At Castle Clinton on the Battery in lower Manhattan, we saw birds snacking, squirrels foraging, musicians playing, kids running by, elders resting on benches, dogs barking hello, boats wizzing by. Two hundred years ago the area was filled with hopeful immigrants making their way to the new world as they called it. I wonder if they thought about us, in the future in a way that I think about generations to come. What will history say about us and our footprint? I'm hoping that recording journeys across the world will help those in the future come to a more complete understanding of who we are and why we did what we did. 
 
This oil painting by Lisa Bisbee captures Castle Clinton in Battery Park, Lower Manhattan, NYC, with a rich and expressive use of color and texture. The artwork features bold, impasto brushstrokes that add depth and movement to the scene. The painting presents a striking contrast between the historic stone structure of Castle Clinton in the foreground and the vibrant, illuminated skyscrapers of Manhattan in the background. The color palette is dominated by vivid blues, pinks, oranges, and purples, giving the cityscape an almost dreamlike, electric quality. The sky is a swirling blend of deep blues and lighter hues, adding drama and energy to the composition. The buildings, bathed in warm tones, appear to glow, creating a striking interplay of light and shadow. The brushwork is dynamic, with thick layers of paint that emphasize texture, particularly in the brickwork of Castle Clinton and the surrounding urban landscape. The expressive style and unconventional color choices transform this historic site into a lively, contemporary vision of New York City. Overall, the painting blends realism with abstraction, creating an impressionistic yet modern interpretation of an iconic NYC landmark.