The iconic 5 Pointz building in Long Island City may have been painted over, but the artists can’t be silenced. In the Whitewash show at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery, members of the graffiti collective have voiced their thoughts and feelings after discovering that the beloved art center had been suddenly whitewashed overnight.
“Whitewash, is an answer to the violent act of GM Realty. Overnight thousands of murals adorning the building known as 5 Pointz were destroyed,” said Whitewash curator Marie-Cecile Flaguel in a statement. “The exhibition enables the artists to express their true feelings and thought process since losing their work to a white layer of paint, and their home to the pressing demands of real estate development.”
The heartfelt and compelling show features the art work of nine graffiti/aerosol artists and two photographers. It occupies two floors of the gallery, as well as a gift shop. Check out some images of the art from the exhibit below.
Whitewash opened Saturday, April 5 and runs through June 8. The Jeffrey Leder Gallery is located right around the corner from 5 Pointz.
Contributing Artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad.
The exhibition is the second to feature some of the artists from the 5Pointz community. Some of the artists in “Whitewash,” were also exhibited this past winter at the Gold Coast Arts Center.
All photos of the artwork captured by the author, Rachel Fawn Alban. Get in touch with her on facebook.
