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An oil painting of an historic barn in Newburyport, Massachusetts, situated in the middle of a large industrial park.
The Holdout
oil on linen
24"x24"
2019

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16"x16" signed and numbered museum quality prints available for $100 each.

I began painting this barn because it is an iconic piece of historic architecture situated in the middle of an industrial area in Newburyport, Massachusetts. If you take the Scotland Rd exit to approach Newburyport you will pass this barn and it's accompanying farmhouse as you approach the intersection of Graf Rd and Parker St.

The barn and house stood stubbornly over the years as large industrial and office buildings sprung up around it. A classic juxtaposition. A little while back it went on the market and I decided to paint it, composing it such that you could not see industrial structures, but including the jet contrail observed above as evidence of modernity.

While painting this I learned that the Newburyport Brewing Company has purchased the plot as the site of their new facility and they are aiming to keep the barn, which brought new meaning to the work. As much as I would have loved this farm to somehow defy the march of time as if in total isolation, I am glad that of all companies the Brew Co; which invites the public to enjoy their space (and beer), and which has an attachment to the community, has taken ownership.