Portrait of Niki Russ Federman by Nate Padavick

Illustrator Nate Padavick created a series of 17 portraits of the owners of local independent and family businesses and will exhibit the series, fittingly, at Jeffrey’s Meats in the Essex Street Market (120 Essex Street at Delancey Street).

Padavick made portraits of the “faces” of business owners — Niki Russ Federman of Russ & Daughters, Jeffrey Ruhalter of Jeffrey’s, Moishe from Moishe’s Bakery, Terry McCoy of St. Mark’s Book Shop, and others — and calls the series, “Alive & Kicking: NYC Independent Business Owners.”

The Jeffrey’s stand is already packed full of framed photos, so we’re also interested in seeing how this work actually fits in. The show will be on view from December 4 through January 5, 2009. There will be an opening reception on December 4, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

- Jen Snow