Arts & Entertainment

Kirkwood Artist Goes Post-Apocalyptic

In her solo exhibition "River Road," Kirkwood artist Gwyn Wahlmann leads us into a world where humans have been thrown into a closer relationship with nature.

The following was submitted by the St. Louis Artists' Guild.

The St. Louis Artists' Guild presents River Road, a solo exhibition by Gwyn Wahlmann, part of the Aggregate Exhibition Series. In River Road, Wahlmann presents "relics from the future" created by an imagined post-apocalyptic society.

In River Road, Wahlmann explores her interests in anthropology, sociology, science and the natural world. The Kirkwood artist has imagined a possible future society, a post-apocalyptic world where humans have been thrown into a closer relationship with the natural world.

Find out what's happening in Kirkwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Like today's wildlife, this tribe of humans follows the river corridor. Wahlmann has created a collection of objects, both functional and ceremonial, used by this tribe. The onkects are crafted from a combination of organic materials and remnants of the previous human civilization: bottle caps, license plates, rusty metal, and shards of glass.

River Road raises the issue of sustainabilty by envisioning a society that lives closer to nature and relies on creative resourcefulness.

Find out what's happening in Kirkwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About Gwyn Wahlmann:

Wahlmann's investigations of the natural world began in her childhood, during which she spent a lot of time roaming the creek on her family's property looking for stones and fossils. She continues to explore creeks and natural areas today.

"Creeks and riverfronts have a way of putting things in perspective," Wahlmann says in her artist statement, "sometimes with surprising humor and synchronicitiies. Seems like everything winds up in a creek somewhere eventually."

Her interest in environmentalism led her to begin working with recycled and repurposed materials, such as discarded junk and found natural objects. Wahlmann is a member of the St. Louis Artists' Guild and has participated in several Guild exhibitions. She lives and works in Kirkwood.

River Road Details:

  • Opening Reception: Friday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Exhibition Dates: Nov. 11–Jan. 6

Aggregate Exhibition Series:

The Aggregate Exhibition Series at the St. Louis Artists' Guild is a group of six exhibitions in which artists, architects and desginers examine our culture of consumpton and possible solutions for establishing long-term ecological balance.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Kirkwood