Monday, July 16, 2012

5 Pointz

The days are numbered for the Long Island City graffiti mecca, 5 Pointz.  Anyone who hasn't visited should get over there now to see this visually stunning bastion of colorful artwork before the bulldozers arrive to make way for yet more residential high-rises.

Pictures just don't do it justice, but here are a few from this past weekend:

5 Pointz

5 Pointz

5 Pointz

5 Pointz

5 Pointz

5 Pointz

See more photos at my Flickr page.

For many more photos, just do a GIS for 5 Pointz.

With the loss of 5 Pointz and NYC real estate so out of control, where will artists go for affordable work studios?   Will there be any place left in the city for young (and old) creatives when every scrap of land is turned into luxury housing and retail?

To visit, get subway directions here.  And, while you're there, check out MoMA's PS1, which is just across the street.

13 comments:

  1. Amazing photos! I've never heard of this and I need to take a trip there before it's gone. Thanks for this post, really cool!

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  2. Thanks, Marty.  It really is incredible - definitely get over and see it in person before it's gone.  

    While you're there, a great place to have a beer and pizza/pasta is Junior's Cafe: http://juniorscafelic.com/

    It's steps away from the subway station and I think you'd like it - reminds me of a classier Odessa (dark side).

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  3. Awesome. Thanks for this. I, too, should make the trip.

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  4. Gog...your on a roll! beautiful, keep up the good work.  

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  5. Do make the trip - it's pretty spectacular.

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  6. These photographs are so absolutely rich, vibrant, and perfectly capture the 5 Pointz. So sad this is leaving us, and you've captured it beautifully for all eternity! 

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  7. Thank you, Shawn.  

    While I was admiring the building, I was reminded how Soho and the LES used to have so much colorful street art.  It's actually hard to find these days as lower Manhattan has pretty much been whitewashed.

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  8. I had a studio space in that building until the stairwell collapsed.  I was there the day it collapsed and the NYFD had to drag me out. I was locked out unable to access my artwork for over a month.  It was truly a wonderful place to work.  A great community of people and almost everyday something new to look at as I was coming in.

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  9. Jason - wow! I hope you weren't seriously hurt.  

    Have you since found other work space?  Do you think there's a future for working artists in the city?

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  10. Great pictures!  Glad you went out & took them before it goes.  Have loved visiting, or just seeing from afar on the train.  So sad that these places disappear.  Is the studio space in Sunset Park still available or affordable?

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  11. Luckily I wasn't hurt.  My friend was though.  She was on the stairs when they collapsed.  She's fully recovered now but will never be the same.

    I found a new space but of course it they wanted more for rent.  It is getting harder and harder to work in the city.  Long Island City especially has gotten ridiculous.  Once people start finding out there is a an arts community somewhere the area gets gentrified and rents start going up.

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  12. Thanks for the posting Goggla. I see this every day from the LIRR and I always wondered what the deal was with the property as the building became coverered with tags and pictures. Some pretty talented folks out there for sure.

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