Bill Christman, St. Louis native, inherited his artistic skills from his father who was a procedures engineer at McDonnell Aircraft, and his vibrant sense of humor from his Alsatian/Jewish mother. He went to University of Missouri in Columbia for four years to escape the draft and Vietnam War. He studied Art History, Drawing, and Sculpture, but was chiefly occupied with the party school ethos and bohemian pursuits. He didn’t learn much, but he cannot truly be called an “outsider” artist. His excellent penmanship directed him to a career as a sign painter, and 15 years of painting scenery with the MUNY exposed him to collaboration with other skilled artists/builders. A workshop with Milton Glaser at the School of Visual Arts opened his creative spirit and later, Bob and Gail Cassilly invited him to be a collaborator in the St. Louis City Museum. Talk about luck! Now he hopes to finish his café/music venue, Joe’s Café, and sculpture garden in the West End of St. Louis. He believes that art and music and poetry will heal us. Gratias agamus tibi – ad deum qui laetificat juventatem meam! (Let us give thanks to you – to God, who gives joy to my youth).