I first heard of Bill Christman because his "Stations of the Cross" were being exhibited at St. Louis' Forum for Contemporary Art. They were exceptional--the traditional Catholic meditations on different scenes along Jesus' journey to Calvary (when He fell along the way, when Simon of Cyrene helped carry the cross) rendered in neon and bold 1950s style graphics. They were deeply profound, subversive without being cynical, modern but past-honoring, and I loved them. I also couldn't forget the name. You don't forget the name "Christman" when you associate it first with the Stations of the Cross.
Later I worked for him at City Museum, on Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis, in his Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem. (I manned a concession stand which advertised itself as the "Shrine of Shameless Hucksterism.") I've also attended concerts-cum-happenings he's staged with the band Switchback. One such event showed off a new buffalo sculpture in a neighborhood park. Attendees were encouraged to wear hobo attire, eat communal stew, and toast marshmallows at a bonfire. Naturally, this was known as the "Buffalo Hobo Inferno."
Christman's an interesting guy to know.
read Christman's comments about the artistic life here.
Posted by eshtine at June 21, 2003 06:35 PM