City Museum

City Museum. Located in the former International Shoe Company building, the museum was founded by Bob Cassilly and Gail Cassilly in 1997. The Cassilly couple, along with a team of artists, architects, and engineers, transformed the abandoned building into a unique museum featuring art installations, exhibits, and collections made from reclaimed materials. The museum has become a popular tourist attraction in St. Louis, attracting visitors from Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles.

● History

The history of the museum dates back to the 1990s, when Bob Cassilly and Gail Cassilly began renovating the former International Shoe Company building. The couple, who were both artists and entrepreneurs, had a vision to create a unique museum that would showcase art installations and exhibits made from reclaimed materials. They drew inspiration from Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo, and collaborated with artists from The Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art, and The Whitney Museum of American Art. The museum officially opened in 1997 and has since become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, including visitors from San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C..

● Architecture

The architecture of the museum is a unique blend of industrial and artistic elements, featuring exposed brick, metal beams, and reclaimed wood. The building's design was influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe, and features a mix of modern and postmodern styles. The museum's interior design was handled by Gail Cassilly, who drew inspiration from The Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The National Gallery of Art. The building's façade features a large mural created by Bob Cassilly and a team of local artists, including Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and has become a landmark in St. Louis, visible from Busch Stadium and The Gateway Arch.

● Exhibits

The museum features a wide range of exhibits and installations, including art pieces made from reclaimed materials, interactive displays, and immersive experiences. Visitors can explore galleries featuring works by local artists, including Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood, as well as national and international artists, such as Andy Warhol and Claude Monet. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and events, including concerts and performances, in collaboration with The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, The Missouri History Museum, and The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Some of the notable exhibits include a 10-story slide, a train tunnel, and a roof garden with views of the St. Louis skyline and The Mississippi River.

● Collections

The museum's collections feature a wide range of art pieces and artifacts, including sculptures, paintings, and installations made from reclaimed materials. The collections include works by local artists, such as Ernest Trova and Frank Nuderscher, as well as national and international artists, including Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. The museum also has a collection of historical artifacts, including vintage cars and antique machinery, on loan from The Smithsonian Institution and The Henry Ford Museum. The collections are curated by a team of experts, including art historians and conservators from The Getty Museum and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

● Operations

The museum is operated by a team of staff and volunteers, who work together to manage the exhibits, collections, and events. The museum is funded by a combination of private donations, grants, and revenue from admissions and sales, including support from The National Endowment for the Arts, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and The Ford Foundation. The museum also partners with local organizations, including The St. Louis Art Museum, The Missouri Botanical Garden, and The St. Louis Zoo, to host events and exhibitions. The museum is open to the public year-round, with extended hours during peak season, and offers guided tours and educational programs for students and adults from Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University. Category:Art museums in the United States