If you do a lot of walking, you will encounter any number of people. You don't really meet them, though. To do that you'd have to stop and engage in conversation, which means listening more than speaking. It's an old-fashioned thing to do in a country dominated by social media, which is more about broadcasting our own beliefs and ideas.
Humans of St. Louis (the local wing of the "Humans" movement started by Brandon Stratton's Humans of New York project), is a documentary storytelling collective that aims to meet in person individual St. Louisans and give them a platform to discuss what's on their mind. Photographers Lindy Drew, Caroline Fish and Dessa Somerside have met more than 1,200 people during the project. The art exhibition
Humans of St. Louis is a collection of their favorite encounters. The show opens with a free reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 9, at the Regional Arts Commission (6128 Delmar Boulevard;
www.racstl.org). The show remains up through February 4, and the gallery is open daily.