Our Great Waterways: The Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers July 7, 2011

In an unusual public pairing of a fine art gallery and environmental conservation, Kodner Gallery has handpicked a group of the best plein air artists in the region to capture the unique beauty of our confluence rivers. The results will be showcased in a one-of-a-kind exhibit, “Our Great Waterways: The Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers,” opening July 8 at Kodner Gallery, 9650 Clayton Rd. and running through Aug. 1. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these works will go to the St. Louis Confluence Riverkeeper organization.

“Each year interest in conservation significantly increases. So does interest in our natural state heritage,” said David Kodner, co-owner of Kodner Gallery. “We believe this is an ideal time to recognize the artists who have been immersed in the plein air movement recording the beauty of our natural resources.”

The “Waterways” exhibition is meant to draw attention to the dynamic role these rivers play in our environment. Last spring, samples gathered by Riverkeeper Mike Bush revealed high levels of E. coli in the Missouri River near St. Charles. “People don’t realize that most of their drinking water comes from these rivers,” Bush said.

The selected artists represent the best Missouri talent in the plein air movement, including such celebrated names as Billyo O’Donnell, Bryan Haynes, Joseph Orr, James Godwin Scott and Catherine Mahoney. From winter to summer, these artists will capture the rivers in a variety of settings and surroundings, from sprawling landscapes to industrial cityscapes.

A dedicated conservationist, Mike Bush founded the St. Louis Confluence Riverkeeper organization as a chapter of the national Waterkeeper Alliance, which was founded in the 1980s to help clean and preserve polluted waterways. There are approximately 190 chapters of the Waterkeeper Alliance. Bush travels up and down the rivers and streams of the bi-state region to track, help clean up and prevent water pollution. Visit www.stlriverkeeper.org to report water pollution or for more information about the local chapter.

With more than 40 years of successful business in St. Louis, Kodner Gallery has been the source of fine and rare art for some of the most discriminating and sophisticated collectors. Kodner Gallery works of art have been exhibited in many museums and private collections worldwide. For more information, please visit www.kodnergallery.com.