Grand opening for “Everything Under the Sun” project announced

The Sam Fox School’s inaugural project through its Design Openings collaborative, “Everything Under the Sun,” has been installed in the Covenant Blu Grand Center neighborhood. Its grand opening, free and open to the public, will be held Friday, April 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event coincides with the Grand Center Arts District’s First Fridays series, inviting locals to explore the vibrant arts scene in St. Louis through museums, galleries, dining, and performances.

The public artwork, a bright pink steel installation, was designed as “a place for gathering, storytelling, and sharing a sunset,” according to Senior Lecturer Jonathan Stitelman, who led the interdisciplinary design team that created the installation. Sited at the corner of Delmar Boulevard and Leonard Avenue, “Everything Under the Sun” features channels that allow light to pass through and interact with the installation. The channels align with the city’s street grid at sunrise and sunset on specific days each year.

The grand opening invites people to gather and experience the site and sculpture together, part of the initiative’s larger goal of animating and contributing to the existing public life in the neighborhood. Activities include the premiere of an original soundtrack made for the sculpture and engagement with four music producers, curated by Muhammad Austin, one of WashU’s Engaged City fellows; an art interaction developed by the Contemporary Art Museum and led by Cleonique Hilsaca, MFA ’25, and food truck Blues Fired Pizza.

The school’s Office for Socially Engaged Practice, which developed the Design Openings initiative in collaboration with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and with support from the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, is coordinating additional programming and aiming to host one event per month at the site through fall 2026. Programming will appeal to a variety of audiences and ranges from photography and drawing opportunities, to public health activities, to neighborhood barbecues. The Design Openings webpage will be regularly updated with details for future events.