Romantic Newtown Creek

Entrance to the Newtown Creek by John Leslie; Oil on panel, 16"x12"

Newtown Creek is one of the country’s oldest industrial waterway that divides Western Queens from Northern Brooklyn here in New York. At the height of  New York’s manufacturing boom, the creek was one of the busiest corridors in the United States. Because of all this overuse of the waterways over the years , it became one of the most heavily polluted industrial sites in the country due to the accumulation of toxic build-up, oil spills, and raw sewage. In September of 2010, the Newtown received a Superfund designation, which legally requires the site to be cleaned up by the responsible parties or by the EPA, which uses trust funds for revitalization.

To commemorate this revitalization and the history of the Newtown Creek, painter John Leslie has created several beautiful oil paintings  in his Romantic Newtown Creek  series to showcase the potential and the hidden gems of the waterways. I met John last spring at one of my group shows and after listening to his critiques of the other works that were there, I could tell that he knew his stuff. Seeing his oil paintings is confirmation of this.

English Kills End by John Leslie; Oil on Canvas, 9"x12"

 John’s pieces are beautiful representations of the Newtown Creek and its surrounding areas. He uses soft strokes and colors to breathe life and tranquility into his subject matter. Human figures and scenery are conveyed in quick, simple strokes, which suggest ease and spontaneity. The tranquility of his works allows the viewer to be transported to a realm that transcends the urban landscape of New York.

John’s paintings are a reminder of how art can be a vehicle for change. In this case, Romantic Newtown Creek  calls attention to an important, but often overlooked part of New York’s industrial and environmental heritage.  To see more of Leslie’s paintings and to learn more about Newtown Creek, please visit the Romantic Newtown Creek’s website.