Diners

A poignant and beautifully-done collection of paintings so clear you can almost smell the burgers on the grill. A must-have both from an artistic standpoint and a preservationist standpoint, as diners become a rare breed.

Sensitive photorealistic watercolor studies of east coast diners, both inside and out, mostly postcard-like frontal views, interspersed with conversations the artist had with the people in and around his finds. My favorite was the man who spoke to him of having "Diner Feet." Like the feet of Langston Hughes' Jesse B. Semple, his feet have lives of their own and tell their tales. The paintings themselves clearly convey the joy that Baeder takes in his finds; fabled jewels found in barnyards