As the lead singer of bands like Jefferson Airplane in the ’60s and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship in the ’70s and ’80s, Grace Slick’s songs have topped the Billboard charts and made Rolling Stone‘s list of the top 500 greatest songs of all time. Now in her late 60s and retired from the music industry, Slick has found acclaim in the art world.
Following a successful debut tour in 2007, Wentworth Gallery (53 W. County Center) is bringing Slick back to St. Louis as part of a traveling exhibition of her work to different galleries throughout the country. The exhibit features a wide range of her pieces, including paintings, drawings and prints.
“She has such a following; people love her,” said Jocelyn Twist, senior account manager for Image Works Public Relations.
Twist, who was hired by Wentworth Gallery to work with Slick during her first exhibit in 2007, and again for this exhibit, speaks highly of the rock icon and thinks Slick’s talent and personality will surprise people.
“I work with a lot of artists. You never know actually what you’re going to get,” Twist said. “It was one of the highlights of my career to get to spend firsthand experience with her.”
Twist said that, before seeing Slick’s pieces last year, she was skeptical of yet another musician turned artist.
“I didn’t buy a piece until I saw her work in the gallery,” Twist said.
She was won over after visiting Slick’s exhibition.
“I was blown away by her, just by the way she paints,” she said. “I bought a pencil sketch of hers of Jim Morrison.”
Though pieces in the exhibition are for sale, purchasing the artwork is not the main point of the show, Twist said.
“It’s not about money for Grace … It’s about what she can put down on paper,” she said.
The freedom and rawness of the ’60s era during which Slick first found fame influences the themes running through the exhibit.
The highlight is “Monterey,” a canvas print set at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, a three-day concert held in Monterey, California, featuring performances from rock greats like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who that Slick performed at as a member of Jefferson Airplane. She depicts many of those performers in the piece.
“You can see everybody,” Twist said. “You try to pick people out. That’s the one people right now are drawn to.”
People who come on the designated nights can meet Slick and have any artwork they purchase signed by her.
“You can see her, talk to her,” Twist said. “She’s very approachable.”
Twist said that the chance to meet and talk with Slick about her art may not happen again any time soon.
“She likes to get up early in the morning and paint,” Twist said. “The touring is hard on her.”
Slick will appear on June 13 and 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. Wentworth Gallery is located at the intersection of I-270 and Manchester in the lower level of the West County Center of Des Peres, Mo.
