THE ATTIC

'DEAD END?': Ferole Parmelee
Herbert ... ? ... John, John

This canvas painting was completed March, 12, 1967, by the Upstate New York artist was Ferole Parmelee. "Dead End?" depicts the view of a young African American boy during the late 1960s when race riots had broken out across the nation.

Written on the back of the painting:

"The boy represents a Negro who is coming out of the black alley -- symbolizing the black world he lives in. On either side of this alley are two white buildings -- symbolizing the white world that dominates the black. The Negro boy is longingly looking at one white ate (white people) and one black cat (black people) nuzzling each other. This is what he wants -- a "friendliness" atmosphere between the two different races. Yet in the distance is the big red brick wall blocking the street (shading from black to white) which symbolizes the trouble and bloodshed that will occur before a friendly atmosphere prevails in this Negro boy's life."

The canvas measures 16x20 inches and was sold a few years ago on Ebay.