OIL ON CANVAS, 6FT X 3FT
This large painting of grasses and wildflowers is actually from the hypothetical perspective of an insect looking up from the crumbling asphalt of an empty and abandoned parking lot along Mass Ave in the South End / Lower Roxbury area of Boston. This parking lot was across the street from my home and studio and remained empty for over a decade as nature slowly took over. I’m intrigued and inspired by the defiance and determination of nature and see many allegories of hope in urban landscapes.
An interesting note about my ‘Urban Wilds’ series: All scenes take place in a busy city environment complete with noise, traffic, congestion, litter, pollution, and crime but none of the paintings have any direct evidence of human existence and this is deliberate. It is intended to contrast the completely different perspectives of nature that exist and to illustrate its beauty and power that might not otherwise be noticeable from an everyday human perspective.
One irony with this series is that when people view this painting from their own perspective they often picture themselves in the scene, rather than viewing the object as it actually is – a painting of an urban landscape from a totally non-human perspective. In this scenario you can see how each person views the scene differently and projects their own life experience and internalized optimism or pessimism.
The original oil painting is 6ft x 3ft and is on display in the Mayor’s office on the 5th floor of Boston City Hall, as part of the permanent collection of the City of Boston.
