Empire State of Inspiration

Annnnnd we're back! As I expected, New York is just as exhilarating, energizing, and inspiring as ever. Being back in the city makes me realize HOW much I love this place (as if I didn't already know) and how much I miss living here. We just got in from a long day of training followed by happy hour and dinner, so I must get to bed in order to get rested up for tomorrow's festivities and yoga class at Jivamukti, but first, I had to share a bit of NY inspiration...

We came across this van (photo below) in Union Square this evening, and it reminded me of some paintings that I saw a few years ago that I loved. I snapped a pic of the van, and have included a few of my favorite of  Kevin Cyr's paintings below. He an artist who lives in Brooklyn, and has done an entire van series and another vehicle series consisting of very simple paintings of beat up, graffiti-covered vans. I love his paintings because they're so direct--they're straight-forward images of ugly, man-made machinery--but somehow, by rendering these vehicles in paint, he makes them beautiful again. See how NY inspires? Even graffiti-covered vans are beautiful and inspiring here...

Here's the van that I saw (and kind of loved, I have to admit) in Union Square today...

And here are some of Kevin Cyr's paintings...

Apollo by Kevin Cyr, Oil on Panel, 20" x 30"

Allen Diptych by Kevin Cyr, Oil on Panel, 36" x 60"

Hausman by Kevin Cyr, Oil on Panel, 36" x 60"

Berry II by Kevin Cyr, Oil on Panel, 20" x 30"

Pretty fun, right? Not only are they painted totally realistically (almost to the point of photorealism, except for the way that he's handled the background), but I also think that he does a great job of capturing the gritty, raw qualities of New York in a playful, creative way. Back in the city for 24-hours and I'm already inspired and reminded of great art...

Oh New York, how are you so amazing?

Namaste,
Mary Catherine