New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, London, Rome, Paris, Budpest, Prague, and many other urban centers have provided Harkrader with inspirational metropolitan influences. More than 40 paintings from the 'Urban' series have thus far evolved from these influences. "Cities are, among other things, sexy" says Harkrader. There is an energy in the city that one can not obtain from any other source. The energy from mass humanity, surging public transportation, romantic piano bars, lovely hotel rooms, the sensual shapes of architecture expanse, (especially the vertical) the aroma of international cuisine, art, scultpture, and the unwritten history of eros within museum walls. Wow, that sounded like the plot or script from a dozen 'Sex In The City' episodes. The image of the World Financial Center buildings above was captured by the artist in 1991 from atop the World Trade Center, 10 years before the dreadful 9-11. Harkrader shot this architectural angle, never to be captured again, from atop those magnificent twin towers. The World Trade Center's visual awe was not just their height, but the double columns that rose from the earth like a scene from some ancient holy site from another planet. What an absolute loss of art and life! Long live New York City.
