This painting was painted at dusk before it got too dangerous to hang out. (Edgar, the artist's bodyguard, was also uncomfortable painting on location late.)

The first version of this painting the artist lost when a cable snapped on her truck going over the Mississippi River in 2010. The painting flew off the bridge and was never seen again.

"Put Out", the opposite of "Output"

Tower working on "Put Out" in the rain, February, '09, East Saint Louis, IL

"Husked" refers to the corn cob husks depicted in this painting, lying on the factory floor, situating this scene in the Corn belt.

"Husked" also refers to the environment having been "husked", or "stripped bare" by scrappers as a consequence of economic deterioration.

Painted at 56 Sourth 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY, the artist's old studio from which she was evicted for the second time due to neighborhood gentrification.

I was living in the Midwest for several years and visiting New York without my oil paint. Curator Matt Gosser, knowing I am fond of painting Industrial sites in situ, gave me the tip to the New Jersey Site and mentioned it was about to be demolished the following week. I had previously scheduled a visit to the Whitney Biennial with art critic, Anthony Haden-Guest; having only a limited time in the tri-state area. I mentioned to Haden-Guest that I'd rather paint than see the biennial and the two of us decided to visit the Westinghouse site instead of the Whitney Biennial that year. Haden-Guest and myself rode the Path out to New Jersey and found the Westinghouse plant a short distance from the train tracks. We proceeded to climb through a second story window of the factory. (Art-critic Anthony Haden-Guest was around 70 at the time.) Once inside, I painted while he snooped around. We returned to Manhattan after several hours. I left the painting in the factory to dry, headed to the airport, and curator Matt Gosser, retrieved the painting for me, titled "Surge" and exhibited it in his "Westinghouse" show in 2008.

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents. Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents. Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

Tower painting "Big Wheel" (above) inside a "borrowed" studio- (trespassing) in East Saint Louis.

Tower placed a faux-factory replica of an engine room inside an empty, gutted factory in the South Bronx complete with a video of factory inhabitants, Haven Arts, NYC, 20008

Tower placed a faux-factory replica of an engine room inside an empty, gutted factory in the South Bronx complete with a video of factory inhabitants, Haven Arts, NYC, 20008

Tower placed a faux-factory replica of an engine room inside an empty, gutted factory in the South Bronx complete with a video of factory inhabitants, Haven Arts, NYC, 20008

Tower placed a faux-factory replica of an engine room inside an empty, gutted factory in the South Bronx complete with a video of factory inhabitants, Haven Arts, NYC, 20008

Tower placed a faux-factory replica of an engine room inside an empty, gutted factory in the South Bronx complete with a video of factory inhabitants, Haven Arts, NYC, 20008

Painted in Brooklyn, IL

Painted in Brooklyn, IL at Armour site

Painted in Brooklyn, Illinois at Armour site

Painted in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Portrait of Edgar Carter painted at Great Lakes Carbon Factory, Saint Louis, MO

Photo by John Frey in Saint Louis, MO

Edgar is depicted holding his favorite golf club.

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents. Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

Edgar Carter, born and raised in East Saint Louis, has been Cindy Tower's bodyguard since 2006. He has appeared several times in paintings by Tower and is also featured in her film, "Breaking, Entering and Painting".

Painted at Armour site

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents. Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents. Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

Painted in Leadington, MO at Federal Mill #3

Painted inside Federal Mill #3, Leadington, MO

"Gizzard" actually depicts a giant grinding machine that acts like a gizzard in a bird. It crushes rocks to extract the lead minerals.

Painted in Brooklyn, IL

The defunct factory environment becomes a goldmine for scrappers. Scrappers in an economic decline are the equivalent of canaries in a coal mine.

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents.

Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

Painted in Leadington, MO at Federal Mill #3

Depiction of floatation tanks in a lead mine.

Painted in memory of Al Philips, designer of the Katherine Dunham Museum, East Saint Louis, IL, the month he died 7/11, at age 49.

Exterior of a lead mine entrance. Painted at Federal Mill #3, MO

For a few years, Tower switched mediums (from working with artist-grade oil paint to left-over, industrial-grade paint salvaged from dumpsters). Paint was applied more loosely, devoid of thickening agents. Tower felt the melting of painting surfaces mirrored the economy's deterioration and said, "I feel as though I am painting the actual recession itself" (with the looser paint handling).

Painted in Brooklyn, IL (adjacent to East Saint Louis)

Painted aboard the S.S. Diamond State, Port of Houston, TX

Painted in Brooklyn, IL at Armour site

Behind Shu Feng Restaurant, Saint Louis, MO

Painted aboard the S.S. Diamond State, Port of Houston, TX

Painted aboard the S.S. Diamond State, Port of Houston, TX

Metaphorically, this is a portrait of the artist's Mother fighting cancer.

Painted in Brooklyn, Il at Armour site

Painted in Federal Mill #3, Leadington, MO

"Tommy Knocker" refers to a benevolent spirit which miners believe knocks on things to warn of an eminent collapse.

Painted at Great Lakes Carbon Factory, Saint Louis, MO

Metaphorically, the "towers" on either side of the flaming barrrel are "stand ins" for the artist's brothers. She depicts herself as the short rusty barrel shooting flames.

Painted in Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York City

Building #128 was originally used to build ships in at the turn of the last century.

Painted in Building #128, Brooklyn, Navy Yard, New York City

The first version of this painting was stolen from the location a day before it was complete.

Painted in Building #128, Brooklyn navy yard, New York City

Painted alongside Mississippi

Painted in Brookloyn, Illinois at Armour site

Painted at Armour site

Painted at Armour site

Painted at Armour site

Painted aboard the S.S. Diamond State, Port of Houston, TX

Painted in Brooklyn, NY at Forman Factory Site

Painted aboard the S.S.Diamond State, Port of Houston, TX

Painted in Georgetown, CT at Georgetown Wire Fabric factory site

Painted for "Westinghouse Show"