Street Stories – Debbie Shirley
February 28 – April 11
Street Stories is a series of paintings inspired by the storefronts, urban buildings and quiet details we pass every day but rarely stop to notice. Each piece holds a small story about memory, community, and the beauty of places that have shaped us.
Artist’s Statement
I paint portraits of buildings that most people walk past without a second glance. My Street Stories series focuses on the underdogs of urban architecture – old laundromats, mom and pop shops, corner stores, and empty storefronts that have watched city life unfold for decades. By isolating each building in my paintings, I spotlight these overlooked spaces and the stories inside their worn-down walls. These are more than just buildings to me – they are snapshots of neighborhood life that seems to be slowly fading away – portraits of resilience, inclusion and community.
I carry a camera with me, never knowing when a building or sign will catch my eye with its colorful shapes, peeling paint or interesting shadows. When possible, I like to sketch or paint on site in addition to taking pictures. I use my photographs as just a starting point, changing things as needed to improve composition or to evoke a feeling. I work in acrylics, painting in thin layers, taking advantage of the medium’s quick drying time. I use layers to first build form, and then to add texture, age and patina. I often work on multiple pieces at one time, always getting excited by my next idea, sometimes doing multiple paintings of the same subject when I feel there is something more there that I want to capture.
Originally from Ohio, but calling Massachusetts home for over 35 years, my artistic perspective blends Midwestern sensibilities with New England influences along with my graphic design background. Through careful attention to detail and light, I invite viewers to reconnect with the overlooked treasures of our shared past and find meaning in these everyday artifacts and spaces that might otherwise be forgotten.