astronautssleepinspace:

Read the NewYorkTimes article regarding the take-down of 5 Pointz.

Growing up in the hip-hop culture of New York City, you always heard about this place as the Mecca for street art; and as anyone who’s ever walked through it would agree, even that seems like an understatement. 5 Pointz isn’t Mecca, 5 Pointz is Mecca-meets-the-Sistine-Chapel. It’s a place where community meets profound, culturally iconic beauty. It’s so much more than “that graffiti warehouse.” 5 Pointz is both an artistic safe-house and a cultural center (or, perhaps, a counter-cultural center.) 

Found in Long Island City, Queens, 5 Pointz is a 200,000 sq. ft. 5-story block complex that houses hundreds (approx. 350) of murals and aerosol pieces at any given time. Since its opening by the current curator, Jonathan Cohen (also known as ‘Meres One’) in 2001, it has hosted and welcomed a varied slew of artists, musicians, performers, photographers, and creative-minded souls. Everyone from Joss Stone to Tats Cru has set foot on the soulful premises of NYC’s graffiti mecca. It’s easy to tell that this place is much more than just a spray-painted set of walls. Actually, it’s more akin to a center for public art and, considering its close ties with the hip-hop/b-boy community, a center for culture, as well.

But, as is almost always the case with any sort of non-academically recognized center for arts, it’s in danger of extinction. Jerry Wolkoff, the current building owner has plans of selling his property. The warehouse that currently houses 5 Pointz will be bulldozed to the ground in order to make room for 2 high-rise residential buildings.

So, of course, there’s a petition to sign!

& check out 5 Pointz’s official website if you’re interested in learning more.