Basil Kincaid: Gates

Quilting is viewed as an "old-fashioned" craft, which is a slightly more polite way of saying "unnecessary." But quilts represent compassion, comfort and a connection to the old way of doing things. St. Louis artist Basil Kincaid taps into this heritage with his new exhibition, Gates. This site-specific piece comprises folk art, assemblage and performance as a means of opening a channel to Kincaid's past and the collective past of everyone affected by the African diaspora. A gate is a passageway from here to there, from one side to the other. Basil Kincaid: Gates is a physical representation of the crossing over from past to present, from traditional methods to modern art. Gates opens with a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, February 24, at Gallery 210 on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus (1 University Drive at Natural Bridge Road; www.umsl.edu/~gallery). The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday.