Red Fire Escapes New York City

This work is a celebration of the idea of New York. These are the fire escapes Warhol walked past in the night going from party to party. The fire escapes Basquiat took shelter under from the rain. They are the fire escapes Woody Allen characters take refuge on waiting for jealous spouses to leave so they can come in out of the cold. The fire escapes Henry Miller called up to reluctant lovers on. They are the scene of a million chases, escapes and near misses.

These are the fire escape we would like to sit out on and inhale the atmosphere of the city. The fire escape we would like to sit and look to the distant lights and think deep thoughts while smoking, even though we don’t smoke. They are the fire escape of our dream.

With this work, the iconic red fire escapes of New York are brought to life and set against colors that are felt more than seen. 

The horizontal and diagonal pathway the fire escapes make down the canvas creates such so soothing journey for the eye that as soon as it reaches the bottom it can’t help but float to the top again to eagerly make the downward journey again. It is this intoxication for the eye that sets this work apart. 

The way the wall that the fire escape is attached to has been abstracted causes the fire escape to become sculptural and to float independent, at once sitting into and separated out from the picture plane.  This again is a delicious visual experience for the eye. Like seeing the tree and the forest simultaneously.
Delightful!

At two by one and a half feet this two-inch thick work is as solid and bold as the structures, it depicts and forms a strong statement on any wall on which it is hung.