5 Pointz murals (all photographs by the author for Hyperallergic)
The future of 5 Pointz might now be measured in weeks. A federal court in Brooklyn ruled Tuesday against an injunction that would have stopped the demolition of the graffiti and street art center in Long Island City.
5Pointz
Building owners Jerry Wolkoff and his son David have already had their plans for the property approved; their redevelopment calls for razing the existing structure and replacing it with two residential towers. The injunction was filed by several artists under the Visual Artists Rights Act. According to the Guardian: the act “gives copyright protections to artists, but whether graffiti and ‘aerosol works’ are protected under the statute is controversial, because the works are usually illegal.” However, this permanent injunction was denied by the United States District Court in Brooklyn.
As the New York Daily News reported:
“[Brooklyn federal court] Judge Frederic Block indicated last Friday, at the end of three days of hearings in the case, that he’s sympathetic to the artists’ plight but could not stop the owners of the building from exercising their right to redevelop the property into two residential towers. Their redevelopment plan has all required city approvals.”
A request for landmarking has also not been successful with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and now with the temporary restraining order on demolition also out of the way, the owners of the building want to demolish it by the end of the year.
5Pointz with a view to the 7 train
The outdoor art gallery might already have been given its final blow this week, at least with regard to its status as a canvas for collaboration. This Wednesday, 5 Pointz posted on their Twitter that they had been notified that no more painting was allowed on the building.
In response to the impending demolition, tomorrow afternoon they are hosting a Rally to Save 5 Pointz from 4 to 5 pm for the community to come out to show support for “The Institute of Higher Burnin’.” They’re also asking people to download and sign the landmark form to hopefully keep the street art icon from disappearing into new development.
The Latest
Special Edition: 🖌️Artists’ Signatures ✍️
In this special edition, we investigate what artists’ signatures actually mean, and the fascinating results reveal the multifaceted history of this curious phenomenon.
What Is a Signature in the Internet Age?
As a cryptographic unit for record-keeping, an NFT can be seen as analogous to a signature or an autograph.
The Public Theater Explores the Hurricane Katrina Diaspora in shadow/land
Written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Candis C. Jones, this lyrical meditation on legacy, erotic fugitivity, and self-determination is on view in NYC.
The Meaning of Ancient Greek and Roman Artisan Signatures
What did a signature mean in the ancient world, and how much can we trust what they seem to tell us?
Michelangelo’s Signature and the Myth of Genius
Michelangelo served as a stellar example for future artists who sought status and economic independence.
The Rubin Museum Presents Death Is Not the End
Tibetan Buddhist and Christian works of art made across 12 centuries explore death, the afterlife, and the desire to continue to exist. On view in NYC.
Uncovering the Photographer Behind Arshile Gorky’s Most Famous Painting
As we pursue photographer Hovhannes Avedaghayan a fascinating picture begins to emerge of him and the world of which he was part.
100 Years of Artist Signatures in a Detroit Club
The beams in Detroit’s Scarab Club act as a guest book of sorts, carrying a wealth of stories and history, including signatures by Diego Rivera, Marcel Duchamp, Margaret Bourke-White, Isamu Noguchi, and others.
When I Am Empty Please Dispose of Me Properly
Ayanna Dozier, Ilana Harris-Babou, Meena Hasan, Lucia Hierro, Catherine Opie, Chuck Ramirez, and Pacifico Silano explore the myths of the American Dream at Brooklyn’s BRIC House.
The Myth of Agency Around Artists’ Signatures
In an art world built on shifting sands, artists’ signatures become symbols of agency for some, and relics of the past for others.
The Women Artists Commemorated on an NYC Sidewalk
The signatures of Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt, and six other historical women artists are engraved on a small stretch of sidewalk on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Pratt’s 2023 Fine Arts MFA Thesis Exhibition Is On View in Brooklyn
The two-part exhibition features the work of 41 graduating artists across disciplines, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, and integrated practices.
Met Museum Repatriates 15 Objects to India
The sculptures were all at one point sold by the disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor.
Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova Placed on Russian “Wanted” List
Tolokonnikova has long been a thorn in the side of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
just goes to show you that even the courts can be bought by the developers.
The artists should buy the building from the current owner and then they can keep it as they please….problem solved.
with money?