Lafayette St. Tank
Artist
Stephen Magsig
(American, born 1946)
Datec. 1998
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsFrame Size: 33 1/2 × 28 in. (85.1 × 71.1 cm)
Image Size: 29 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (74.9 × 59.7 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineGift of Compuware, 2015
Object numberUAC6317
DescriptionStephen Magsig is no stranger to the streets of Detroit ? a graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Midtown, Magsig has familiarized himself with Detroit?s winding urban jungle, and since 2007 has produced over 1,300 works focusing on the city. His works concentrate on the state of Detroit?s buildings juxtaposed with the natural forces that threaten to take over. His oeuvre ranges from a cool, dismal view of the Detroit skyline in Winter Wonderland to a hot summer day in Wright Hotel. The many buildings and locations Magsig paints are often immediately recognizable to those familiar with Detroit, and half the fun of Magsig?s work is discovering new places around Detroit.His 1998 piece Lafayette St. Tank depicts a common industrial scene with the vibrant intensity expected of Magsig?s work. His smooth paint application and fluid color choices illuminate the sight, giving it a new life. The bright sunshine streaming down in the piece gives the viewer a warm vibe, recalling memories of hot summer evenings in the city of Detroit.
Text by Catherine Milewski
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