April 2, By Michael Florio
Several 5Pointz graffiti artists are about to showcase their artwork at a local gallery that explores their devastation after they discovered that the graffiti Mecca had been whitewashed.
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery, located at 21-37 45th Road, will host a show dedicated to the artists called “Whitewash.” It begins April 5 and runs through June 8
The show will feature the art work of nine graffiti/aerosol artists and two photographers. It will take up two floors of the gallery and include artists such as Cortes, See TF and Meres One.
“Whitewash, is an answer to the violent act of GM Realty. Overnight thousands of murals adorning the building known as 5Pointz were destroyed,” said group spokeswoman Marie-Cecile Flaguel in a statement.
The building was abruptly whitewashed by the owners of the 5Pointz building–Jerry and David Wolkoff of GM Realty—who have plans to demolish the building and erect two high-rise residential towers.
Jerry Wolkoff claimed at the time that he painted the building in order to avoid problems at the time of the building’s demolition.
Wolkoff said he whitewashed the building to stop the torture. “They [the artists] had to take their medicine,” he told LICPost at the time. “They will be upset with me for a day or two … and then everyone will be over it.”
However, it’s been more than four months since the whitewash and the artists remain upset.
Gallery owner Jeffrey Leder said that what happened at 5 Pointz was a big loss to the community, both aesthetically and emotionally.
“There’s an emptiness I experience now that 5Pointz is no more,” he said, whose gallery is near the 5 Pointz building. “It became a part of my life and when it was whitewashed I really missed it.”
Leder said the time is right for the show. “It certainly is time for us to do recognize the great work that has been done,” he said.
Photo: By George Burles
