Something different

I've never been much for urban painting, just not a subject that excites me (all those man-made straight lines). But I know there are things to be admired in the city. Artists like William Wray and Stephen Magsig can point them out.

For the more than thirty years I've lived in the Chicago area, I've driven by the Stars Motel at Lincoln and Kedzie avenues an uncountable number of times. As far as I can remember, It's always been seedy, but the graphic designer in me has always liked the--now retro--sign. In preparation for gentrification, they tore down the building a year or two ago. They left the sign and with the economy the way it is, I don't think anything will be happening there for a while. But just in case, I stopped the other day to paint before the era has completely gone by. When was the last time a motel advertised having a Switchboard?


The Stars, oil, 12' x 9"