Fire Station 19

The central image of the painting is a fire-fighting scene taken from fire station 19 photos of a summer 2004 fire. Surrounding the fire scene are smaller paintings representing a sampling of insights, diverse impressions of my residency.

Clock-wise from the top left:

American flag and pole;
The ‘reservoir dog’ logo and Milo the dog;
A scene of a man being carried by tarp down stairs to the ambulance gurney;
An image of the shoeshine box, and historic part of the old fire station followed by an historic image of a former station 19 from the 1930’s;
A motorcycle accident 911 call.

Station 19 was the last station I visited during my residency since it was being remodeled for most of the first half of the year. Captain Casey whom I enjoyed working with at Station 42 earlier in the year was now Captain Fire station 19 and I realized fire fighters move around a lot! Actually I began seeing the shifting around after a couple months and realized that the residency was more about the nature of the fire fighter community than the individual stations. Since the mood or flavor of each shift is as much about the individuals who make up the crew as the events that transpire during the shift, each ride along was truly unique.

The flagpole at the station was sheared off by a late night driving accident just before I began work and replaced during my ride- a –longs. The aftermath of the accident, skid marks, splintered flag pole and cracked shrubs were the first thing I saw as I came to introduce myself one morning and I visited this station during the heat of the presidential election so I felt compelled to paint flag and pole.

Reservoir Dogs was such a strong yet playful and in many ways fitting logo for the station identity I wanted to paint it. Milo the dog who belongs to Jason the fire fighter was with us at the station during one of my ride along days. He was the only fire station dog I met. While researching the history of American Fire fighters I found the original reason for having the Dalmatians was to keep animals away from the horses but I was still missed seeing dogs, (another myth dispelled).

The resourcefulness of the firefighters in emergency situations is what inspired the image of the man being carried by tarp down stairs.

I wanted the painting to include a sense of the history of the fire station. Fire Station 19 had previously been in another location, I included an image of the old station in black and white taken from an historical photo dated 1930 along with the old shoeshine box, which remains, inside the new station.

One of the 911 calls I went on with the fire fighters was a motorcycle accident. This was particularly poignant for me because I ride motorcycles.

To be in the thick of the rescue operation was an entirely new perspective. I have nothing but admiration for the fire fighters who do their jobs expeditiously, compassionately, efficiently and without voicing judgment.