Saint Louis, MO

I just woke up from a good nap after my long drive to Ann Arbor from St Louis (I fly back to California tomorrow morning – I have a show in San Diego next weekend: Artwalk).  St Louis is an awesome city – I love it. Its one of those hard core gritty Midwestern cities full of friendly people… with the exception of the few insane residents who don’t mind killing other people.

In 2006 I went out shooting for the first time there, scoring 3 good shots in 2 nights. I went alone, watching my back constantly. but feeling relatively safe. All three involved leaving my camera while I walked with my handheld flash, lighting parts of the scene… in other words, I was always making my presence known, and making myself all the more vulnerable. A few weeks later I read in the newspaper that according to FBI figures, it has won the top prize, the Gold Medal, for the country’s “most dangerous cities.” I had to sit and think about that one for a few minutes…

Sgt Tim Hickey, a St Louis cop, bought one of my pieces: Alley 91, Mutant. He plans to hang it in his office. As he told me: “I used to work in the ghetto – I saw this wall [see below] all the time. But now I work in a safe district… I paid my dues. I wanna look at this picture every day.”

He will be returning to the ghetto, however… with me. He’s agreed to escort me the next time I shoot in St Louis! I love it!

And one last thing about St. Louis… the Arch. I never thought much of it until you walk right up to it and look up. It will blow your mind. tip: go at night…

Two of my pieces are in Park Place Gallery – a Kansas City gallery. The show opened August 29.

Alley no. 91  -  “Mutant”  (2006, St. Louis, MO)