The artist whose vibrantly painted 55-gallon oil-drum recycling canisters line Main Street has just completed a new painting sparked by the city's first New Year's Eve celebration, .
Each oil drum painting depicts a unique, vividly colored scene. Some feature local landmarks such as the Arrigoni Bridge and O’Rourke’s Diner. There are island scenes. Others are hip-hop inspired.
In mixed media acrylic on glass, Haiti native 's exuberant scene of a pianist and ruby-clad singer performing to crowds on Main Street takes some artistic liberties.
"As far as the performers, they come from my head. I picked an image from Main Street, Middletown, and created the performers."
"I want to give that painting a sense of movement, surrealism and joy. I try to capture in my unique way the essence of that great event," Sylvain says.
The painting evokes the stark realism of 1930s Works Project Administration murals, like those of Thomas Hart Benton.
Sylvain's work has been displayed at on Washington Street. Some of hiss work is on permanent display at Fiore II Restaurant in Middletown and at the Imperial Caribbean restaurant in Cromwell.
