Keepers of Place
This 10x10 inch painting by Nathalie Kalbach celebrates the enduring small businesses that shape our neighborhoods and hold our collective memories. Inspired by Bergen Avenue's historic storefronts, including the iconic red and white awning of Lee Sims Chocolates, this work captures the colorful patchwork of community commerce that has withstood decades of change. Each storefront represents not just a business, but generations of stories, conversations, and exchanges that define a sense of place. As these establishments reach milestone anniversaries of 50, 75, or even 100+ years, they stand as living archives of our shared history—keepers of place in an ever-changing urban landscape. Part of the Place-Based Narratives Project, this painting connects to larger themes of community identity, heritage preservation, and the vital role of small businesses in creating the spaces we call home. Created with acrylic paint, marker, and ink on canvas, this artwork comes with a simple wooden frame.
This 10x10 inch painting by Nathalie Kalbach celebrates the enduring small businesses that shape our neighborhoods and hold our collective memories. Inspired by Bergen Avenue's historic storefronts, including the iconic red and white awning of Lee Sims Chocolates, this work captures the colorful patchwork of community commerce that has withstood decades of change. Each storefront represents not just a business, but generations of stories, conversations, and exchanges that define a sense of place. As these establishments reach milestone anniversaries of 50, 75, or even 100+ years, they stand as living archives of our shared history—keepers of place in an ever-changing urban landscape. Part of the Place-Based Narratives Project, this painting connects to larger themes of community identity, heritage preservation, and the vital role of small businesses in creating the spaces we call home. Created with acrylic paint, marker, and ink on canvas, this artwork comes with a simple wooden frame.
This 10x10 inch painting by Nathalie Kalbach celebrates the enduring small businesses that shape our neighborhoods and hold our collective memories. Inspired by Bergen Avenue's historic storefronts, including the iconic red and white awning of Lee Sims Chocolates, this work captures the colorful patchwork of community commerce that has withstood decades of change. Each storefront represents not just a business, but generations of stories, conversations, and exchanges that define a sense of place. As these establishments reach milestone anniversaries of 50, 75, or even 100+ years, they stand as living archives of our shared history—keepers of place in an ever-changing urban landscape. Part of the Place-Based Narratives Project, this painting connects to larger themes of community identity, heritage preservation, and the vital role of small businesses in creating the spaces we call home. Created with acrylic paint, marker, and ink on canvas, this artwork comes with a simple wooden frame.
