Showcase held in memory of photography teacher
By: Alex Kendall
-Managing Editor-
On July 16, 2012, sixteen STLCC-Meramec students showcased their photographic work at The Old Orchard Gallery in memory of Professor Jan Sago. Sago, a former Meramec photography instructor and faculty advisor of the Photo Club, passed away at the age of 63 on May 13, 2012. Among the students was Megan Boyd, the coordinator for the art show and a former student of Sago, who attributed her success in photography to Sago.
“I met Jan on a train ride to Chicago. I had not planned on going on the trip but I am a completely spontaneous person,” Boyd said. “I did not really learn photography until I met Jan. She really taught it to me on the train trip. Jan had a way of teaching you and pushing you; she was good.”
Boyd, 21, began the Jan Sago Foundation gallery showings in memory of Sago and the mark she left on the students she taught. The first gallery showing featured sixteen Meramec students who contributed three to four photographic pieces that “they created in Jan’s class or in memory of her.”
“I owe it all really to Jan and that is why I decided to start the gallery. I am not a fan of funerals and I thought it would be a better contribution to her memory,” Boyd said.
Boyd said the idea for the show came about as a contribution to Sago but also to give artists an opportunity to showcase their work.
“I am a spontaneous person and when I have an idea, I fulfill it,” Boyd said. “I loved Jan and I wanted to do something for her but also [I wanted] to get other artists involved. Not only a dedication to her but also to envelope into other artists.”
The Jan Sago Foundation gallery will give artists the chance to showcase their work in a gallery setting with different themed events challenging each artist’s skill and creativity.
“I want to create other opportunities for other artists. I- had a friend who created my opportunities for me,” Boyd said. “I created a website to get artists started.”
According to Boyd, the next gallery show is to be held on Oct. 12 featuring the theme of mixed media, encouraging artists to create artwork from fields such as photography, painting, drawing and any other type of art.
“The next one we are doing is going to be a mixed media event with photographers and painters and we will have a musician there,” Boyd said.
Boyd said she plans to host more gallery showings each year at The Old Orchard Gallery.
“We are going to try and do three a year so we can make those more special,” Boyd said.
Boyd said she plans to make the Jan Sago Foundation a nonprofit organization for artists of all mediums to be able to display their work.
“I officially want to make Jan Sago a nonprofit for other artists to be involved in. I essentially want it to be what it has started out as,” Boyd said. “I want it to be a space where artists can show their work, not just photographers although the first one was just photography in memory of Jan.”
For more information or to contribute to the gallery, visit http://mphoto8.wix.com/jansagofoundation
