[September 1997]This past weekend, several readers were surprised to see that someone painted over the existing murals... (apparently a trend)
So far, no one seems to know who ordered the paint-over for the corner... and we're told that Chico is quite upset by this development...
Previously on EV Grieve:
An appreciation of Chico's work
Houston and Avenue B in 1997....and 2007
It all started when David Rockefeller had Diego Rivera's mural destroyed. He opened the floodgates to mural desecration.
ReplyDeleteUh... Chico ain't no Diego!!!
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I abhor this destruction.
Sorry but that mural sucked. I hope whoever did it is in a position to commission something better!
ReplyDeleteLike graffiti or not, that gray makes it look SO MUCH more dreary.
ReplyDeleteWTF? Is it National mural obliteration month?
ReplyDeleteMakeout, no not National Mural Obliteration month, there is no such thing, but this tradition is a local homegrown phenomena, consider it organic.
ReplyDeleteNYC Mural Obliteration has a very nice ring to it.
I hope this just means there's a new mural on its way.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm sorry, but that image of Diana never fails to crack me up.
HAHA blast from the past - I remember that Lady Diana mural, she was made to look like Witchy Poo
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm sorry, but that image of Diana never fails to crack me up.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Chico mural of Diana—which, unfortunately, I failed to photograph—was on Avenue A just below 14th, right near Muzzarella's Pizza. It was a portrait of Diana along with a crone-looking Mother Teresa, with the caption: "…tribute to beauty and holiness."
After the mural was tagged on, Chico decided to cover it up with a simple "WOULDN'T IT BE BEAUTIFUL?" and a sunrise picture. This was before 9/11.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
ReplyDeletei don't mind the gray. Not a Chico fan. Not at all. Some of his stuff makes me cringe. I would really like to see more of those tats-cru murals. Though i would settle for more gray wall paint-overs.
ReplyDeleteThe estate of the building owners has been emptying the building, and it looks like they're preparing to put it on the market. I've read the building has been vacant since the late 80s, except for the liquor store and cell tower. They show up about once every 2-3 weeks to remove furniture. There is still a good $30,000 in alcohol in the abandoned liquor store. Given the history of the elderly former owners, I seriously doubt Chico rented that space for advertising. Murals are one thing, but let's face it, this was Chico's ad business not art.
ReplyDeletewhether you think Chico is a great artist or not, his work has been a fixture in NYC. I like seeing what he comes up with, even if it isn't on the level of "Fine Art". I enjoy seeing color and seeing artistry- even if it is by schoolkids. Painting over his murals and all the other ones screams of homogenization, trying to make the area into "Any-town USA" (boring) without any ethnicity or subculture.
ReplyDeleteIt is really depressing to see stark walls without art and expression, especially in the EV.
It's sad that people don't "get" the point of artful walls- you are not improving your property with a prison-grey wall. People like seeing art and will usually remember a certain place because of the art.