You are invited to join us for the public opening celebration at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum this Friday, May 6 from 7-9 pm featuring two new exhibitions:

Cosima von Bonin: Character Appropriation
Conceptual artist Cosima von Bonin’s creative practice is distinguished by an exceptional interweaving of sculpture, installation, video, textiles, music, performance, and her own social network. The exhibition roughly spans the last decade of the artist’s career, including a selection of her textile “paintings,” her signature sculptures and outsized stuffed animals, as well as her latest pieces that embrace themes of idleness and mental and physical fatigue. more info >>

2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition
The exhibition will feature thesis projects by the 2011 Master of Fine Arts candidates in Washington University’s Graduate School of Art, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. 2011 MFA candidates: John Talbott Allen, Meghan Bean, Shira Berkowitz, Darrick Byers, Jisun Choi, Zlatko Cosic, James Daniels, Kara Daving, Andrea Degener, Kristin Fleischmann, William Frank, Nicholas Kania, Jordan McGirk, Zachary Miller, Esther Murphy, Kathryn Neale, Katherine McCullough, Christopher Ottinger, Maia Palmer, Nicole Petrescu, Lauren Pressler, Bryce Olen Robinson, Whitney Sage, Donna Smith more info >>

RELATED EVENTS
Opening Afterparty
Friday, May 6: 10 pm at Atomic Cowboy (4140 Manchester Avenue)
The celebration continues at an afterparty featuring Moritz von Oswald—an influential electronic music pioneer and frequent von Bonin collaborator—at Atomic Cowboy (4140 Manchester Avenue) starting at 10 pm ($3 cover; free passes will be available at the opening reception). 21 and over only

Gallery Talk
Saturday, May 7: 1 pm
Meredith Malone, curator of Cosima von Bonin: Character Appropriation, will lead a talk in the galleries offering visitors an in-depth look at the exhibition’s works and themes.

Member preview: 6-7 pm
Public opening reception: 7-9 pm

Please join us for the opening of the Focus on Photography: Recent Acquisitions, a diverse exhibition of photographic works from the permanent collection and the MFA Thesis Exhibition, which features art works by all 2010 Masters of Fine Arts candidates in the the Graduate School of Art.

See www.kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu for more information!

White Flag gets a lot of criticism from the local crushed souls about our non-exhibition events, like if we throw a party that isn’t typically pathetic then somehow the curatorial program can’t be serious. They say things like: “It’s just a party venue,” and  “They’re obsessed with youth!”

Well, we can’t all be running mausoleums, can we? And yet something tells me we won’t get any flack for the thing here next Wednesday night, March 25: A evening of French poetry read by writer William H. Gass, poet Mary Jo Bang and the St. Louis Symphony’s David Robertson. And yes-– it’s taking place on the same sullied ground as things like our unforgivable Ian MacKaye show and Stephen Jehle’s infamous party.

There is a catch: It’s a benefit for the St. Louis Poetry Center, and unlike most things at WFP it will cost you a charitable $50 to attend. It’s being billed as a “Champagne Reception” as well, so that’s even fancier. If you want tickets or info you don’t need to call us about it- call the Poetry Center people at 314-973-0616. Their website is www.stlouispoetrycenter.org.