An exhibit in the
Saint Louis University Archives,
Pius XII Memorial Library, Room 307,
3650 Lindell Boulevard,
St. Louis, Missouri 63108.
The exhibit is free and open to the public,
Monday thru Friday, 8:30 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
The exhibit runs from April 22, 2003,
through July.
Call for information: (314) 977-3091.

Portrait in 1924

The Exhibit Highlights the Life and Work of Art Deco Artist Hildreth Meière (1892-1961).

On April 22, Pius XII Memorial Library officially opened an exhibit in the St. Louis Room highlighting the work of the noted Art Deco muralist and designer Hildreth Meière (1892-1961).  Meière's work adorns many of the country's most prominent public spaces, including the exterior of Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center, the Nebraska State Capitol Building, the Banking Room of #1 Wall Street, the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C., and many mosaics in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on Lindell Blvd.

The exhibit, entitled "Hildreth Meière: A Profile of the Artist", is the second in a series of events highlighting the achievements of the Ravenna Mosaic Company, the local firm responsible for the execution of nearly all of the mosaics in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, which houses the largest collection of mosaics in the world.  The Ravenna Company collaborated with Meière on some of the company's most important commissions for more than thirty years.  Pius Library became the repository for the corporate records of the Ravenna Mosaic Company in May 1992, due primarily to the efforts of Father Maurice McNamee, S. J., Professor Emeritus of English at Saint Louis University.

On display are original works by Meière on loan from private collections and archives across the country, many of which have never been displayed before.  The exhibit, part of a two-year project, was made possible through a SLU 2000 grant from the Graduate School.  The "Ravenna Project" will culminate in a large exhibition in October 2003 at the McNamee Gallery of the Samuel Cupples House, which will include several Ravenna mosaics as well as numerous drawings, photographs, documents, and objects associated with the work of the Ravenna Company.
 

Working on a drawing for the mural
"Leaves From a Paris Sketchbook" in 1940.