Most people in South Saint Louis know of Wayne St. Wayne. His mural at Mangia Italiano has been a work in progress for well over 10 years. His painted records, bottles, and horror movie murals can be seen in many other businesses and homes.
Always looking for a can of Schlitz or a little "inspiration" from onlookers, he entertains potential customers with stories of monsters or his own life. And he has stories. A regular on the wrestling circuit in the past, one wouldn't expect much from the timid, less than six feet tall man, but who knows. I never saw him in his prime.
One day, last July I believe, maybe the summer before, Wayne came in to work on his mural. We all thought it a normal thing until we noticed the large, dark black eye on his face. The whispers started. Wayne must have been jumped recently. I wonder who he pissed off.
Unable to stand the suspense, I asked the question while refilling his drink.
"I got hit by a plane," Wayne said almost nonchalantly.
You could imagine the raised eyebrows that occurred from this comment.
"You know the air show for the Fair St. Louis? Well, a friend of mine was flying the biplane and we decided to recreate the scene from North by Northwest. I was running away from the plane and I looked back to see how close I was, and then SMACK! I was hit by a plane."
This, my friends, is the story of how Wayne St. Wayne got hit by a plane.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
3 comments:
- I've seen Wayne draw - One of the more miraculous events in my life - With each brush stroke he seemed able to create worlds
He is a true primitive master. He knows more about color and space relationships than any artist I know.
Michael Draga
I lived down the street from him when I was a kid. Nice guy, nice daughter too.
Post a Comment