Check out these NYC taxi views from 1977-1987 along East Houston Street

In case you haven't been over on East Houston at Second Avenue in the past week ... there's a new exhibit up along First Street Green featuring the work of photographer Joseph Rodriguez.

He drove a cab in NYC from 1977 to 1985 ... and later published a book of his work: "Taxi: Journey Through my Windows 1977–1987." 

Some of those photos, including scenes from the East Village, are featured along this corridor ...

The work, part of the Photoville Festival, will be up here until Dec. 1.

City fences off Allen Street Bathhouse to prevent trans artist from painting on its walls

On Tuesday afternoon, city workers arrived to erect a fence around the long-vacant Allen Street Bathhouse here at Delancey...

This was the city's latest heavy-handed tactic in the summer-long battle against unhoused trans artist Nadja Rose, who had been creating murals on the vacant bathhouse's walls and surrounding sidewalk space in recent months.

None of this pleased city officials (led by the Parks Department), who would dispatch sanitation trucks and the 7th Precinct to discard her belongings and art supplies. She would always return. There were also social-media reports that the city had her locked up "in the psych ward" several times. 

Observers (optimistically) wondered why the city couldn't use this as an opportunity to create some type of artist-in-residence program at this neglected space that has long been a favorite spot for taggers.

Her work prompted admiration from passersby here on the Allen Street Mall, a passage with an out-of-business Subway sandwich shop on one corner and a Starbucks on the other. (As for the old bathhouse, plans for a cafe in the structure date to early 2016.) 

Writer Jeremiah Moss has documented Rose's work here on Instagram...

 

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There haven't been any sightings of the artist since the fence went up, we're told. But she did leave some parting messages...

A Chuck Close tribute on Bond Street

Chuck Close died last month at age 81. 

And recently, the artist Scott VanderVoort paid tribute to the photorealist outside 42 Bond St. between the Bowery and Lafayette. (Close had a studio and residence nearby.)

EVG reader Garth shared these photos ... you get the 1967-68 Big Self-Portrait of Close while walking to the east...

... and a 2005 version of Close while heading west...

Here's a little clip to give you a better idea of the work...

 

VanderVoort previously created tributes here for President Obama after his eight years in the White House ... and after the deaths of Steve Jobs ... and David Bowie. 

This video explains more about how VanderVoort creates the art...

 

Seinfeld's terrifying new look on 2nd Street

The Seinfeld wheatpaste — created by @Sacsix — has been on the wall here on Second Street at First Avenue for five-plus years (outside Spiegel, the cafe which is reopening one of these days).

So you might expect some wear and tear... but the resulting eye lift is giving off (friendlier) Michael Myers vibes...

... though it is getting close(r) to Halloween.

Midday pizza break

Andy Warhol and Keith Haring reimagined as Ninja Turtles. 

Art on First Avenue at Third Street by DeGrupo. 

Speaking of Keith Haring, his sculpture outside 51 Astor Place has been MIA now for a little more than a year. It was to undergo "minor conservation work."

9/11 and beyond on the Bowery

Adrian Wilson (@planndalism) created this mural earlier in the week on the gate at 262 Bowery near Stanton Street. 

He invited members of FDNY Ladder 20/Division 1 on Lafayette Street to add finishing touches to the mural. This Instagram post has more background. 

Mural space curated by the East Village-based Lisa Project.

Sunday's opening shot

Giving it the ol' collage try... a John Belushi-"Animal House" wheatpaste that recently arrived on First Street at Second Avenue... work by @sacsix... 

At the Protest: Queer Liberation March installation on 10th Street

10th Street between Avenue C and Avenue D was the site last night for "Protest: Queer Liberation March," a multimedia installation and performance by local artist-activist G-Man...

There were video projections featuring images from the March 2020 Queer Liberation March. Various performers and participants interacted with the images projected along 10th Street. (Passersby were also encouraged to take part.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos ...

The event was in part funded by the New York City Artist Corps.

Thursday's parting shot

Me parking via Clint Mario and @me_newyork on Avenue A and Seventh Street ... photo by Stacie Joy...

Remembering Biz Markie

There's a new memorial in place for the late Biz Markie outside the Second Avenue F stop at East Houston. 

Will Power created the mural over the weekend for Markie, the legendary beatboxer, DJ and rapper who died on July 16 at age 57. 

Services for Markie, who was born in Harlem, were held this afternoon. 

The mural is expected to be up here for the next two weeks.

A new work of fart on the Bowery

New on the gate at 246 Bowery (near Stanton): "Concept'yall Fart" by Mousel D'ohchamp ... Work by @plannedalism on space curated by the East Village-based Lisa Project. Pic by @catscoffeecreativity!

Never Fled NYC 2020

As seen on St. Mark's Place. Sticker art by @ad.tumulum ... find his Etsy shop here.

Monday's parting shot

Pro skateboarder Brian Anderson has finished his mural outside 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street... this Pride Month work coincides with his first board release (via Clown Skateboards) ... with proceeds going to the LISA Project.

Our previous post has more details. 

Photo today by Stacie Joy! 

In progress: Skate Pride on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Pro skateboarder Brian Anderson is working on his very first mural outside 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street...

This is a collaboration between Clown Skateboards and the LISA Project... here's more about it via Anderson's Instagram account...

 

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Updated (not done yet):

'It's ok to cry'

Here's the new mural for June outside the F stop on Second Avenue at Houston. 

HUGO GYRL created this in honor of Sophie Xeon, the Grammy-nominated experimental pop artist, producer and trans-rights activist who died in a fall at age 34 in January. 

Per @hugogyrl's post on Instagram:

Happy pride Sophie; wish you were here to make your futuristic, post-Queer, post-body, post-music, music for us. Your work really touched me and it fucked me up when you died — I was always so excited to hear whatever you put out in the world.

And...

While I was painting this, so many people stopped and expressed how much you meant to them. I'm not so great at portraits, but tons of people recognized you. Anyway, thanks for helping us envision a future, if that makes sense? You were/are a true creative icon, and a Queer and Trans Legend.

Photo by @hugogyrl

Sunday's parting shot

NYC Is Back, as seen on St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue ... created yesterday by @degrupo and @thecreator.nyc ... 

And this is the former St. Dymphna's, space... they are now open at 117 Avenue A.

Sunday's opening shot

For anyone keeping track, the Blondie mural on Bleecker at the Bowery has been restored ... this after being tagged last month... after being restored back in December.

Shepard Fairy's mural has been here since August 2017.

Back in the New York groove

Wheatpaste by SacSix... spotted on East Houston near Allen by Robert Miner...

Saturday's opening shot

Tagged again on Bleecker at the Bowery. The Blondie mural had been restored back in December. 

Nurse Dolly

Dolly Parton reimagined as the cover nurse on blink-182's "Enema of the State" album for the COVID-19 era ... wheatpaste by SacSix as seen outside 7 Avenue A.