A New Color of Tree is Growing in The Grove

Local St. Louis artist Rebecca Haas, of Haas Studios, with the help of FineLineStudio is bringing life to the Grove by painting the area’s trees, sprucing up the facades of local buildings and creating an art installation on an open lot on the 4200 block of Manchester. “Turning unused community space into art,” Rebecca explained, “is the best part of my project.”

Invited to decorate within the festival footprint by Grove Fest Co-Chair, Brooks Goedeker, Rebecca has created 3 projects to be finished by October 6. She is currently working on an art instillation in collaboration with Bradley Pipkin, which will include live art, next to the N&M Food Market. Bradley is painting a mural on the side of the N&M building near Rebecca’s installation. The artists have been working together to make sure the two pieces of art provide the viewer a surreal experience to include, neon pink trees, umbrellas, brightly colored fish and bubbles. Every weekend since the beginning of September the two artists can be spotted in the Grove, covered in paint, discussing new ideas for each other’s works of art.

Rebecca has also committed to decorating the trees and light posts within the festival footprint. With nearly half of the trees dying in this year’s drought she decided to bring new life to them in the form of bright colored paint and hanging ornaments. To complete this project she has coupled with FineLineStudio, a local nonprofit that supports adults with disabilities through a visual arts day program, to create hanging ornaments for the live trees. FineLineStudio staff artists are helping to guide the artistic vision of clients in the creation of over 60 handmade bug ornaments and individually crafted, melted and painted, vinyl record ornaments. During the day of the festival all of the ornaments will be for sale with all proceeds benefiting the clients at FineLineStudio.

The third art project is located at 4230 Manchester where Rebecca has decorated the façade of the building and added her own little touch in sync with the grove cycling community. Stop by Grove Fest on October 6^th to see the finished products!