Broadway Night by Gary Epting at Amelia Hyde Gallery

Broadway Night by Gary Epting is an amazing painting that can be seen only at Amelia Hyde Gallery October 7-November 8. It’s 33” wide by 66” high on canvas/wood.

Epting grew up in northern Michigan and earned a degree in Fine Arts from Western Michigan University before relocating in San Francisco in the mid 70’s. He is an award-winning painter, writer and digital artist living and working in the Bay Area.

What was Epting’s inspiration for Broadway Night? “Les Nuits de Paris is a book written in the 1780's during the French Revolution. The author, Nicholas Retif (besides being known as the first modern pornographer and a contemporary and enemy of the Marquis de Sade) was also a very brave man. The 'Nuits' is a collection of short stories in the form of a diary that records his nightly exploits and observations on the streets of Paris during the Terror. It's filled with grit, wit and unforgettable images. Needless to say I was inspired.”

What role has San Francisco played in several of these images? “The 'Night City' paintings are a record of my nocturnal wanderings in San Francisco. Of course, I didn't have to worry about the guillotine, but more than once I was glad I am tall enough to look like I'd be more trouble than it would be worth to bother.

How did you capture these scenes or did you paint them from memory? “Mostly I recorded what I saw with an old Nikon (this was a pre-digital world). Many of these images became sketches and a few of those-- paintings. Broadway Night was one of those images that was dangerous to shoot. The painting was made from several hastily snapped shots that were more blur than anything else. I still take my nighttime walks (with a digital cam) through the neighborhoods. Even though the shops and restaurants are closed and everything seems to be asleep I can tell you the city is still wide awake.”

Gary’s Artist Statement:

Night in the land of windfalls & roadkill.
Slumming, or cruising. Either way. There will be blood in the water and sharks on
the avenue.
Ask me things are gonna go pear-shaped. Full Bartlett. Smart money says do
your business and be gone before the chum hits the heavy syrup.