ArtistKay Jackson
Night Construction, M and 22nd Street
Date1998
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions24 × 30 in. (61 × 76.2 cm)
Credit LineDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Art Bank Collection
Object numberDCCAH2003.103
ClassificationsPaintings
Locations
- Currently Not on View
DescriptionThis painting is based on photographs Jackson took near her home in Dupont Circle. It is an example of three subjects she has repeatedly explored—the industrial landscape, nocturnes and people on the street. When you start with a street covered with water and high intensity lights reflecting a night time repair job, you have a magical scene, that is, edited reality with high contrast abstract passages. The colors are harmonic and vivid; the brilliant orange and yellow create designs in the watery reflection as the figures melt into the upper background. This is one of several canvases Jackson painted during the late nineties showing “night construction” and though she has not painted one in years, she still pulls over and photographs work crews at night because it is such a compelling subject.