St. Clair County MetroLink Extension – Phase 1

Community Art Initiatives

Neighborhoods along Phase 1 of the St. Clair County MetroLink Extension collaborated with the St. Clair County Transit District, Metro, and Arts in Transit on an exciting public art initiative, known as the Welcome Mat project. Welcome Mats are a permanent feature of each new MetroLink station which help to communicate the history, heritage and cultural significance of the neighborhoods adjacent to the stations. The Mats themselves are 11-foot octagons in the pavement that mark the convergence of bicycle and pedestrian paths.

Fiber and graphic artists from St. Clair County were invited to submit designs and worked with residents in each area to identify what was characteristic of their community. Once complete, the designs on paper were transformed in two ways. For the stations, the designs were recreated by skilled artisans using rustic terrazzo. The designs were also translated into beautiful quilts by area quilters.

The Artists

Carolyn Karasek earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Karasek's art is inspired by universal themes of everyday life, folk art, and a reverence for childhood passions. Her work has been exhibited in juried shows throughout the Midwest. As a textile artist, she reaches back in history to borrow from ancient craft traditions, creating unique works of felt and painted silk. As an illustrator, she has created a line of 32 greeting cards called, "A Moment in Time." She is currently working on her first children's book and teaches drawing at Broadway Center for the Arts in Belleville.

Shirley Sarrach has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Textiles/Fiber and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, with minors in metalsmithing and ceramics. Her work often involves the creation of fantasy dreamscapes, and employs brilliant color to intensify the designs. Sarrach uses the medium of hand painted silk to transform her concept of the common window into animated and figurative cityscapes. She also uses personal photographs of St. Louis architecture to create shaped montages.

Joseph (Joe) C. Gray founded Joe Gray Design & Illustration as a one-man operation over 29 years ago. As President/Creative Director, he now oversees a full-staff consisting of several graphic designers, freelance website consultants, freelance copywriters, an office manager, account executive and administrative assistant.

Sheryl L. Hunter has a Master of Fine Arts degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in Textiles/Weaving. Her work has been exhibited throughout the bi-state region and is in numerous private and public collections. She experiments with weaving and dyeing techniques, and is inspired by works from Japan, Malaysia, Africa and India. Hunter is employed as a Collections Care Specialist at the Missouri Historical Society.

Edna J. Patterson-Petty is a lifelong resident of East St. Louis. She attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Textile Art, and a Masters degree in Art Therapy. Her work has been published in Communion of the Spirits, by Roland Freeman, and Spirits of the Cloth, by Carolyn Mazloomi, as well as in the forthcoming Roots of Racism: Fear and Ignorance, by Susan Lumsden. Patterson-Petty uses her skills as an artist, therapist, and social worker in her work with youth at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys and Girls Club.