William Stage presents Pictures of People

Mad Art Gallery is proud to present journalist and photographer William Stage on Thursday, November 1, 2007, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for a book signing and photography exhibit.

William Stage's Pictures of People is a collection of 80 black and white, candid photographs exposed from 1982 to 1993. Subjects hail from diverse pursuits and every strata of society. The famous, the infamous, and everyday working stiffs share a common bond, scrutiny before the lens. Stage photographed most of his subjects in St. Louis. Some are native to St. Louis, others just passing through our city. The text of the book is limited to the name and occupation of each subject and the date and location the photograph was taken.

Among those photographed are former Cardinals' manager Whitey Herzog, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, novelist Ken Kesey, mountain climber and environmentalist Sir Edmund Hillary, actress and comedian Brett Butler, poet and filmmaker Yevgeny Yevtushenko, novelist T.C. Boyle, and monologist Spalding Gray. An expanded version of the book is found at www.pixofpeople.com.

A working journalist since 1982 Wm. Stage has interviewed and photographed thousands of people from every walk of life. He taught journalist at Saint Louis University School for Professional Studies. He attended the weeklong Photojournalism Workshop every year since 1946. In 2007 he became an occasional commentator on NPR affiliate KWMU. Other books by Stage include Ghost Signs: Brick Wall Signs in America (1989); Mound City Chronicles (1991), Litchfield: A Strange and Twisted Saga of Murder in the Midwest (1998); and Have a Weird Day: Reflections & Ruminations on the St. Louis Experience (2003). Wm. Stage lives and drinks in the City of St. Louis, where photographic opportunities abound.

This event is free and open to all ages. Cash bar available.