Acrylic on 48" X 96" panel. Painted between March and May of 2010.
This painting is intended for the Zeus Cafe, which will be on the ground floor of the building made triangular by the intersections of Stark and Burnside Streets and Twelfth Avenue in Portland, Oregon.
The three-sided plot of land that normally holds Ringler's Annex and the Crystal Hotel buildings has been replaced here by a giant soaking pool in the middle of this "neighborhood bar" scene. Jazz musicians use the power of their music to lift ghostly dancing couples out of the warm, pink water and further along their haunting flights out of the picture frame and into the hotel rooms above the liquid dance floor.
A rotating mirror-ball casts starry reflections around the room as the bar's customers sit with their backs to the soaking pool. At each table they are conducting séances with electric crystal balls that glow even while unplugged. The singer's microphone is also disconnected from power. Quite a few things are amiss in this painting, and yet the dancing continues.
I could say more about all the people and details included in this scene, but for now let it be noted that I relied heavily on the vast amount of research and photographs provided by
McMenamins' historian, Tim Hills.
About the author: Lyle Hehn is one of our McMenamins artists and has been with the company since 1988.
Which beer is our best-selling ale? Hammerhead, of course. Have a pint or two today! “Wine is bottled poetry.” -- Robert Louis Stevenson What’s the name of the Kennedy brewery? The Concordia Brewery, named for the surrounding neighborhood. At the Grand Lodge, the mosaics in the basement hallways were inspired by the work of Spanish artist Antonio Gaudi. Does each McMenamins pub brew beer? Nope – only our brewpubs and breweries do. They supply our other spots. Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, was said to be able to drink any man under the table. You show ‘em, Betsy! McMenamins has a full-time historian on staff. He collects stories, photos, anecdotes and more about McMenamins spots, past and present. “Wine is bottled poetry.” -- Robert Louis Stevenson How many McMenamins are there in the Seattle area? Three – Mill Creek, Six Arms and Queen Anne. What was the very first McMenamins pub, opened by Mike and Brian McMenamin? The Barley Mill on SE Hawthorne in Portland. The Centzon-Totochtin (“Infinite Rabbits”) was an Aztec group that represented the ways humans are affected by intoxication. Give it up for St. Arnold, the patron saint of brewers! His miracle was a tankard of ale that never ran dry… Put him on the invite list. “We borrowed golf from Scotland as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good.” -- Horace Hutchinson “Give me a woman who truly loves beer and I will conquer the world.” – Kaiser Wilhelm II
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#1 cjy
Incredible Lyle!
Great colors~
#2 aniko Samu Kuschatka
This looks like a huge painting! Is it? It looks stunning! You sound exhausted!
#3 Bill Jackson
Lyle: I love the piece; can't wait to see it installed in the cafe! I think it's worth noting that the left-hand street signs are a bit off; "SW Burnside" should be "W Burnside", and where the sign is placed would really be "NW 13th", not "SW 13th". I'll assume that's just artistic license, though, and well-deserved for such excellent work. :)
#4 Richard David
As always Lyle your work is awe inspiring . I truly believe that you are not only a very important artist to McMenamins, but also some kind of mystical supernatural guru. Your vision is no doubt magical. where does your unworldly inspiration come from?
Rick