As the eleven members of the Buena Suerte Social Club gathered for one of their monthly meetings over drinks and Chinese food several months ago, the newest member of the group, CWE-based artist Milo Duke, above, had what he called a “Mickey Rooney” moment. When he realized that all the members were artists—and prominent ones at that—Duke said to the group: “With all this talent, we should put on a show!”
His proposal was realized last Saturday, March 7, when about 250 people attended the Buena Suerte Social Club’s opening, Of Gods and Men, at HorsleyArts, 4374 Olive Street.
Duke is photographed with Fermi’s Question,a self-portrait which was a semi-finalist in a 2004 portrait contest at the Smithsonian.
Photographer Glenn Stone, a Professor of Anthropology & Environmental Studies at Washington University, is shown in front of his photographs taken during his travels around the world.
Wesley Fordyce, above, one of the founders of Buena Suerte Social Club, is photographed with his sculptures made from Indiana limestone. Meant to recall forgotten civilizations, they include from left: Pet Dog Coco, Empowered Woman, and his favorite piece shown far right and below, Beautiful Woman, “I will share it all with you.”
CWEnder John Marlow displayed cartoons he creates for family and friend occasions. He told Linda Horsley, the gallery’s proprietor, that he starts his drawings with a “big nose.” Marlow is a founder of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race.
CWEnder Dan Gualdoni uses brushes, rollers and print-making techniques to create landscapes which are figments of his imagination, above. Gualdoni is known to many St. Louisans as a co-founder of Bar Italia, which opened almost forty years ago in the Hill Building on Maryland Avenue where Starbucks is now located.
Artist Jon Cournoyer, Head of Design at St. Louis Art Museum, exhibited his silkscreen, ink and collage piece Birds, top left, and top right and below, mUSIc, oil, encaustic and found objects on wood. 
John Nunley, above, curated Of Gods and Men. He is an honorary member of the Buena Suerte Social Club and is retired from St. Louis Art Museum where he was curator of the Morton May Collection of African and Oceanic Art.
Other Buena Suerte members whose works were exhibited are Francisco Benavides, Kevin Barks, Joe Chesla, Harry Weber, and Wiktor Szostalo.
Of Gods and Men at HorsleyArts, 4374 Olive Street, will remain on view until April 14. Open by appointment: contact Linda Horsley, (314) 243-3879.
Congratulations! This was a lovely occasion with very well curated works! I also congratulate your club for recognizing you as a bone fide member. I belonged to a
n “art club” in Detroit for years and was a member of the Friends of Asian Art under the fine leadership of Curator Suzanne Mitchell. Happy times
indeed! I would be honored to read your poem sometime. Fondly, Joanie