Marilyn Monroe June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962: the ethereal eternal beauty.
This stunning painting is one of my treasures by friend and artist See Tf.
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August 5, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, arts, Carlos "See TF" Game, celebrities, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Marilyn Monroe, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, reflective Marilyn Monroe, sad Marilyn Monroe | 1 Comment
Jonathan ‘Meres One’ Cohen, Hans Von Rittern
Photo of the day: 2 CHOIR BOYZ ARE WE – During our “Whitewash” exhibit Meres and I were given the task to assemble and Ikea choir bench for an artist’s talk we were to give later that evening. Quite proud that we had both assembled it successfully and that it held our weight – we posed like the two little choir boiz we are
.
Two little choir boyz from school are we
Pert as a choir boy can be
Filled to the brim with boyish glee
Two little choir boyz from school are weEverything is a source of fun
Nobody’s safe for we care for none
Life is a joke that’s just begun
Two little choir boyz from the Factory Phun
Two Little choir boyz who all unwary
Come from a boy’s seminary
Free from his genius tutelary
Two little choir boyz from school
Two little choir boyz from school !One little choir boy is the painter handsome
One little choir boy has photos done
Two little boyz in attendance to the art show come
Two little choir boyz from 5 Pointz come
Not under any politician’s thumb
Not liking that Wolkoff scum
nor that Van Bramer bum
Here to make your hood not so glum
Here wishing we had a (paint) gun
LET’S GET THIS DONE !
(With apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan.)
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June 12, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Three little maids are we", "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, choir bench, choir boyz, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jerms, Jerry Wolkoff, Jimmy Van Bramer, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, The Mikado, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: THE CYCLE OF ART AT 5 POINTZ – Come see the magnificent art work for these last two days and celebrate with us that life and art always prevail. Artists and writers will be on the scene.
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) from today till this final weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flageul! A catalog is available for sale as is all the art.
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open Saturday: 12-8pm. Artists will be present from 5-7 today!
Sunday: 12-6
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June 7, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz documentary, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: ART IS TRA$H – This art work by street artist Francisco de Pájaro was discovered on a mattress late at night at 5 Pointz Graffiti and Street Art Museum which is now destroyed. So, the art at 5 Pointz is now sadly trashed. Or, is it we as society that are the trash? Come see the ‘Whitewash” exhibit at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery in it’s last days till June 8! Closing party Saurday June 7: 12 -8. LEDER GALLERY: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free
Here is an excerpt from an interview on Francisco de Pájaro from the blog: ‘Street Art Mecca’: “Francisco speaks about the absurdity in society, our hideous selfishness, our capacity for self destruction and our ridiculous behaviour towards weaknesses. Pajaro’s “Art is Trash” speaks directly at you and says “you are the art, the lie and the trash of society”, and we love him for it. I realised in hindsight that he is just as wonderfully satirical and humorous in conversation as his art is on the street. He sees society with the stark reality you find in many great artists. He points out our imperfections and makes us laugh at them. He converts our waste into grotesque reminders about who we are and what we do. His style of art might be named naive if it wasn’t so harsh to look at. The gallery is on the street, among our discarded belongings that we so often like to ignore.
On previous mini filming excursions with Pajaro I noted that the artwork doesn’t last long on the streets. In
Barcelona there are specific nights when people can put any type of trash on the streets. Each neighbourhood has it’s own day and we met in Gracia on a Tuesday. It doesn’t take long to find an attractive pile of crap and he gets to work. The street is dark and desolate and there’s only Pakistani immigrants competing for recyclables. They stop and watch the performance. One couple walk past and recognise him from “that documentary”. On a different occasion I’ve seen people take some of the art as soon as we leave. “It’s a Barcelona thing” says one neighbour, as he takes a mini monster sculptor back into his house.
Each piece is unique. Each piece is improvised on the street, in the moment. Each piece has the shortest of life spans, much shorter than other types of street art. Each piece interacts with the environment and creates a new perspective. There’s no catch, it’s pure street art. It’s rebellious and punk. The motivation is sincere also, to communicate with everyone. To make you think, to make you smile or laugh. To bring something new to the routine of everyday life. There’s nothing on sale, no money is involved.
Art is Tra$h: Nobody can put me down.
How true that is…..
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June 6, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 'Street Art Mecca' blog, 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, ART IS TRA$H, ART IS TRASH, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Barcelona Spain art scene, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, depajaro blogspot, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, Francisco de Pájaro, garbage made in to art, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, mattress as art, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
“Cathedral Light”
Photo of the day: COME SEE THE LIGHT – The Cathedral-like light of what once was 5 Pointz can be in seen in one of my many photographs at our current ‘Whitewash’ exhibit ending this Sunday June 8. Closing party to beheld this Saturday from noon till 8pm, please join me and my friends!
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) from today till this final weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flageul! A catalog is available for sale as is all the art.
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery:
http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.phpLike this:
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June 5, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: ‘EMPTY’ BY HANS VON RITTERN – Don’t let June pass you by with that “Empty” feeling. Only 9 more days to see our ‘Whitewash” exhibit!
This photo is one of my 16 photos on display and has already been sold to one of the men in the photo. The photo was taken the day of the whitewash, I noticed these two guys where just standing there for at least a half an hour, silent, motionless – just dumbstruck by the vandalistic act. The title ‘Empty’ says it all, how we felt, they felt and we all still feel to this day.
If you would like to see more expressions by great graffiti and street art artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) this weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by
Marie Cecile Flageul!
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#G subway stop to Court Square. #7 train is not running this weekend but shuttle service is available from #N/Q trains at Queensboro Plaza. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery: http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
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May 30, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: FROZEN by SHIRO, 5 POINTZ WHITEWASH EXHIBIT THIS WEEKEND – One of the most beloved 5 Pointz artists is Shiro of Japan. I am delighted to also call her a friend. Two of the most iconic figures that represent 5 Pointz to this day are Meres One’s iconic light bulbs and Shiro’s Japan girls. For our current Whitewash exhibit, artists decided to represent their feelings in one of two ways – either to express their feeling through expressive paintings or to simply recreate one of their 5 Pointz murals. Shiro aka Shoko Mikami has decided to do both in recreating some of her iconic Japan-anime figures. The only thing now different is they are frozen and violated, the mermaid has been caught and chained, the geisha girl has been raped and the nurse has been poisoned. This is how most of us feel about the destruction of this iconic place.
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) this weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flageul!
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C. #7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery: http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
SHIRO has been expressing her own vision of the world and for life through her original characters. Her colorful artwork is a reflection of her love for true graffiti and hip-hop. Over the years she has been touched by the essence & soul of hip-hop culture and old school graffiti styles. Her devotion to graffiti art afforded her the opportunity to work with many great graffiti artists. She decided to stay in NY and develop her talent as an artist. From 2002 to 2004, she lived in Brooklyn and Queens, and could be found painting in the city on a regular basis. Today she lives part time in Brooklyn and hopes to stay in NYC permanently one day. She has performed in various live painting events, participated in international gallery art shows and been a part of graffiti crew gatherings in the world. She also participated in community awareness murals and other large-scale graffiti projects all over New York City and Japan. In Japan, Shiro has worked with people in the hip-hop industry, organizing graffiti shows and live painting events in her hometown of Shizuoka and participating in painting events in surrounding areas. In addition to her murals, she has worked on canvases, illustrations, and has designed and produced original theater stage decorations. She happens to work as a nurse in a hospital, caring for people who need assistance in critical parts of their lives. Through her work within the medical field, she witnessed many dramas which motivate and stimulate her. With these experiences which strengthen and broaden her perspectives on life, she continues to express this message through her artwork: “We exist RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE!”
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May 24, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: “IT’S A VON RITTERN!” – A very proud Ursula Von Rittern, aka “mom” points to the six photos exhibited in the “PHO-TO-GRAFFS” exhibit that opened this weekend at the Gold Coast Gallery! Great news: I sold some pieces and I am featured in the gallery’s store too!!
Mom checks out ‘the Von Ritterns’ for sale
I’d like to extend my deepest thanks to Marie Flageul and Meres One without whom 5 Pointz would not have been what it is and to their treasured friendship. To Jude Amsel, gallery director of the Gold Coast Arts Center for her kind guidance. To two of my dearest friends who came out to support me, tour guide alums Deborah Blau and especially to Tom Orzo who took the time to drive a very proud and delighted Ursula Von Rittern (not bad for 88 years old, huh?) to her son’s gallery premier. I am a very lucky man.
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March 18, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, architecture, Deborah Blau, Gold Coast Arts Center, Gold Coast Gallery, graffiti art, Great Neck Long Island, Hans Von Rittern, hip-hop culture, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Jude Amsel, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres One, New York City, New York photo, Phot-to-graffs exhibit, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, street art, street art museum, Tom Orzo, Ursula Von Rittern | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: TODAY IS THE DAY! – Opening reception of the PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit featuring 9 great photographers documenting the ethereal nature of street art. I am thrilled ot be a part of this exhibit amongst freinds. Come join in the celebration for the opening reception at 3pm today.Now most people think if you leave the 5 boroughs you need a passport – no you don’t. Just 20 minutes by LIRR to Great Neck, Long Island. Hey, it takes longer to get to Brooklyn!
113 Great Neck Road. Telephone: 516-829-2570. Here are step by step instructions:
When you get off the train station walk approx. 5 blocks straight down the charming old Americana street of Middle Neck Road, till you get to Maple Drive.
Middle Neck Road, main street USA
At Maple Drive turn right
At Maple Drive you make a right and you’ll see the parking lot of the Great Neck Arts Center.
And viola – there it is!
The Gold Coast Arts Center
SEE YOU THERE!
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March 16, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, architecture, Barry Stern, Farbeon, Gold Coast Arts Center, graffiti art, Great Neck Long Island, Hans Von Rittern, hip-hop culture, Jude Amsel, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Norma Hill, Orestes Gonzalez, Phot-to-graffs exhibit, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, Raymond Hamlin, street art, street art museum, travel instructions to Gold Coast Arts | Leave a comment
A word from the Gold Coast gallery director Jude Amsel:
Today, the distinctly urban popular culture of graffiti has
been supplanted by the likes of hip-hop, rap concerts, slam poetry performances
and the sub-culture of skateboarding. Due to the impermanent nature of much of
this art, photography has become the primary means of documenting its evolution.
It is the photographer’s goal to record the diversity of the city as a canvas,
the people who create art and the art itself.
These photographers keep urban
culture alive by providing historical documentation for future generations.
A handful of artists/photographers recognized the artistic and social significance
of the hip hop movement. Each of these individuals approached documentation in a
unique way. Through collective efforts, these photographers preserve an
important part of this distinct urban art form. Their photographic record of the
art has not only assisted in the preservation of the culture; it has also aided
in its growth. These photographers go out into the streets and find incredible,
even unlikely places and subjects that have inspired them. We can’t fail to be
inspired as well.
Artists on display: Raymond Hamlin, Orestes Gonzalez ,Norma Hill, Hans Von Rittern, Barry Stern, Farbeon,
Liu Bolin, Rachel Alban, Jay Hirschfeld.
The
PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit at the Gold Coast Arts Center, this Sunday March 16 opening reception at 3pm! Just 20 minutes from Manhattan by LIRR. 5 blocks from train station, no car necessary
113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, Long Island. 516-829-2570, see you there !
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March 15, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, architecture, Barry Stern, Farbeon, Gold Coast Arts Center, graffiti art, Great Neck Long Island, Hans Von Rittern, Jude Amsel, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Norma Hill, Orestes Gonzalez, Phot-to-graffs exhibit, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, Raymond Hamlin, street art, street art museum | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: THE 5 POINTZ JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE STAMP – Today the US Postal Service releases an awesome Jimi Hendrix postage stamp to commemorate his great music. So, today I am releasing my Hendrix postage stamp commemorating over a decade of great art at the 5 Pointz graffiti and street art museum.
“White collar conservative flashin’ down the street, pointing that plastic finger at me, they all assume my kind will drop and die, but I’m gonna wave my freak flag high. Excuse me while I kiss the sky.” Jimi Hendrix.
Come see great street art immortalized at the PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit at the Gold Coast Arts Center, this Sunday March 16 opening reception at 3pm! Just 20 minutes from Manhattan by LIRR. 5 blocks from train station, no car necessary. Rock on! 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, Long Island. 516-829-2570, see you there !
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March 14, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, architecture, Gold Coast Arts Center, graffiti art, Great Neck Long Island, Hans Von Rittern, Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix quotes, Jimi Hendrix stamp, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Phot-to-graffs exhibit, Photo of the day, photography, postage stamp, Queens, Rego Park Queens, street art, street art museum, US Postal Service, vintage 5 Pointz photos | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: GOOGLE EYES – In 1961 a local photographer asked my mother if he could photograph me because of my big eyes. Fifty years later in 2011 to my surprise, I kinda found myself looking back a me from the walls of the 5 Pointz graffiti and street art museum!
Come see my photos exhibited in the PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit at the Gold Coast Arts Center, this Sunday March 16 opening reception at 3pm! Just 20 minutes from Manhattan by LIRR. 5 blocks from train station, no car necessary 🙂
113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, Long Island. 516-829-2570, see you there !
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March 13, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1961 portrait, 1961 Rego Park Queens, 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, architecture, childhood photo, Gold Coast Arts Center, graffiti art, Great Neck Long Island, Hans Von Rittern, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Phot-to-graffs exhibit, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, Rego Park Queens, street art, vintage 5 Pointz photos | Leave a comment
5 Pointz Graffiti Museum
Photo of the day: LEARNING TO WRITE – August 21, 2011 a class of grade school children was brought to the 5 Pointz street art museum and learned about hip hop culture, the history of graffiti art in NYC and then they were shown how to stylize their names. Once they had perfected their names they were allowed to write them on the lids of the dumpsters in the loading dock area, taking great care to leave their new artistic names with pride.
Come see my photos exhibited in the PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit at the Gold Coast Arts Center, March 16 opening reception.
113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, Long Island. 516-829-2570, see you there !
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March 12, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, architecture, child learning graffiti writing, class in street art, David Wolkoff, gentrification in Long Island City, Gerry Wolkoff, Gold Coast Arts Center, Gold Cost Arts Center, graffiti art, Great Neck Long Island, Hans Von Rittern, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Phot-to-graffs exhibit, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, street art, vintage 5 Pointz photos | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: STEEL MAGNOLIAS – In a city of concrete, steel and rust, surprising flowers bloom.
To quote Aretha’s song, “It’s growing in the street, right up through the concrete, but soft sweet and dreamy.”
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February 23, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: A rose grows in Spanish Harlem, architecture, Aretha Franklin, arts, flowers pianted on steel wall, graffiti art, graffiti tags, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, rusty painted fowers, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, street art, street mural | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: NO, BANKSY WUZ NOT HERE – But you are, thank you! Today at the iconic 5 Pointz Graffiti Art Museum, they decided to make a statement about the current Banksy craze – so, Meres, curator of the museum made his statement and created this graffitied artful canvas.
‘Banksy’ is a highly secretive British graffiti artist who is currently making headlines in New York City. For the month of October, every night Banksy paints one of his stencil art pieces in a location somewhere in one of the 5 boroughs. The thing is, creative as Banksy may be, it still is art that is not asked for by the buildings he paints them on. That is where 5 Pointz is different. It is a factory building spanning an entire city block in Long Island City, Queens. 200,000 square feet of spectacular art that has been requested an approved. Considered to be the premier graffiti art museum in the world, now in danger of being torn down (see my previous October 3rd post) thanks to the unending greed of the Bloomberg era. While enjoying a big spike in visitors since the potentially horrible news has broken, 5 Pointz’s curators were though, getting a little tired of being asked, “has Banksy been here yet?!” Well – there is your answer “No. . Banksy wuz not here, but you are, thank you!” They and Meres welcome you to take their tour via SideTour.com, I highly recommend it!
5 POINTZ: 45-46 Davis Street, corner of Jackson Avenue, under the 7 train line, Court Street stop. Long Island City, NY
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October 20, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, 7 train Court Street Station, Banksy, Banksy craze, graffiti art, graffiti artist, Hans Von Rittern, Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Meres One, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, Side Tour, SideTour.com, street graffiti | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: GIVE ME THE LIBERTY TO TOUR ! – French muralist Veronique Barrilot painted this great mural as a (hopefully not) final statement at the 5 Pointz Graffiti & Mural Museum on Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, which is in danger of being torn down in favor of twin glass high rise towers. (See my earlier post). Her bold Liberty statue proclaims in French “Give Me The Liberty to Paint!”.
For the past week I have been faced with the frustration of leading my European tourists who have come so far to see (shall we say) their Eiffel Tower, our Statue of Liberty – only to find signs posted that the despicable government has shut the symbol of freedom down and their tickets have been canceled. There we are left standing in Battery Park which is still mostly destroyed from hurricane Sandy. No park. No island. No Liberty.
I too join my friend Veronique in proclaiming “Give Me The Freedom – to Tour!”
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October 8, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, Battery Park, government shut down, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Manhattan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, national park shut downs, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, shutdown hurting New York tourism, Statue of Liberty, Statue of Liberty closed to tourists, Statue of Liberty mural, street art, tour guides hurt by shutdown, tourism, VERONIQUE BARRILLOT, Veronique Barrilot | Leave a comment
Heath Ledger as The Joker, Batman 2008
Photo of the day: THE HIDDEN ART TREASURES OF TIJUANA, MEXICO – (Part of my new ‘Tijuana Tuesday’ series). Most tourists know Tijuana, Mexico for it’s allure of inexpensive souvenirs, leather goods, bountiful food & drink, the colorful streets and the bargain ready store keepers. Most tourists arrive after the stores officially open at 10 am, which, since it’s Mexico…means 10:30, 10:45, 11:00 in the land of ‘mañana’. Other tourists choose to arrive at sundown just for a night of drinking and partying. But what happens if you arrive early in the morning instead?
Last week on my visit to Tijuana, I decided to visit the main shopping thoroughfare Revolution Avenue (or Avenida Revolución) early, taking advantage of my body clock being three hours ahead on New York time to photograph the colorful buildings. Believe me, they don’t ‘do mornings’ – I was practically the only one on the main street. But, being so early reveals a hidden treasure most tourists don’t get to see – the wonderful murals painted on the steel gates of the closed store fronts! Just as New York’s Harlem 125th Street has painted murals of African history and heritage done by 85 year old artist Franco the Great only to be seen before the stores open at 10am and lift and hide the gates.
The same wonderful hidden treasures are revealed here in Tijuana in the early morning hours too. The art styles on the steel gates range from pop culture references, traditional Mexican folk lore to street graffiti. As I wondered down the sunny avenue in wonderment at all the wonderful colors, old architecture and design, I didn’t even realize I was photographing a recurring theme of the steel gates so I didn’t get to photograph them all, but these are some that just fascinated me. There is such beauty in the rustic old buildings, you never really see their old age, rust or need of care. The imaginative designs, the vintage signs, the brightly colored walls, the charming old cast iron gates and the swaying palm trees create a colorful illusion of charming perfection. How wonderful to see no chain stores and glaring modern electronic billboards, instead just “art”, however you interpret “art” to be – it is all around you. Then as 10:30-ish rolls around, you start to hear the clankering of the metal gates, one by one, being lifted up as the stores keepers prepare their shops for the day, only to reveal more colorful treasures inside!
“Tijuana makes me happy.”
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September 3, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Tijuana Tuesday", art in Tijuana Mexico, Avenida Revolución, commerical art, early morning walking tour in Tijuana, folk lore art, Franco the Great, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem, Harlem 125th Street murals, Heath Ledger The Joker Batman, hidden art reasures of Tijuana, New York City, painted steel gates, painted store gates, Photo of the day, photography, pop culture art, Revolution Avenue, shopping district of Tijuana, street graffiti, Tijuana Mexico, tourism in Tijuana Mexico | Leave a comment
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 