Complementing
the Marigny's artistic flair, the Bank Cafe is a showcase. Four large paintings
of dense green foliage by acclaimed artist Chuck Connelly adorn one wall.
Connelly was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1955 and is currently residing in Philadelphia
after moving from New York in the fall of 1999. This transition of atmosphere
sparked a change in his work-- Urban meets Suburban.
The focal point of the
restaurant lies in the massive 1939 Brunswick Art Deco mahogany bar, which
came from a pool hall in Tallahassee. This sleek, incredible piece of woodwork
attracts those of all kinds, its glowing amber columns acting as a beacon.
As with the Bank itself, it emanates an air of history. Sitting at the bar,
one can lose themselves in this spacious relic of the past.
For years, Connelly's expression was that of fictional narrative, but now he's focused more on real life. Using his technique of dynamic eye to hand interaction, he creates a lavish body of work with robust color. Through interwoven words and a touch of abstraction, he hasn't left behind his storytelling roots. In October 2002, New York Times reviewer Ken Johnson wrote about the paintings, "A suite of four canvases extending over 20 feet across the wall, each filled edge to edge with leaves, vines, grass and weeds, is like a conference call among van Gogh, Soutine and Pollock."
