Rest in Power
It was well known that 5 Pointz wasn't going to be around forever but that didn't stop people from hoping that maybe landmark status, heritage listing, or whatever it takes, might save the day on this international wall of fame in Queens. Alas not to be and soon the walls will come tumbling down . . .
Sometimes the progress is hateful
Nice shots Patti.
And most of the time there’s nothing we can do about it . .. . thank you HG.
Patti, Five Points holds a place in New York history that a lot of people would like t forget. Mostly people who want a squeaky clean metropolis. Keep recording the places, they’ll last past the asshats who want them destroyed. Happy Thanksgiving.
And then we get to go to theme parks/villages to experience the old days. Thank you Tom and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
I like the photo of the girl who watches the man, and that half closed door with the number on. It is an image full of questions and possible answers.
Adding to the possible questions and answers, behind that door is . . . another door!
I wonder how many times they will keep painting over it….sigh.
Angeline, not too many times because the building is soon to be demolished and re-developed in the form of two apartment block towers. The owner of the building decided to white wash the graffiti, in the middle of the night, because it makes it easier and less confronting to demolish without the art work staring at the face of the demolisher. I should provide links etc and it is worth noting here that the walls were constantly being painted over with layers and layers of graffiti which is an accepted part of the graffiti artists form. 5 Pointz was a canvas free-for-all provided by the owner of the building. Until he sold.
Ah, thanks for the update.
My pleasure, thank you Angeline!
Life is but a Gaz. At least the graffiti is clean. That’s more than what you could say about a mere white-wash. Good shots ***** and more spray-cans to the artists.
The white wash was /is supposed to make it easier when it comes to demolishing the building. The owner has promised to put up a wall near the new development for future work which, to me, is a little like letting toddlers play in a play-pen.
Did that guy willingly let you photograph him tagging? I always thought they would prefer not to be seen.
Nice series of images Patti. That painting on the floor in the first one is fantastic.
The guy in the photograph knew I was photographing him. I have many more of him but reassured him that I would not publish recognized shots. He’s not actually tagging, although this is his work, which he put up not long before, he is painting over under the watchful eye of the NYPD who were called by Security. There was so much more I wanted to say in this post, where less than a week ago, I saw what I felt to be breathtaking stuff (as in previous post) is now covered in a rough coat of white wash. Much of the work in the higher parts of the building is still there, or it was yesterday at least.
I read an interesting piece about this, on the New York Observer. http://observer.com/2013/11/5pointz-pilgrims-one-last-visit-to-the-doomed-graffiti-mecca/
Don, thank you so much for this great link which says everything I am now too tired to tell!
Lots of stories and memories on that wall, many will hate to see it go. I look forward to each one of your New York street scenes. Nice work.
Even without the graffiti it is a handsome solid building and as you say, lots of stories on and within those walls. Thank you Tex.
Well recorded, Patti – a nice balance of grime and story. The ‘gentrification’ of cities is a real shame in many instances, but as ever, things will change and at least the artists had the chance to use this building as a canvas for some time.
Yes Meredith, things will always change and the artists with their creativity will find and make use of other canvases . . . I can’t help but think how the city of Detroit would kill for such a problem but I see so many old buildings tumble to the glass high rise. And then I remember the old buildings took the place of something else and before that pastures etc.
Uma lastima ,a demolição, por protesto que tal iniciar tudo em outro lugar.
Yes, a shame to demolish . . . thank you Angelo!
Ambição e poder… mas meu trabalho é defesa do patrimônio. A paixão predomina..
Very well documented Patti !! Thanks so much for your kind words on my FB set!
An absolute pleasure Pat! Your night shots are fabulous and so full of atmosphere. And what a great title Rest in Paint!
Will 5Ptz put their mark on whatever goes up? I wonder . . .!
Apparently there will be a wall nearby but whether or not they do put their mark on the new blocks . . . who knows! As this link Welling Court from @PatMinNyc suggests, they have moved on already.
Ah, what sad news. YES. Rest in Power. Beautiful photographs, Patti. I especially love the shot of the painter, working up on his toes like a dancer. Here’s a link to the NPR story: http://www.npr.org/2013/11/21/246549375/remembering-5pointz-a-five-story-building-that-told-plenty-more
I love the comments in that great link Theadora, thank you. They sum up the two sides of the situation but honestly if anyone thought the building was a mess with the graffiti it’s now an ugly lot with all the white wash. Don’t you just love enjoying NPR wherever you are!
A shame, but your photos allow the pulse of the place to live on.
Thank you so much Elena, I didn’t have the energy to do before and after shots . . .
It’s a bloody shame. I love that 3d graffiti
That work was put up when I went to lunch! Turn your back for a minute . . .
Shame to lose all the artwork
Isn’t it just!
What a terrible shame. The philistines win the day again. Love the photographs, Patti.
The caravan moves on . . . thank you Richard!
SIGH……………Patti, I’m glad you were there to catch some of the action. And that you caught some good photos before. Just, sigh…
Anyway, please see my comment on your previous post & reply to you on my St. Is. post – hope you’re well & have a great T’Day!
Lyn, it was such a shock to turn up less than a week later, when the previous post pictures were taken, to see the Geisha Girl and so much else, erased under the white paint but as you say, sigh . . .. and yes, I promise to explore the delights of Staten Island, that’s if I don’t get to Seattle first! Enjoy your week-end Lyn!
Change is inevitable. But it isn’t always good is it?
Mourning the loss of this art filled neighbourhood with you Patti.
Yes Madhu, and it was inevitable that the artwork would change over time but, so many but’s . . . . !
There is a bereft and bleak poignancy you have captured in these photographs..
Bleak yes but there is still a dogged spirit that keeps coming back for more! Down but not completely out!
All my questions have been answered in the comment stream. Amazing work as always Patti.
Thank you MBL. There was so much I wanted to say, so many more photos I wanted to post but something about this particular set looked more at ease, more telling, on their own. At least that’s how it felt to me at the time!
Powerful wall saying so much about what’s going to happening. I guess that’s the voice of the graffiti artist.
You captured the images real well but, more importantly, you captured their feelings. ~~~~ : – )
That wall has since been stripped and white washed, again. Thank you Issy for your voice.
Artists will always find a way, and a place.
And the world will always be a better place!
I agree with bronxboy55, the artists will find somewhere else. I really like image with the girl watching the man white washing the wall. Lots of questions there.
Security called 911 (more than a few times apparently) and this was the upshot of one of those calls . . .
The first photo reminds me of the lyrics from an old punk band called MDC:
And that’s good enough for me, thank you Cardinal!
hi Patti,
your new Triton Lite Theme offers an interesting frontpage, good for navigating!
Thank you Frizz, it is good for navigating, through the good and the bad!
the first one has a 3D feel. these pictures talks a lot.
Thank you Joshi, the work certainly did have a lot to say and soon it will all be dust and rubble.
What a sad story..I suppose the nature of this kind of art is ephemeral as the elements and surroundings will change it in the end anyway, but it seems so odd and kind of heartless to whitewash and destroy it – it feels like muffling voices somehow..were records kept? So great that you have captured this.
Cath, I am sure there are more than enough records out there and yes, the nature of this art is change. Hopefully it will find somewhere else to thrive. . .