil painting, watercolor, prints, engraving and more. It’s a unique opportunity to see artwork that highlights the St. Louis region, including the arts and cultural institutions that helped shape it, such as the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. “The exhibition offers a broader picture of how these artists shaped the St. Louis arts scene, and their impact on local and regional organizations they were a part of,” Dunn-Morton says.
Casting a Long Shadow will be on display through July 31. The St. Louis Mercantile Library offers free docent-led tours so guests can receive greater insight into the works. Tours can be arranged via phone at 314.516.5920 or email at mercantilelibrary@umsl.edu. “We can accommodate from one person up to larger groups of around 20 to 40,” Dunn-Morton says. “Tours are provided Tuesday through Saturday, and we require around two weeks’ notice to arrange everything.” For an even more in-depth perspective on the exhibit, Dunn-Morton will be hosting a closing reception and curator talk on June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. It is a ticketed event with limited seating.
To gain full access to all that the St. Louis Mercantile Library has to offer, Dunn-Morton suggests a membership. Available at student, individual and family levels, memberships offer a variety of perks, such as a discount at the museum shop, discounts on research assistance, advanced notice of programming and access to museum archives and exhibits. “The library will soon display an exhibition about the Declaration of Independence as part of our celebration of the nation,” she notes. “Our permanent installations include modern and historical sculpture, and for travel enthusiasts, we have extensive riverboat and railroad history collections. There’s always something great to view at the Mercantile.”
The St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL is the oldest library in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. Casting a Long Shadow: Frederick Oakes Sylvester & His Circle is on display at the library through July 31. Pictured on the cover: Artwork from Casting a Long Shadow. For more information, call 314.516.7240 or visit umsl.edu/mercantile.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo courtesy of St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL
Pictured at the top: Casting a Long Shadow is on display at the St. Louis Mercantile Library
Photo: Tim Parker Photography