I have always loved walking through the Spring Street block of Soho in New York City. For an ardent purveyor of street art and graffiti, this is as good as it can get. There is all sorts of interesting new stuff that pops at you every second time you visit. 11 Spring Street in NoLIta is sort of an epicenter for street art. A rundown building (which was a former stable and carriage house) serves its exterior facade as a wild canvass for unknown artists to showcase their work.
Many a times I have wondered why this old building is just standing there entertaining us as a smorgasbord of fresh, witty and colorful creative ingenuity. In the age of Wall Street excess, how come this prime real estate is stagnating there when the rest of Manhattan has become the abode of the rich patrons of art. And that questioning thought or rather fear of losing something you cherish came true today morning when I read this piece in The New York Times.
The Spring Street outdoor canvas is going to be torn down and turned into a condo. I guess in the larger economic agenda it makes sense. But then again there is a sadness and sense of loss in me because next time I'm in New York probably I'll see yet another huge covered construction site there. For which I'll have to seek solace in the few great shots I was able to take there (some of which have been put in this blog already; and more of which will be posted by me soon)
The owners of the building invited many of the best known as well as unknown upcoming outdoor artists to come and paint and fill the interiors and exterior of the building as a tribute to what it stood for, before it is torn down. Below are a few of those featured in The New York Times article. (All photos in this entry are courtesy of The New York Times)
A heating unit becomes the canvas for Darkcloud.
Jasmine Zimmerman weaves her rubber band web here.
While the artist Doze Green makes his mark here.
All for a good cause.
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