Red Gate Gallery showcases loss, growth, and identity in dual exhibition

The gallery's 'Spirit of the Trees' and 'Coming of Age' exhibits explore the impact of a 2025 tornado and the experiences of local youth.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Red Gate Gallery, co-founded by Adrienne Outlaw, Elena Piston, and Sarah Moon, is hosting two concurrent exhibitions that explore themes of loss, growth, and identity. 'Spirit of the Trees' features artwork responding to the devastating EF3 tornado that hit St. Louis in 2025, while 'Coming of Age in 2026: A Counterstory' showcases the creative work of Wydown Middle School students reflecting on their experiences as teenagers. The unique location of Red Gate Gallery, situated within the Wydown United Church, adds an additional layer of meaning to the exhibits.

Why it matters

The 'Spirit of the Trees' exhibition provides a creative outlet for the St. Louis community to process the impact of the 2025 tornado, which destroyed many historic trees in the area. The 'Coming of Age' project gives local youth a platform to share their stories and counter common narratives about adolescence, offering a more nuanced perspective on the experiences of today's teenagers.

The details

The 'Spirit of the Trees' exhibition features a diverse range of media, including photography, painting, photomicrographs, and cyanotype prints, all exploring the theme of trees and the human impact of the tornado. Several artists with connections to Washington University, such as professor Stephen Leet, are featured. The 'Coming of Age' project, now in its third year, allows Wydown Middle School students to express themselves through writing and visual art, addressing topics like identity, stereotypes, and the influence of technology on their lives.

  • The 'Spirit of the Trees' exhibition runs from January 16 to April 12, 2026.
  • The 'Coming of Age in 2026: A Counterstory' exhibition is on display from January 30 to February 2, 2026.
  • The public reception for 'Spirit of the Trees' will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 5-7 p.m.

The players

Adrienne Outlaw

Co-founder of Red Gate Gallery and a member of the Wydown United Church.

Elena Piston

Co-founder of Red Gate Gallery and Adrienne Outlaw's daughter.

Sarah Moon

Co-founder of Red Gate Gallery and a 2024 MFA graduate from Washington University's Sam Fox School.

Mel Watkin

The curator of the 'Spirit of the Trees' exhibition, who visited St. Louis shortly after the 2025 tornado.

Erin Ott

A seventh-grade language arts teacher at Wydown Middle School who started the 'Coming of Age' project in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“It really allows people to enter a religious building without that sort of overarching religious experience … you can have that feeling of sacredness.”

— Adrienne Outlaw, Co-founder of Red Gate Gallery (studlife.com)

“I went to visit St. Louis on May 20th, very close to after the tornado hit. It was unrecognizable. It was like going to Mars or something. And all these incredible trees that I figure probably date back to before the 1904 World's Fair [were gone].”

— Mel Watkin, Curator of 'Spirit of the Trees' exhibition (studlife.com)

“The main goal is to provide a counter-story to popular narratives about kids this age. When people hear I teach seventh grade, they often react with horror and talk about how they'd never want to go back to that age. There's a dominant narrative about how awful it is to be 12 or 13.”

— Erin Ott, Seventh-grade language arts teacher at Wydown Middle School (studlife.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The dual exhibitions at Red Gate Gallery provide a platform for the St. Louis community to process the impact of the 2025 tornado and for local youth to share their unique perspectives, challenging common narratives about adolescence and highlighting the resilience and creativity of the next generation.