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There’s a hush that falls over Viroqua on a cool evening when the grand façade of the Temple Theatre hums with quiet history, and a couple’s footsteps echo down the sidewalk. In this 11×14″ oil painting, I wanted to honor that moment—the soft anticipation, the subtle ritual of heading into a shared experience—without drama or hype.
The Temple Theatre is part of the 1922 Masonic Temple building, a Classical Revival landmark designed by Parkinson & Dockendorff and listed on the National Register of Historic Places . It’s not flashy with neon; instead, it evokes quiet dignity with its arched windows, recessed entryway, and historic marquee that glows gently under a midwestern sky. It was built for silent movies, vaudeville, and community events, and today remains a hub for live performances and films ().
This painting was created from memory and sketch, bringing together the real textures of Viroqua’s front street and the soft energy of the people who live there. The brushstrokes are confident yet expressive—warm ochres highlight the building’s limestone detailing, while deepening blues and purples suggest a cool dusk. The couple, only loosely outlined, carry a quiet intimacy and shared purpose. You feel them moving toward something—a concert, a film, a moment of unity under historic arches.
I painted it in my basement studio, with a steaming mug of tea nearby and music from Thrice or Hendrix filling the room—because that’s how I work best: layering mood, memory, and music into one cohesive feeling. The result is a piece that doesn’t scream for attention but rewards those who stop, look, and breathe.
This isn’t a painting about spectacle. It’s about subtle power—the kind you feel in small towns when culture and history intertwine under dim lights. A Night at the Historic Temple Theatre invites you to remember a time that feels both personal and universal: stepping out of your routine into something gently grand.
Framed and ready to hang, it’s for anyone who cherishes quiet civic beauty, shared experiences, and the emotional resonance of local landmarks. It’s Viroqua’s story in oil and color, told softly and with feeling.