photograph by Jeni Kulka

Cherokee Street is the proud host to St. Louis’ most eclectic celebration. The Cinco de Mayo Festival celebrates Mexican heritage, but also places on display the multiplicity of creative people living, working, and playing along this historic street. At this outdoor event, a throng of thousands sample delectable fare (emphasis on antojitos, Mexican street food like tacos, tamales, and tortas) from local restaurants, food trucks, and food tents, while listening to live music on three stages, and browsing through exhibits by so-called “Cherokee People” (the artists and entrepreneurs who live and/or work in the neighborhood).

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Jeni Kulka

Cherokee Street began as a business district in the late 1880′s, due largely to the convergence of two popular street car lines upon its thoroughfare. Being a point of easy access for most residents of south St. Louis, the district experienced rapid commercial growth. The diversity of businesses ranged from dry-goods purveyors and barber shops to nickelodeons and photo studios. St. Louis-based Globe Drugs had an important location on Cherokee Street, and Wehrenberg Theatres (the oldest and largest family-owned movie theater chain in the United States) got its start here.

After 1960, rust-belt decay and white flight contributed to the significant decline which continues to impact the street even to this day. However, the infrastructure provided by the area’s initial meteoric growth, as well as its historic reputation, meant that interest never fully waned for the district’s latent commercial promise. The Cherokee-Lemp Historic District was formed in 1980 to protect the street’s eastern apogee. This reinvestment attracted a large coalition of antiques dealers to the area, and the Cherokee-Lemp Antique Row was formed. Eventually, a new generation of creatives and St. Louis revivalists focused efforts on converting some of the inexpensive or abandoned storefronts elsewhere along the street into cafes and art spaces. Boots Contemporary Art Space, an artist-run gallery led by Juan Chavez, drew significant national (and international) attention to the area, lighting a torch for those businesses that followed.

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Ann Aurbach

Today, revitalization and commercial growth extends both east and west of Jefferson, but the Cinco de Mayo Festival is primarily a celebration of the broad collective of businesses nestled between Pennsylvania and Indiana. This area, known as the Cherokee Station Business District possesses a character distinct from the antique row to its east. Cherokee Station encompasses the area’s historic “downtown”, and includes the metropolitan area’s largest concentration of hispanic-owned businesses (thus the Festival). Arts organizations like The Luminary Center for the Arts, 2720 Cherokee, and Los Caminos continue the innovative programming introduced by Chavez, while exciting outposts like STL-Style, Apop Records, and La Vallesana continue to color the experience of living, working, or playing inside this historic corridor.

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Jason Gray

Map:

photograph by Patrick Gioia

The origin of the Missouri Botanical Garden is a story steeped in the history of its founder, Henry Shaw.  Mr. Shaw moved to St. Louis from Sheffield, England, around 1819, and set up a hardware shop to sell goods imported from back home.  At the time, the city was on the verge of major growth, and Shaw’s venture* proved prescient.  Henry Shaw purchased large swathes of land with the profits from his business, which was so successful that he was able to retire at an early age (40).  After traveling extensively, Shaw returned to St. Louis determined to champion his love of botany.

Around his manse, Tower Grove House, Mr. Shaw began to construct a garden that attracted leading botanists from around the world.  With their cooperation, Missouri Botanical Garden was expanded extensively, and eventually opened to the public in 1859.  Afterward, Shaw donated a considerable amount of land, adjoining the Garden, to the city of St. Louis for a public park.  The presence of Henry Shaw’s Garden, Tower Grove Park, and Shaw Place (a residential development informed/owned by its namesake) spurred development and transformed south St. Louis forever.

photograph by Sunjoo Lee

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Captured N Time

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

Today, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a world leader in botanical conservation and study, and an innovator in plant science.  The organization partners with educators, researchers, horticulturists, and more to expand plant preservation awareness and encourage the enjoyment of flora wherever it’s found.  The Garden is listed as a National Historic Landmark, and is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere.  In addition, two of the Garden’s greenhouses are of historical significance- the Linnean House (built 1882) is the oldest continually operated greenhouse west of the Mississippi River, and the Climatron (built 1960) is the world’s first geodesic greenhouse.

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Janet Henrichs

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Captured N Time

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Captured N Time

A stroll through the Missouri Botanical Garden is a veritable trip to Eden.  The Garden features over 70 acres of horticultural display, which take on a different character as the seasons change.

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Jason Gray

Map:

*As the city grew, Henry Shaw diversified his business to capitalize on emerging markets and expanded demographics.

Located in far south St. Louis, Carondelet Park is the third largest park in the city, and dates back to 1875. The green space is hilly and tree filled, with several bodies of water and unique architectural features (including the Lyle House, the 1842 home of the original owners of the grounds that the park is built upon). The 180-acre park is geologically significant in that it is the only representation of Karst topography evident in the St. Louis city parks system. This distinctive feature means that Carondelet Park possesses characteristic landforms, including sinkholes, that provides a glimpse into what the area of south St. Louis would’ve looked like before development.

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Amanda Krebel

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

The park was established as a compromise between nearby residents and the city, which was seeking popular approval for the creation of Forest Park. At the time, the location of Forest Park was too long of a trip away to be enjoyed by residents of far south and far north St. Louis, so the city added proposals to establish two additional parks to abate criticism (Carondelet and O’Fallon). Carondelet Park is the recreational focal point for five, adjoining neighborhoods, Boulevard Heights, Carondelet, The Patch, Bevo Mill, and Holly Hills, but receives visitors from throughout the metropolitan area. On the day that Photo Flood St. Louis visited, the most popular activity seemed to be fishing, but the park offers opportunities for picnicking, music performances, athletic activities, bird watching, and more. A draw worth noting is the so-called “Bear Pit”, a bit of sinkhole corralled mysteriously by an undulating stone wall. The name is essentially urban lore owing to the origin of the St. Louis Zoo. When the St. Louis Zoological Society was established in 1910, St. Louis already had a small zoo in Fairgrounds Park (which incidentally, does still have an actual, former bear pit). The Society wanted to build a new zoo in Forest Park, but entertained proposals for locating it in other locations, including Carondelet Park. Thus, the “Bear Pit” is a bit of facetious wordplay linking an odd structure to what might have been.

photograph by Amanda Krebel

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

The blood in the photo below, is less an indication of unsafe park conditions, and more a testament to chance encounters. With all of the beautiful things going on around where this image was taken, it just goes to show that living in St. Louis is sometimes a tug of war between the extremes of humanity.

photograph by Jason Gray

In 2002, a proposal was put forth to revitalize the park, which has been observed as somewhat deteriorated. This plan was originally met with some skepticism (about cost and the reworking of popular attractions, like the “Bear Pit”), but seems to have begun anyway. The again spewing fountain of Boathouse Lake is an example the plan in action. Ultimately, the Carondelet Park Master Plan draws inspiration from the successful revitalization of Forest Park, which implies that beautiful things are on the horizon for the beloved park.

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Amanda Krebel

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

Map:

Our end point (at 5425 South Grand Boulevard; not the location on map) was Chimichanga Mexican Restaurant, were we all enjoyed delicious Mexican fare and potent margaritas.

photography by Jason Gray

Situated just east of Henry Shaw’s Tower Grove Park, the neighborhood of Tower Grove East is home to stunning architecture, the South Grand shopping and dining district, and a multicultural community. Most of what’s tangible dates back to the early 1900′s when German immigrants, following their relatives to adjoining communities, spurred building development in TGE. Since that time, many social and ethnic groups have made their mark, leaving this area as an extremely diverse place to live.

photograph by Ann Aurbach

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Karen Potter

photograph by Steph James

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. louis

Throughout the neighborhood, homes are built primarily in the American Foursquare style, which means that many of the houses look very much the same from the outside. However, the use of pattern books insured that the interiors of these structures vary widely. Originally spacious homes for a single family, many of the buildings have since been converted into two- or three-family units, and are for rent. The transition of housing from single family to multiple families (occurred gradually beginning in the late 1920′s) and introduced much of the busy character that still defines the neighborhood. In the past two decades, some of the homes have been converted back to their original use (linked in some part to gentrification).

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Chris Naffziger

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

Tower Grove East, like much of St. Louis, has experienced pronounced periods of urban decay, and the neighborhood does exhibit many of the open wounds burdening the city. Abandoned buildings and lots, crime, poor public schools/closing schools, racial tension, and more exist in TGE, but the current residents are determined to improve upon these ills (and much progress has been made). That said, the neighborhood does have many unique attributes (numerous festivals and parades, good access to public transit, a multicultural community, etc.) which seem to grow daily.

photograph by Steph James

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Ann Aurbach

The map:

Our end point was Meskerem Ethiopian, a fantastic eatery along South Grand. If you haven’t tried Ethiopian cuisine, food portions are served on a delicious, spongy flatbread called “injera” that you use as your eating utensil. Our group ordered the Meskerem Combo and the Vegetarian Combo (among other things), and they were each fantastic!

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Patrick Gioia

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is a park located on a parcel of land where many of the earliest buildings in St. Louis once stood. This Federally funded National Memorial commemorates the westward expansion of the United States, the struggles of slavery (particularly the court decision against Dred Scott), and the first civil government west of the Mississippi. The Gateway Arch, Old Courthouse, Museum of Westward Expansion and more occupy the grounds.

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Sunjoo Lee

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jason Gray

There is little doubt that St. Louis’ most recognizable feature is the Gateway Arch. Designed by Eero Saarinen, the tallest man-made monument in the United States opened to the public in 1967. Standing 630 feet tall, the structure represents many things to many people, but the construction of the monument and the memorial was not without some controversy.

The land that the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial now occupies was where the initial settlement of St. Louis was located, and at the time of its clearing, contained many important representations of the city’s best architecture. Additionally, the 40 city blocks that constituted the area were home to a unique, literary and arts scene that never fully re-materialized after displacement.

Area now occupied by Jefferson National Expansion Memorial:

John Caspar Wild; Panorama of St. Louis and Vicinity, 1842.

That said, the park has brought much development to the region, over the years, and a recent effort to revitalize the grounds promises to continue this gift. Not to mention, the skyline of St. Louis would be much less remarkable without the colossal structure. The grounds themselves are also quite beautiful, and the other attractions (mentioned at the top of this article) offer great opportunities to round out a trip to the riverfront.

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jeni Kulka

The map:

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

RAW:St. Louis is the local extension to the international network under the helm of RAW:Artists. The organization operates in 54 cities across the United States and Australia, and works to provide a platform for artists in the first ten years of their professional development. Locally, RAW is directed by Sarah Faragalla who does a fabulous job putting together St. Louis’ largest, monthly, multi-disciplinary art exhibition.

If you’ve never been, the events feature 20-30 artists working in media ranging from fashion to printmaking. The two-dimensional art is displayed according to artist (who are on hand throughout to talk about their work), while performance-based work (film, music, fashion, dance) runs in succession on a main stage. If you are looking to meet creative people, network, or promote your business/organization, RAW:St. Louis events are excellent places to start. The night that Photo Flood St. Louis exhibited, more than 800 guests were in attendance!

To be an exhibitor or for information on how to attend, click here.

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Jeni Kulka

Map:

Group pic:
RAW Media photographs each of the exhibiting artists for promotional purposes. We had only a few people available to pose at the time, but it is our first “family” picture. Ha ha.
(l. to r.- Mandi Gray, Patrick Gioia, Theresa Harter, Jason Gray, Amanda Krebel) image by Peter Wochniak

Interview:

Tomorrow night, Photo Flood Saint Louis will be exhibiting prints from our Floods for the first time at RAW:St. Louis’ 2013 launch event, “Discovery”. We will be showing over 60 photographs by 17 photographers, and the event will also be an official Mini-Flood, so your pretty face could wind up on our website.

Come out and show us some support! Details below.

Location: Paragon Theatre, 1911 Locust
Time: 8p to Midnight
Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
RAW:St. Louis

Certainly, St. Louis is a city of contrasts, and Ellendale, on our far western border, is a firm example. It’s 130-year history includes successes in industry (Scullins Steel) and failures in renewal (St. Louis Marketplace); interestingly and somewhat ironically, the latter sits on the exact site of the former. Nonetheless, Ellendale has persisted through the years, and this fact offered for some exciting architectural variety to photograph. Here, shotgun style and flounder houses rub elbows with Victorians, and apartment buildings sit across the street from sprawling industrial complexes. “Encrustation” is visible everywhere, from attached garages converted into living spaces, to brick homes with wood or vinyl-sided expansions. Even so, the area appears very well-maintained, and thoroughly “lived-in”; it is a working class community with an expansive heritage and a lot of heart.

photograph by Amanda Krebel

photograph by Karen Potter

photograph by Steven Ley

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Amanda Krebel

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Steven Ley

The area was founded as “Ellendale” by Kate Thomas, who inherited the land from her father, James Sutton, in 1877. Even before this time, the region was a thriving industrial center for coal and steel. With the introduction of streetcars to Ellendale, the neighborhood’s population began to rise steadily. Until it closed in 1981, Scullin Steel Company was the major employer, with a huge foundry and rolling mill in the area. Incidentally, Scullin was one of the suppliers of steel for the Gateway Arch. In 1992, the former Scullin Steel Company complex was demolished for the St. Louis Marketplace. Regional leaders anticipated that the introduction of this large shopping center would revitalize Ellendale, which had been long deteriorating. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case. Still, Ellendale has seen some new businesses opening in recent years, and hope for a complete renaissance prospers.

photograph by Janet Henrichs

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Amanda Krebel

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Patrick Gioia

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Steven Ley

photograph by Jason Gray

The map:

Our end point was the Piccadilly at Manhattan, which was a cozy place to grab a drink, something to eat (the Grouper sandwich was delicious!), and talk photography with friends.

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

Old North Saint Louis is a neighborhood of distinction that is experiencing a rebirth. From arts advocacy groups, to restauranteurs and building developers, to a committed and close-knit community, Old North Saint Louis continues work to reclaim its former glory.

photograph by Wendi Fitzgerald

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Wendi Fitzgerald

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Wendi Fitzgerald

Old North began as the village of North Saint Louis in 1816. It’s designers had ambitions to build a city that would rival in greatness the one directly to their south, the inland port of St. Louis. For many years, the dream flourished, and Old North Saint Louis prospered. Even after the city’s annexation of Old North in 1841, the neighborhood continued to draw many new residents with opportunities in shipping and manufacturing. However, in the 20th century, the area was dealt a series of crushing blows; from the dismantling of the streetcar system, to the construction of Interstate 70 (which cut the neighborhood off from the river), to a failed pedestrian mall, Old North suffered great declines, and the previous greatness was eventually difficult to see. Despite this, the area maintained loyalists and long-time residents who banded with dedicated outsiders to impart the dramatic changes now occurring.

photograph by Wendi Fitzgerald

photograph by Theresa Harter

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Wendi Fitzgerald

photograph by Mandi Gray

Given that Old North Saint Louis is almost 200 years old, it is no surprise that its original planners had great flexibility for how to lay out the street grid. Unique names exist, which honor original residents, and there are many landmark buildings (there are three, separate National Historic Districts in Old North). Probably the most unique surviving features are the three, circular city-blocks near the neighborhood’s eastern border with I-70. These three plots are known as Clinton Place, Jackson Park, and Marion Place. Collectively, this municipal district was meant to represent mind, body and spirit, with one of the circles housing a school, another a park, and the last, a place of worship. Native American ceremonial mounds (those which contributed to St. Louis’ nickname of “Mound City”) were removed from these three blocks, and tales of indians still buried there prevail.

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Wendi Fitzgerald

photograph by Jason Gray

The map:

This Flood in Old North St. Louis marked our six-month anniversary of Photo Flood Saint Louis, so we really wanted to head somewhere special after shooting. What better place for our end point then than Crown Candy Kitchen? Makers of specialty chocolates, candies and milkshakes galore for 100 years, this north side soda fountain deserves every bit of its popular reputation. We even had a Flooder with the guts to tackle their massive Heart-Stopping BLT, a nominee for Alan Richman’s “Best Sandwich in America”.

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the Nation, and it is entirely free to visit (sans some of the special exhibits), making it a tremendous cultural asset for the city.

The Museum itself is a Beaux Arts-style structure (designed by Cass Gilbert) and sits atop Art Hill; a position of grandeur that it has held ever since its construction as the Palace of Fine Arts for the World’s Fair of 1904. If you happen to approach from the Grand Basin, it is easy to understand why many St. Louisans refer to SLAM as the “crown-jewel of Forest Park”.

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jeni Kulka

Dating back to the 1880′s, the Museum’s collection ranges from antiquity to contemporary art. The huge addition (set to open in June of 2013) was designed by David Chipperfield, and represents the largest expansion in the Museum’s history. The new building will house displays of the Museum’s contemporary art holdings, as well as, special exhibitions.

In its history, the Museum has had many associations with photography, from major exhibitions to supporting the local Camera Club, so it is only natural that Photo Flood Saint Louis finally paid it a visit.

photograph by Joshua Meyer

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Jason Gray

photograph by Steph James

photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Mandi Gray

photograph by Siobhan Lestina

photograph by Jeni Kulka

photograph by Janet Henrichs

photograph by Jason Gray

Map: