Silent Auction and Fundraiser to benefit Saint Louis Sudbury School
Flowers & Weeds
3201 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Friday, June 21, 2024
6 to 8:30 pm
Street parking

Come join us for an evening of south city camaraderie to support our school!

Bid on beautiful lampshade creations by artist and Saint Louis Sudbury School staff member Aurora Schmidt as well as other exciting silent auction items provided by Cherokee Street businesses and Sudbury staff member Jennifer (custom photography session); enjoy cocktails by Kenny of Kenny’s Upstairs, browse the beautiful flowers and gifts at Flowers & Weeds, and more.

The goal of this fundraiser is to connect our tiny self-directed education school with neighboring businesses while raising funds to help keep our doors open to as many young people as possible who need an unconventional approach to learning and an accepting environment to discover who they are. Currently over 60% of our students receive tuition assistance.

In a dream future, we would get enough ongoing grants, business donations, and individual gifts, for our school to be tuition-free. Having your support would mean so much to us!

Our micro-school is based on the principle that we are born curious and learn best when we initiate our own learning. We offer fully Self-Directed Education for students age 5-18. With no coercive curriculum, homework, grades, or tests, Saint Louis Sudbury School students have the freedom, space, and time to pursue their interests, discover who they are, and develop life-long and meaningful communication and critical thinking skills. All of this freedom to learn and to be is bounded by a democratically run structure where youth and adults have equal say in how the school is run.

At Saint Louis Sudbury School, we prioritize young people’s well being, happiness, and ability to adapt to a changing world. We hope you can join us in supporting our students and being available to other kids who live near our school who might benefit from our model!

Questions? Email info@stlsudbury.org.

Can’t make it, but still want to support Saint Louis Sudbury School? Please consider making a donation here.

Local Legend Shade - [Blue and purple shade with green tassles] - Value - $480. Bid starting at $100. This huge 28" diameter lampshade was designed to hang over a kitchen or dining room table. The frame was welded from scratch and the tassles were handmade. The gorgeous fabric was created especially for us and donated by E, a local artist and friend whose art studio and shop is located on Cherokee and Ohio next to the Whiskey Ring. E describes their work: "In my work, I print cyanotypes of abstract images that I paint on glass. Exposing the painted image onto fabric introduces new layers of both control and chaos to the image-making process. The resulting works are temporal impressions of the reaction of light, wet fabric, movement, and the original painting. By filtering my image through layers of natural variables, I aim to rid the image of evidence of application, to transcend my own initial intention and vision, and create photographs of my subconscious to which the viewer can apply their own understanding." The shade was designed, welded, and sewn by Aurora Schmidt.

Disco Strawberry Shade - [6.5" diameter, yellow to pink ombre shade with strawberry sequin motif and forest green fringe] - Value - $180. Bid starting at $40. This darling 6.5" diameter lampshade is perfect for a small space that wants some character. Sudbury staffer Aurora and a Sudbury student spent a few days experimenting with Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes and the yellow-to-pink ombre base fabric was one of the products of those experiments! (Fun fact- Aurora first met this student's mom when they waited tables together over 10 years ago!). The shade was designed, welded, and sewn by Aurora Schmidt.

Purple Rain Shade - [Purple flower shaped shade with ice-dyed petals and purple trim] - Value - $260. Bid starting at $60. This 15" diameter shade would be perfect for any fan of The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, magic, or the color purple! The galaxy-like petal fabric was created by Sudbury students experimenting with the ice-dying method, and some of the trim was sourced from the fabulous City Sewing Room maker's mart. The shade was designed, welded, and sewn by Aurora Schmidt.

Princess Shade - [Pink and maroon shade with vintage ribbon and pom-pom trim] - Value - $200. Bid starting at $45. The 14" diameter princess shade was created using fabric and trim donated to the Intersect Arts Center art room, one of the gorgeous spaces we get to use every day at Sudbury. The maroon-to-pink ombre fabric was dyed by Aurora in the same experimentation process used for the Disco Strawberry Shade. Thank you to Aida Hasanovic and Jill Kuanfung from Intersect Art Center's after school program for being such caring co-tenants of our amazing creating spaces! The shade was designed, welded, and sewn by Aurora.

Primary Florals Shade - [Yellow iris fabric shade with red velvet trim and blue fringe] - Value - $180. Bid starting at $30. This 14" diameter hanging shade was one of the first lampshades Aurora created, before she learned how to weld; the frame is actually a reworked wire hanging flower basket! The yellow iris fabric came from a sheet from Aurora's grandma, dating back to the time when her grandma worked in the linens department at Famous Barr in the 60's! The red floral fabric was donated by a transitioning friend who was re-homing their femme wardrobe. The shade was designed and sewn by Aurora.

Brick City Shade - [Brown, red, and orange ice dyed shade with green fringe] - Value - $260. Bid starting at $60. This towering 11" diameter shade was welded by Aurora alongside a Sudbury student learning to spot weld, with fabric that was ice-dyed by Sudbury students. The powder dye used for this method contains a mixture of colors, and when sprinkled on top of ice (rather than pre-mixed with water), each of the contributing colors gets a moment to shine. Note the moments of teal, navy, brick, and even purple that emerged through the dying process! The shade was designed, welded, and sewn by Aurora.