The Wonder Stuff

Jon Cournoyer creates art from objects of the past, but he's not in the nostalgia business. His layered collages are carefully built from last century's storybook images, bits of advertising, postcards and strange sigils from who-knows-where, but not as a simple statement of "Ah, the old days." Instead, Cournoyer imbues each piece with a secret narrative -- every object is integral to the story inherent in the larger whole, and it's up to the viewer to decipher that story. The more you look the more you see, but careful examination is useless without intuition; the more you feel each of his works, the more you know about each one. That inspired connectivity is the gift locked in all of his work. Jon Cournoyer: Wonder Culture, a selection of new work, opens from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, November 8, at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary (2713 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-960-5322 or www.hoffmanlachancefineart.com). Think of the title as a clue, and bring your sense of wonder with you. The show remains up through Saturday, November 30, and the gallery is open Friday and Saturday or by appointment.
Fridays, Saturdays. Starts: Nov. 8. Continues through Nov. 30, 2013