Night Tree: Quincy, Illinois

T. Renner, "Night Tree: Quincy, Illinois," 2008, digital photograph.

James of the Museum Mutters at C.B.G.B., Stl

T. Renner, "James of the Museum Mutters at C.B.G.B., Stl.," 2007, digital photograph

Unsettled Ground: "2"

T. Renner, "Unsettled Ground: '2'," 2005, digital photograph.

This photo dates way back to October 26-29, 2005, when the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis and the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts collaborated on the symposium "Unsettled Ground: Nature, Landscape, and Ecology Now." As part of "Unsettled Ground," Matthew Coolidge, founder and director of the Center for Land Use Interpretation, presented "Looking for St. Louis," which took a group of students to various sites in St. Louis with the goal of describing and documenting St. Louis through images, texts, diagrams, and materials that resulted in a temporary exhibition on the city.

eARThworks Art Auction 2009 Saturday Night

SOLD T. Renner, "Environmental Watercolor #2 (Rain)," 2008, watercolor on paper, 14" x 11". SOLD

The above piece has already been sold but is still on display in the Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri.

You can see it along with all the other contributions today and tomorrow, and you can also bid on some very nice pieces, on Saturday, May 30, when the Missouri Coalition for the Environment holds their eARThworks 2009 art auction beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Click here for tickets.

Click here to see all of the contributions.

"Environmental Watercolor #2 (Rain)" is an exercise in letting rain, gravity, and the capillary action of the fibers in paper do the work. That is, I dabbed some pigment on a sheet of paper and set it out in a light drizzle and went off to do something that I no longer remember doing. On returning, I was very pleased that it had not rained very hard and that the pigment had spread very nicely. I picked up the sheet very carefully and turned it once vertically and once horizontally and hung it to dry. (I did touch up a couple bits of pigment with a water charged brush but I couldn't identify the areas now.)

Here's a list of contributing artists taken from Missouri Coalition for the Environment's Winter 2009 The Alert:

Gloria Attoun, Michael Bauermeister, Tim Black, Joan Bugnitz, Julie Bunitz, Tom Bugnitz, Mieko Catron, Cynthia Pitsinger, Bill Christman, Elizabeth Concannon, John Cournoyer, Andrew Cross, Joseph Farmer, John Goessmann, Benjamin Guffee, Susan Hacker Stang, Heather Haymart, Nola Heidbreder, Jan Hessel, Hilary Hitchcock, Terry Hoffman, Cary Horton, Christine Hotlz, Jim Hubbmann, Paul Hubbmann, Tom Huck, Angela Hunter-Knight, J.S. Johnson, Richard Knight, Robert Knight, Paul Krainak, Larry Krone, Katie Lacewell, Adam Long, Heidi Lung, Richard Meyers, Mary Nasser, Bill & Julie Newberry, Pat Owoc, Joyce Pion, Melisse Reichman, Tony Renner, Nancy Rice, Sue Rothschild, Paul Shank, Mary Beth Shaw, Thomas Sleet, Timothy Smith, David Stine, Anne Treeger Huck, Celeste Webster, Linda Wiggen Kraft, Diana Bose, Keith Buchholz, Bill Christman, Kelly Draper, Thomas Hunt,Bill Kohn, Kelly Krainak, Charlotte Lyons, John Montre, Jennifer Silverberg, Tom Tritschler, Mary Whealon, Timmie Wiant

Face #2

T. Renner, "Face #2," 2008, acrylic on paper, 8" x 10".

Face #1

T. Renner, "Face #1," 2008, acrylic on paper, 8" x 10".

Tiger Face

T. Renner, "Tiger Face," 2008, Sharpie, ballpoint pen on notebook paper, 4" x 6".

Anagrams

T. Renner, "Anagrams," 2008, graphite on paper (digitally enhanced).

3730 Page at Redd Foxx

T. Renner, "3730 Page at Redd Foxx," 2009, digital photograph.

Dr. Dog at the Bluebird (Black & White)

T. Renner, "Dr. Dog at the Bluebird (Black & White)," 2008, digital photograph.

Dr. Dog at the Bluebird (Color)

T. Renner, "Dr. Dog at the Bluebird (Color)," 2008, digital photograph.

A Drawing and a Poem for Mary Sprague

T. Renner, "Tree (for Mary Sprague)," 2009, colored ink on notebook paper, 3" x 3".

Drawing to a Close

for Mary Sprague

"What's she doing?" was the question.
"Making paper black," I answered.
"Is that good?" he asked.
"Better," I said, "than if she
isn't."

For more of my poems, visit Contraption.

Improvisation for George Lewis

T. Renner, "Improvisation for George Lewis," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 7" x 5".

Metal

T. Renner, "Metal," 2003, digital photograph.

Dada Collage and Poem

T. Renner, "Dada Poem and Collage," 2007, collage on index card, 6" x 4".

Photos from Urban Eats

T. Renner, "Gallery View Urban Eats 17 May," 2009, digital photograph.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Urban Eats on Sunday! Pictured above are Robin Allen, Gena Brady Allen, and Colin Shaw.

Below is a photograph taken by Gena Brady Allen of me standing in front of "A Damned Big X."



All of the works currently hanging will be on display until May 31. Many new works will go up on June 1 and be on display until the end of June, with a reception on June 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Untitled Figure (Red) #2

T. Renner, "Untitled Figure (Red) #2," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

Untitled Figure (Red) #1

T. Renner, "Untitled Figure (Red) #1," 2008, acrylic on paper, 6" x 4".

Blasts from the Past at Urban Eats Cafe

T. Renner, "Portrait of Charles Ives," 2007, acrylic on canvas, 8" x 10".

Here are four works from just over a year ago. I submitted (unsuccessfully) two of them to an Art St. Louis show. You can see these paintings at Urban Eats Cafe, 3301 Meramec Street in the STL.

Mark your calendar now for the opening reception on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but you can visit the art anytime before then!

Here's the official press release:

Tony Renner: New York Abstract Expressionism

AT THE URBAN ARTS COLLECTIVE, CELEBRATING ART IN THE CITY

The Urban Arts Collective presents the work of Tony Renner at an Opening Reception. New York Abstract Expressionism is the theme for his event on Sunday, May 17th from 11 am till 2 pm. The event will be held in the Urban Arts Collective space adjacent to the Urban Eats Café, at 3301 Meramec Street, St Louis, Missouri 63118.

These works will be an homage to artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Klein, Stuart Davis, and Barnett Newman.

In conjunction with the opening, Urban Eats Café will offer a taste of New York in the form of Bagels, Lox & Cream cheese with sliced onions and caperberries, in addition to beer, wine, Boozies and other brunch-y foods, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required for guests who would like to enjoy the fresh fare before or after visiting the exhibit.

The Urban Arts Collective Project is an ongoing partnership with rotating artists who display their work in the Arts Collective space, adjacent to the Urban Eats Café. The goal is to create awareness for both the artists and the historic Dutchtown South City neighborhood.

More information and directions to the Urban Arts Collective can be found at www.urbaneatscafe.com

T. Renner, "Enigma," 2007, acrylic on canvas, 10" x 8".


T. Renner, "Landscape," 2007, acrylic, dirt on canvas, 10" x 8".


T. Renner, "Stockhausen!," 2007, acrylic on canvas, 10" x 8".

Action Painting: Bunnygrunt!

T. Renner, "Bunnygrunt!," 2008, acrylic on cardboard, detail.

You can see this painting at Urban Eats Cafe, 3301 Meramec Street in the STL. I've held over a few pieces from last month but I've added a couple of large -- monumental, in fact -- pieces. I'm also showing for the first time several of the first paintings I did back in the summer of '07.

Mark your calendar now for the opening reception on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but you can visit the art anytime before then!

Here's the official press release:

Tony Renner: New York Abstract Expressionism

AT THE URBAN ARTS COLLECTIVE, CELEBRATING ART IN THE CITY

The Urban Arts Collective presents the work of Tony Renner at an Opening Reception. New York Abstract Expressionism is the theme for his event on Sunday, May 17th from 11 am till 2 pm. The event will be held in the Urban Arts Collective space adjacent to the Urban Eats Café, at 3301 Meramec Street, St Louis, Missouri 63118.

These works will be an homage to artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Klein, Stuart Davis, and Barnett Newman.

In conjunction with the opening, Urban Eats Café will offer a taste of New York in the form of Bagels, Lox & Cream cheese with sliced onions and caperberries, in addition to beer, wine, Boozies and other brunch-y foods, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required for guests who would like to enjoy the fresh fare before or after visiting the exhibit.

The Urban Arts Collective Project is an ongoing partnership with rotating artists who display their work in the Arts Collective space, adjacent to the Urban Eats Café. The goal is to create awareness for both the artists and the historic Dutchtown South City neighborhood.

More information and directions to the Urban Arts Collective can be found at www.urbaneatscafe.com

On October 4, 2008, I got up on stage with Bunnygrunt at the Strolling Cones Cock & Bull Sonic Circus at Off Broadway and painted a large 80" x 60" sheet of cardboard as the band played their set.


T. Renner, "Bunnygrunt!," 2008, acrylic on cardboard, 80" x 60".

Henri Matisse Arm-Wrestles Stuart Davis at Urban Eats!

T. Renner, "Henri Matisse Arm-wrestles Stuart Davis," 2009, oil on canvas, 8" x 10".

You can see this painting at Urban Eats Cafe, 3301 Meramec Street in the STL. I've held over a few pieces from last month but I've added a couple of large -- monumental, in fact -- pieces. I'm also showing for the first time several of the first paintings I did back in the summer of '07.

Mark your calendar now for the opening reception on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but you can visit the art anytime before then!

Here's the official press release:

Tony Renner: New York Abstract Expressionism

AT THE URBAN ARTS COLLECTIVE, CELEBRATING ART IN THE CITY

The Urban Arts Collective presents the work of Tony Renner at an Opening Reception. New York Abstract Expressionism is the theme for his event on Sunday, May 17th from 11 am till 2 pm. The event will be held in the Urban Arts Collective space adjacent to the Urban Eats Café, at 3301 Meramec Street, St Louis, Missouri 63118.

These works will be an homage to artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Klein, Stuart Davis, and Barnett Newman.

In conjunction with the opening, Urban Eats Café will offer a taste of New York in the form of Bagels, Lox & Cream cheese with sliced onions and caperberries, in addition to beer, wine, Boozies and other brunch-y foods, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required for guests who would like to enjoy the fresh fare before or after visiting the exhibit.

The Urban Arts Collective Project is an ongoing partnership with rotating artists who display their work in the Arts Collective space, adjacent to the Urban Eats Café. The goal is to create awareness for both the artists and the historic Dutchtown South City neighborhood.

More information and directions to the Urban Arts Collective can be found at www.urbaneatscafe.com

The Gatsby Series: Paintings and Collages

T. Renner, "Gatsby #1 (East Egg)," 2007, acrylic on canvas panel, 8" x 10".


T. Renner, "Gatsby #1," 2003, collage on paper, 4" x 6".

You can see these paintings (but NOT the collages) at Urban Eats Cafe, 3301 Meramec Street in the STL. I've held over a few pieces from last month but I've added a couple of large -- monumental, in fact -- pieces. I'm also showing for the first time several of the first paintings I did back in the summer of '07.

Mark your calendar now for the opening reception on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but you can visit the art anytime before then!

Here's the official press release:

Tony Renner: New York Abstract Expressionism

AT THE URBAN ARTS COLLECTIVE, CELEBRATING ART IN THE CITY

The Urban Arts Collective presents the work of Tony Renner at an Opening Reception. New York Abstract Expressionism is the theme for his event on Sunday, May 17th from 11 am till 2 pm. The event will be held in the Urban Arts Collective space adjacent to the Urban Eats Café, at 3301 Meramec Street, St Louis, Missouri 63118.

These works will be an homage to artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Klein, Stuart Davis, and Barnett Newman.

In conjunction with the opening, Urban Eats Café will offer a taste of New York in the form of Bagels, Lox & Cream cheese with sliced onions and caperberries, in addition to beer, wine, Boozies and other brunch-y foods, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required for guests who would like to enjoy the fresh fare before or after visiting the exhibit.

The Urban Arts Collective Project is an ongoing partnership with rotating artists who display their work in the Arts Collective space, adjacent to the Urban Eats Café. The goal is to create awareness for both the artists and the historic Dutchtown South City neighborhood.

More information and directions to the Urban Arts Collective can be found at www.urbaneatscafe.com

T. Renner, "Gatsby #2 (West Egg)," 2007, acrylic on canvas panel, 8" x 10".


T. Renner, "Gatsby #2," 2003, collage on paper, 4" x 6".

Silent Auction at Urban Eats on Wednesday, June 17

T. Renner, "Untitled #2 (Brown)," 2008, acrylic on photograph, 10" x 8".


T. Renner, "Untitled #1 (White)," 2008, acrylic on photograph, 10" x 8".

Urban Eats, 3301 Meramec Avenue in St. Louis, is celebrating their one year anniversary on Wednesday, June 17, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a street party and silent auction. Proceeds from the auction and a portion of all their food and drink sales will be donated to the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries' art and music education program for disadvantaged children.

Please visit Urban Eats on Wednesday and bid on the above paintings. They are hanging in the front room of the Urban Arts Collective.

Untitled #1 (White)

T. Renner, "Untitled #1 (White)," 2008, acrylic on photograph, 10" x 8".

You can see the above painting at Urban Eats Cafe, 3301 Meramec Street in the STL. This piece is in the front room but in suite 3 I've held over a few pieces from last month but I've added a couple of large -- monumental, in fact -- pieces. I'm also showing for the first time several of the first paintings I did back in the summer of '07.

Mark your calendar now for the opening reception on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but you can visit the art anytime before then!

Here's the official press release:

Tony Renner: New York Abstract Expressionism

AT THE URBAN ARTS COLLECTIVE, CELEBRATING ART IN THE CITY

The Urban Arts Collective presents the work of Tony Renner at an Opening Reception. New York Abstract Expressionism is the theme for his event on Sunday, May 17th from 11 am till 2 pm. The event will be held in the Urban Arts Collective space adjacent to the Urban Eats Café, at 3301 Meramec Street, St Louis, Missouri 63118.

These works will be an homage to artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Klein, Stuart Davis, and Barnett Newman.

In conjunction with the opening, Urban Eats Café will offer a taste of New York in the form of Bagels, Lox & Cream cheese with sliced onions and caperberries, in addition to beer, wine, Boozies and other brunch-y foods, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required for guests who would like to enjoy the fresh fare before or after visiting the exhibit.

The Urban Arts Collective Project is an ongoing partnership with rotating artists who display their work in the Arts Collective space, adjacent to the Urban Eats Café. The goal is to create awareness for both the artists and the historic Dutchtown South City neighborhood.

More information and directions to the Urban Arts Collective can be found at www.urbaneatscafe.com

"The New Spirit" for John Ashbery

T. Renner, "'The New Spirit' for John Ashbery," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 7" x 5".

From "The New Spirit" by John Ashbery:

I thought that if I could put it all down, that would be one way. And next the thought came to me that to leave all out would be another, truer, way.

eARThworks 2009 Art Exhibit

SOLD T. Renner, "Environmental Watercolor #2 (Rain)," 2008, watercolor on paper, 14" x 11". SOLD

I have donated the above piece to the Missouri Coalition for the Environment's eARThworks 2009 art exhibit and auction. The opening reception is Friday, May 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri.

Click here to see all of the contributions.

"Environmental Watercolor #2 (Rain)" is an exercise in letting rain, gravity, and the capillary action of the fibers in paper do the work. That is, I dabbed some pigment on a sheet of paper and set it out in a light drizzle and went off to do something that I no longer remember doing. On returning, I was very pleased that it had not rained very hard and that the pigment had spread very nicely. I picked up the sheet very carefully and turned it once vertically and once horizontally and hung it to dry. (I did touch up a couple bits of pigment with a water charged brush but I couldn't identify the areas now.)

From Missouri Coalition for the Environment's Winter 2009 The Alert:

Contributing artists:

Gloria Attoun, Michael Bauermeister, Tim Black, Joan Bugnitz, Julie Bunitz, Tom Bugnitz, Mieko Catron, Cynthia Pitsinger, Bill Christman, Elizabeth Concannon, Susie Cooper, John Cournoyer, Andrew Cross, Joseph Farmer, John Goessmann, Benjamin Guffee, Susan Hacker Stang, Heather Haymart, Nola Heidbreder, Jan Hessel, Hilary Hitchcock, Terry Hoffman, Cary Horton, Christine Hotlz, Jim Hubbmann, Paul Hubbmann, Tom Huck, Angela Hunter-Knight, J.S. Johnson, Richard Knight, Robert Knight, Patricia Kohn,Paul Krainak, Larry Krone, Katie Lacewell, Ronald Leax, Adam Long, Heidi Lung, Richard Meyers, Mary Nasser,Bill & Julie Newberry, Pat Owoc, Joyce Pion, Melisse Reichman, Tony Renner, Nancy Rice, Sue Rothschild, Paul Shank, Mary Beth Shaw, Kelly Sipes, Thomas Sleet, Timothy Smith, David Stine, Fern Taylor, Pamela Todorovich, Anne Treeger Huck, Fran Vinnacombe, Celeste Webster, Linda Wiggen Kraft, C.J. Woods, III

Improvisation for Carl Phillips

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Carl Phillips," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 5" x 7".

Improvisation for Stephen Dunn

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Stephen Dunn," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 7" x 5".

Improvisation for John Ashbery

T. Renner, "Improvisation for John Ashbery," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 5" x 7".

Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #4

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #4," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 7" x 5".

Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #3

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #3," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 7" x 5".

Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #2

Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #1

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Thelonious Monk #1," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 7" x 5".

New Work at Urban Arts Collective

T. Renner, "A Damned Big X," 2009, acrylic on cardboard, 60" x 80".

Hey, kids, today is not only May Day but also the first day you can see my new exhibit at Urban Eats Cafe. I've held over a few pieces from last month but I've added a couple of large -- monumental, in fact -- pieces. I'm also showing for the first time several of the first paintings I did back in the summer of '07.

Mark your calendar now for the opening reception on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but you can visit the art anytime before then!

Here's the official press release:

Tony Renner: New York Abstract Expressionism

AT THE URBAN ARTS COLLECTIVE, CELEBRATING ART IN THE CITY

The Urban Arts Collective presents the work of Tony Renner at an Opening Reception. New York Abstract Expressionism is the theme for his event on Sunday, May 17th from 11 am till 2 pm. The event will be held in the Urban Arts Collective space adjacent to the Urban Eats Café, at 3301 Meramec Street, St Louis, Missouri 63118.

These works will be an homage to artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Klein, Stuart Davis, and Barnett Newman.

In conjunction with the opening, Urban Eats Café will offer a taste of New York in the form of Bagels, Lox & Cream cheese with sliced onions and caperberries, in addition to beer, wine, Boozies and other brunch-y foods, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required for guests who would like to enjoy the fresh fare before or after visiting the exhibit.

The Urban Arts Collective Project is an ongoing partnership with rotating artists who display their work in the Arts Collective space, adjacent to the Urban Eats Café. The goal is to create awareness for both the artists and the historic Dutchtown South City neighborhood.

More information and directions to the Urban Arts Collective can be found at www.urbaneatscafe.com