This is the fifth painting of my vintage series. It shows the J&L Works beside the parkway east. This image is seared into my memory because it was my first impression of Pittsburgh. During the 1960s my oldest brother was living in Hazelwood while attending Pitt Dental School. For fun he would drive my twin, Don, and I the 95 miles from Cambria County to see the "big city." Our entrance was always greeted with the smell of rotten eggs, thick smoke, and strange sounds–all coming from this dark, hulking mill. It was an ominous feeling for a couple 10 year old hayseeds. This painting visually recalls that experience over 40 years ago.
9 comments:
Truly amazing Ron! Do you work from old photographs or real life? Your work is beautiful.
I wish I could see this full size instead of three inches wide on my computer screen, but
great subject, composition, tonal range...it's got it all. Where do you find the photos?
Christine and Taryn, thanks so much. I'm using a web site www .retrographer.org
It has 4000+ historical images of the city. It was developed by a cmu student as a class project. His professor suggested sending me the link because of my interest in regional landscape. It seemed like a good idea to use them as source and to develop a different series of work. They are also copyright free.
Dismal setting--the air looks so thick with smoke and toxins, I feel that I can not breathe--quite suffocating.
Ron, I think this is gorgeous! I love seeing paintings of the industrial revolution style (I mean rather like the ash can school of thought but showing the fallout of the industrial revolution...er...progress).
I remember that smell, but my memory is of Cleveland, the Flats, below the Tremont area, driving down the highway and you get that smell. The image feels the same too.
I hear so much about this era. I lived in Pittsburgh from 1989-1998. For the first few years, I was in the King Edward Apartments in Oakland and remember the black soot that would gather in the old window frames. It would still shake loose from time to time. The city is so beautiful now...breathtaking when you enter the city through the South Hill tunnel at night!
Ah, I was wondering about the copyright. Thanks.
Another fantastic painting, Ron - I instantly get the impression of oppressive industry, and the smoke coming from the stacks is painted so masterfully! (If this is a paper mill, the foul smell coming from those stacks is one you never forget.)
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