Historical April 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Bill Christman has had a studio in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood since 1981.
He is a full time artist Christman actually was born on Waterman and grew up in this neighborhood: He has long term ties to the area. Although there are a lot of artists with studios in south St. Louis and downtown, this neighborhood appealed to him because it is a family neighborhood. Christman walks to work from his present home in University City (he previously lived above the studio), and his children attend St. Roch’s.
There always have been about ten artists’ studios at Four Corners.
There is a comfort knowing the area has a lot of artists. Since artists’ work is solitary, however, there is not much daily interaction.
The YAHOO program will promote collaboration. Christman makes the majority of his living from commercial design and sign work.
For twelve years, he painted scenery at the Muny.
He still does some theatrical work.
He now is trying to be more productive in his own work. That is the creative part; the commercial work feeds his family.
However, the commercial signs do influence his own art. Christman’s most famous work perhaps is his series extolling the American corn dog.
His “Corn Dog Mysticism” states that corn dogs have great mystical properties and are the most visible contribution to civilization.
He is planning a sequel, “The Dark Side of the Corn Dog,” that will show how a tool of enlightenment becomes a tool of enslavement.
Original photograph caption
Bill Christman. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_04.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
