Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Some "Instant" Memories of 5 Pointz.

Roar... I had been meaning to post about this for a few months now but wasn't sure what else there was to say about the demise of 5 Pointz. So many different blogs have given great eulogies and detailed the history of this godly graffiti mecca, that there really wasn't anything I could add. Then this went up the other day and reminded me that I do, in fact, have some pictures. While there have been an innumerable number of pictures taken of 5ptz throughout the years, these are mine, and represent my last memories of a place I loved. I shot these with some expired Polaroid film and think the results matched the mood everyone had been feeling. Roar. 
I've lived in NYC for a LONG time and have lived all over the city. When I was living out in Queens, every time I would take the 7 train into Manhattan I would get this fantastic view of 5 Pointz. It was captivating, and I'm sure not only to me. This is one memory I'm sure many New Yorker's share. Roar!
Here I am hanging out with some sweet, street art! Roar!
This may not have been the most interesting man in the world, but it was some of the most interesting art in NYC! Roar! 
I loved this piece, it had an amazing blend of styles! Roar!
I snapped a haunting image of this geisha piece. She looks so sad I wonder if she lost something? Maybe a bonsai? 
Roar! 5 Pointz always kept up with current trends. Here we had Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony in front of my favorite monster, Godzilla! Wow, what a pairing! Friendship really is magic!  
Some more Kaiju goodness as we see King Kong destroying our home town. He was just reminding us to enjoy it while it lasts! 
 Truer words have never been spray painted on the side of a dumpster! Roar!
This could have been the fight of century! Also, I loved that mushroom hanging from that pipe! Roar! 
5 Pointz was near a bunch of active warehouses. There are stacks of pallets and other things right in front of all the art. I think it really adds to the experience of being there, this really was a gallery for "street" art! Roar!
A shot of the back of 5 Pointz. This one came out a little dark. That's the mood we were in all in that day... roar...
 Roar! I'm sure Van Gogt would have loved this place! 
Roar! Another great piece in the back of 5 Pointz! 
Even the sidewalk had some amazing portraits on it! Every inch of this space was covered in art! I'm going to miss it. roar...
Roar! This lovely lady had come all the way from Brooklyn to see the great art at 5 Pointz! Roar!
The use of pointillism for this piece was really quite brilliant. It made for one intense stare. Roar! 

NYC has always been a city of dynamic change. Nothing in it has ever been permanent. This is the very nature of street art and graffiti. 5 Pointz was never going to last forever, and the fact that even for a short time we had a great place to enjoy some fantastic art is something to be cherished. Still, it will be missed. At least we were able to enjoy it while it lasted! Roar! 

Friday, August 13, 2010

Visiting Louis Armstrong's House

Roar! Today I went to out to Queens to visit my last Key to the City location in the borough, Louis Armstrong's house! I love jazz and Louis Armstrong is one of my favorite Jazz performers! I can't wait to see what this site has to offer!
Here I am outside of Louis Armstrong's house in Corona, Queens. It sure is a nice looking place! He moved here with his wife and lived here for most of his life up until his death in 1971. It was the only house he ever owned. The tour of the house was really cool but there were no pictures allowed. Apparently Louis made recordings of himself and his wife doing things around the house and they played some of these recording for us on the tour. It sure was spooky to stand in Lousis Armstong's dining room and listen to him and his wife talk about Brussels sprouts!
We were allowed to take photos in the gallery part of the home. Here is one of Louis's sweet trumpets! Roar!
The Key to the City location was also in this part of the house. Here I am in front of a special door only my key can unlock! I wonder what will be behind it...
Oh my gosh, it's another one of Louis's many bathrooms with a photo of Louis's behind! I never thought I'd ever see that!
Outisde of the house there was a sweet Asian inspired garden! They like to have jazz concerts here during the summer. I had planned to come to one the previous night but unfortunately got rained out!
Roar! Look at all those sweet Koi! They sure were surprised to see a T-Rex! Don't worry guys I'm not going to eat you!
Across the street from the Louis Armstrong house is this sweet mural all about jazz!
Roar! When I got back home I decided I should pick up my trumpet and do a little practicing. I was never very good at it on account of my short arms and claws but I bet Louis Armstrong never let excuses keep him from playing! I decided to try my claws at an old jazz favorite of mine, Ja-da! I hope you enjoy my Louis Armstrong impression in the middle! Roar!