In a culture in which people are easily lured by the appeal of
status-enhancing symbols, I find beauty in derelict cars and unkempt
landscapes. I have always been interested in painting vehicles and
scenes that have defined the evolution of the American landscape.
In this particular series, I commemorate commercial vehicles inundated with graffiti
and rust, working vehicles, and well-traveled recreational vehicles. I find that
there is so much character in old delivery trucks and vans—especially when covered
with graffiti—and in the old RVs parked in someone’s yard off a main road.
Removing them from their everyday context gives them portrait-like importance.
I paint with devoted attention to every imperfection and sign of age.
Painting and drawing these objects gives me a chance to document a
time and place, and to make still a part of the ever-changing
environment.
Illustrations by Kevin Cyr. Brooklyn, New York. www.kevincyr.net