On October 28, 1892 one of Milwaukee’s largest fires destroyed buildings in the Third Ward. Almost every structure on Chicago Street was reduced to rubble or ashes. After the fire, warehouses and other business buildings were built to replace many of the homes that were destroyed.

This is a view from a parking garage in the “Historic” Third Ward in Milwaukee. Painting on-location is always an intense experience for me. I can only hope that my paintings contain a sense of that experience. I painted this in the middle of the summer on a roof. There’s intense light and wind to mention a few of the conditions. Being present and observant is to be reminded of being alive and this kind of painting brings it home for me.