The Story of "American Water"- the Painting

Some paintings take on a life of their own.

In 1998, while the Silver Jews were recording what would become American Water, David Berman was visiting his longtime friend Chris Kysor in Brooklyn, New York. Chris was hosting a gathering at his studio, where an untitled painting hung on the wall. At some point during the evening, David sat down in front of it and fell asleep.

Later, he asked Chris if he could use the painting for the cover of the new record.

Chris said yes.

The album was released later that year, the painting became known as American Water, and over time the image became inseparable from one of indie rock's most celebrated albums.

Nearly three decades later, the painting continues to resonate. Fans have tattooed it on their bodies, recreated it as fan art, printed it on bumper stickers, and lived with it on their record shelves for years. For many people, the image is forever tied to David Berman's lyrics and the world the album created.

The original painting no longer exists. When Chris left Brooklyn and returned to Dallas, it was lost during the move. While the original is gone, the image has continued to live on.

Over the years, Chris has repainted American Water many times. He has long since lost count. Some versions stay close to the original, while others explore new color palettes, different scales, and subtle variations. Each is painted by hand in the studio—not a reproduction, but a new painting of an image that has become part of both Chris's own history and the history of countless Silver Jews fans around the world.

Whether you discovered Chris Kysor through American Water or through his contemporary paintings, thank you for being here.