Pin Partner: Tara Daniels, St. Lou Fringe
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What comes to mind when you think of St. Louis? Tara Daniels hopes it is art.
“St. Louis has a great art history,” Daniels said. “I think some people think that’s over.”
For Daniels, that history is still going strong. The 26-year-old is one of two associate directors of the St. Lou Fringe festival, an uncensored and unjuried art festival.
Daniels’ job is to connect the city’s businesses to the arts, and to connect St. Louis arts organizations to each other.
“Now they’re a part of Fringe and actively supporting the arts.” Daniels said. “[They’re] starting to care more.”
Growing up, Daniels loved art, but she thought of it more as a hobby than a career possibility. She gave the corporate world a go, working a job focused on taxes and the IRS. She soon realized it was time to pursue her true passion.
“I was completely unhappy because I knew it wasn’t my purpose,” she said.
Daniels decided to quit her job and go back to school to be an art teacher.
“For me, art is important because it’s about telling a story. Everyone has stories to tell,” Daniels said. “For St. Louis, we’re trying to tell our stories again, and we’re starting to listen to each other again.”
This week, Daniels will share seven things in St. Louis that have made an impact on her in the last year.
“I picked things that have been really big for my world in the past year; the cool things I see in St. Louis that I wish other people could see as well,” she said. “The things that motivate me and keep me going.”
Pin #1: "I am a huge book nerd, and the Central Library in downtown St. Louis is something of a mecca for me. It was recently renovated and thankfully retained its turn-of-the-century roots. I first explored the library when I was eight years old, and I still get a little giddy whenever I walk through the doors." –Tara Daniels
Pin #2: Grand Center Great Streets Project, "Midtown is the home of some of the best theaters and venues in the city. It’s also the home base of St Lou Fringe. As a native St. Louisan, watching the revitalization of this neighborhood has been so heartwarming for me. It reminds me that investing in our neighborhoods is essential to growing who we are as a city." –Tara Daniels
Pin #3: "Despite its name, the City Museum is not your traditional museum. Instead, it is a giant funhouse/playground filled with caverns, slides and repurposed architectural and industrial objects. It has quickly become a must-see destination in St. Louis. The founder, Bob Cassilly, passed away a few years ago and this is truly his life’s masterpiece." –Tara Daniels
Pin #4: "Everyone has his or her “Cheers,” and Plush in St. Louis is mine. I have drank countless cups of tea and eaten my weight in fries there. My favorite part of it though, is the people that work there. They are so down-to-earth and will bend over backwards to accommodate you. Plus, not only is it a great restaurant, it is a completely unique venue with three floors, including a swanky penthouse." –Tara Daniels
Pin #5: “Recently, the Grand Center Arts Academy has started renovating the Sun Theater. I was granted a tour of the space before the construction started. Though it was in need of great renovation, I could still see the craftsmanship that went into creating the theater.” –Tara Daniels
Pin #6: “Last year, I began to attend the University of Missouri-St. Louis to get my second bachelor’s degree in Art Education. Not only am I learning the skills to become a teacher, I am rediscovering my love for painting.” –Tara Daniels
Pin #7: “My favorite part about being with St Lou Fringe is seeing artists, patrons and partners excited about innovative art in St. Louis. These artists inspire me to further myself as an artist and as an arts patron.” –Tara Daniels
