West Side Paintings
Introduction
These paintings reflect images of 100 years of life on the West Side of Saint Paul.
The faces, the landmarks, the symbols, the images portrayed here are a glimpse of our heritage.
The paintings, in a sense, are frozen glimpses of the collective consciousness of our West Side life. I hope these glimpses allow each of us the freedom to dream our own dreams. I hope these serve as starters which trigger thousands of imagings and rememberings.
This work, the creation of Mr. Richard Schletty and Mr. Craig David, was made possible because of the generous gift of Mr. Gordon Barron in memory of his wife, Doris Barron. Other individual contributors and the COMPAS Community Art Fund through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the city of Saint Paul, the R.F. Bigelow Foundation, the Ford Motor Company, the General Mills Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the United Arts Fund made it possible to present to this community these six panels.
The occasion for this project is nothing less than the centennial celebrations of two West Side churches – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church. How fitting that these two Church communities join together to celebrate their common community as they celebrate 100 years of Church life.
The Rev. Stephen Adrian
The Church of St. Matthew
December, 1986
“West Side Paintings” by Richard Schletty and Craig David. Location: St. Matthew’s Church, 507 Hall Ave., St. Paul, MN. Oil painting on linen (8 to 10 feet wide, 7 feet high). Completed September 1986.
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On viewing the paintings
These pictures are not intended to be an all-encompassing, historical account of life on Saint Paul’s West Side. They are a collection of carefully chosen “snapshots moments in time, that represent some of the experiences of West Siders. The pictorial descriptions that follow will, hopefully, be an aid to you in understanding. They are not to be regarded as absolute, definitive interpretations.
You are encouraged to complete the cycle begun by these paintings, through a projection of your own experiences into the works. While viewing the pictures, interpret situations and develop characterizations as you will, allowing memories and emotions of your own to be aroused. Only then will the artistic cycle be completed, with you, the viewer, becoming an integral part.
Craig David and Richard Schletty
December, 1986
Allegory of the Workers – by Craig David
Celebration of Life – by Craig David
The Friendly Circle – by Craig David
Families – by Richard Schletty
Traditions – by Richard Schletty
Visions – by Richard Schletty
