Anthony J. Marolda
Writings
A Hopper work at the MFA that I liked particularly was "Early Sunday Morning" (upper right). It shows a row of brick buildings at W. 15th Street and 7th Avenue in 1930's Manhattan with shops on the street level and apartments above. I was with my family one night about to enter a restaurant on the West End of Main Street in Gloucester when I noticed the similarity of the scene to Hopper's work. So, I did the oil on canvas to the right, and call it The West End.
Another Gloucester restaurant that we frequent is Halibut Point on the East End of Main Street. It is really a pub. It was originally a tavern built by Howard Blackburn in 1900. Blackburn is a well-known, heroic, historical figure from Gloucester. As a young man, he was a dory fisherman who became lost in a snow storm and was left behind by his schooner. To survive, he had to row for five days in freezing temperatures to reach New Foundland. His dory mate died, but he survived. He did, however,lose all of his fingers and some toes to frostbite. Yet he went on to be a successful business man. In addition, to seek adventure, he made several transoceanic, solo voyages in small sailboats.
So, above is a painting of the Halibut Point restaurant. It is also done in a style reminiscent of William Hopper's buildings with night time lighting conditions. I call it The East End, to complement the painting to the right.
Another Gloucester restaurant that we frequent is Halibut Point on the East End of Main Street. It is really a pub. It was originally a tavern built by Howard Blackburn in 1900. Blackburn is a well-known, heroic, historical figure from Gloucester. As a young man, he was a dory fisherman who became lost in a snow storm and was left behind by his schooner. To survive, he had to row for five days in freezing temperatures to reach New Foundland. His dory mate died, but he survived. He did, however,lose all of his fingers and some toes to frostbite. Yet he went on to be a successful business man. In addition, to seek adventure, he made several transoceanic, solo voyages in small sailboats.
So, above is a painting of the Halibut Point restaurant. It is also done in a style reminiscent of William Hopper's buildings with night time lighting conditions. I call it The East End, to complement the painting to the right.
