Scott Noel

"Roxborough, Early Spring" Oil/Linen 54" X 68." 1993.

I remember enjoying this Philadelphia artist's work in several State Museum shows here.

I love the way Scott Noel loves his Philadelphia neighborhoods as much as Utrillo loved his Montmartre.

Actually, I prefer Noel's paintings to Utrillo's.

Noel definitely has the edge as a colorist.

And any painter who can openly display an unabashed love for Manayunk deserves some street cred.

(One gay man to another on street: "Why must you do that?" "Do what?" "Openly display..." "I believe you are speaking in the 'tongue of the enemy'".)

And some museum cred too. Because he's a painter of subtleties beaten fine, of psychological nuance.

Who said naturalism is dead and realism is a dead letter office?

He's better-known for his figurative paintings. That's the psychological nuance I was talking about.

And he knows how to work that pastel magic when he works in that medium.

This card is for a show he had in the Bowery Gallery which was (is) at 121 Wooster Street.

I love Wooster Street.

Is the bookstore still there that has all the handmade books in the glass case by the checkout?

Soho. Noho. Eat cheap.

WARNING: YOU ARE ENTERING A VISUALLY ADDICTIVE ZONE.

"Dreams walking in broad daylight."