In 2017, the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis was gifted more than 2,000 works of art from the estate of St. Louis native Harold “Hal” Poth. Through June 22, RAC will display many of his works in the exhibition, “Hal Poth: Off the Wall.”
Poth worked in many mediums throughout his life, including sculpture, metalwork, drawings, paintings and woodwork, among others, which created a wide variety in his body of work. He loved making whimsical machines, he fashioned creatures in wood, created jewelry and furniture – all in a range of sizes.
“Hal Poth: Off The Wall,” curated by Stefanie Kirkland, gives visitors a sense of the varying subject matter he explored during his lifetime, and provides a platform for discussing ageing and creativity, looking at how people have the capacity for imagination and innovation through every stage of life.
In 2011, when he was 86, a retrospective, “Reflections of a Creative Life: Hal Poth” was also held at RAC.
Poth earned a design degree at Washington University’s School of Fine Arts, and went on to work in advertising, retiring in the 1980s. And all of his life, he was an artist.
Poth’s main motivation, it seems, was the need to create – not monetary gain. He wanted his work to encourage people to enjoy the benefits of art.
To honor Poth’s wishes, RAC is hosting the exhibition and selling the items to support the artistic development of youth and senior citizens. All artwork will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to about two dozen St. Louis-area nonprofits that support the artistic development of youth and seniors.
The RAC Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, through June 21, and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday, June 22. Admission is free.
Accompanying the exhibition, there will be a panel discussion featuring individuals and organizations committed to supporting and enhancing the lives of artists. “Creating a Living Legacy,” from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, June 14, centers on artists’ legacies and provides tips for artists of all ages to protect and preserve their works of art during their life and after. The panel is also free and open to the public.
The mission of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis is to promote, encourage and foster art and culture in the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County. It is the largest annual funder of nonprofit arts in the region, and since its inception in 1985, has awarded more than 7,000 grants totaling over $100 million to support individual artists, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and other programs.
I believe I have a hanging wall cabinet by Harold hal poth..it is signed h poth 73 and is titled Washingtons cabinet.it has pictures of George Washington and Martha..quite an amazing site.i would like to know more about it.
My son has a piece that is signed(alledgedly)by H. Poth, dated ’73. It’s a wood piece depicting(an inscribed)Washington’s Cabin. Trying to get verification on originallity. Please respond!
We suggest contacting the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) as the originators of the exhibit. They may have a way of reaching the artist.