A SoHo Facade

 

A SoHo Facade
8x8 inches
Oil on panel

This new painting captures the facade of a venerable former SoHo  building on Mercer Street. Once a busy factory it is now home to exclusive loft dwellings and high-end retail. The warm red brick and aging Rosenbluth Bros. sign along with high windows (with reflections of course) make for an inviting glimpse into the neighborhood's past.

Back in the 1980's and early 90's I was a member of the NoHo Gallery on Mercer Street. An artist's cooperative gallery, one of the many galleries that populated the area back then, it was a busy and exciting area. Lot's of art and artists, restaurants, shopping, close to subways - a bustling place. These days I rarely find myself wandering around the area as it has become a destination for wealthy shoppers with many exclusive stores. Most of the galleries have moved on, many relocating to Chelsea and now migrating once again, this time to Tribeca and the Lower East Side. Neighborhoods keep changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Still, I am always happy to see the older buildings rehabbed and finding new ways to stay viable and avoiding the wrecking ball.