In the Art of the City. The history of NYC graffiti mecca “5 Pointz”

Text & Photo: Atsuko Tanaka / Edit: B SABURO

“Yo, what is this place and where is it??” If you don’t already know, those will without a doubt be your first two questions. It will make any instagram maven drool with envy. Of course I’m talking about the celebrated graffiti hub “5 Pointz” aka the “5 Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Inc” in Long Island City, Queens. It was a dreamlike place filled with murals from the world’s most talented graffiti artists. When I lived in Queens, I would to see it everyday on my commute to Manhattan. Sadly, it no longer exists…

Originally a factory in the 1970’s that manufactured water meters, the property was acquired by real estate developer Jerry Wolkoff. In the early 1990’s, Wolkoff converted the warehouse space into artists studios and allowed graffiti artists to legally paint on the walls of the buildings. Since 1993, the space was known as the “Phun Factory” which was represented by Pat DiLillo.

Jonathan Cohen, known as “Meres One”, become the curator in 2001. He renamed 5 Pointz to make the buildings the heart of the New York City art scene and opened the space up for novice painters to work alongside their famous counterparts. The site drew thousands of visitors from across the globe to glimpse the disparate pieces and styles.

Switching lanes, Wolkoff decided to start a development project in 2011 that would jeopardize the 5 Pointz. The artists vigorously fought to have the site declared a landmark, but that proposal was denied by the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission on the grounds that the murals were less than 30 years old. In 2013, a plan to develop luxury condominiums was approved.

In an insidious move, Wolkoff had the murals painted white over in the middle of the night without any prior notice. The creators of these murals had no notice to properly document their works and were shellshocked when the news broke. There was a last ditch effort to save the structure through rallies and petitions, but it was too little too late. The building was demolished in August of 2014.

The following year, the artists whose murals were painted over, brought a lawsuit against Wolkoff for lack of prior notice before demolition. They cited the VARA law, which protects copyright and personality right, and won $6.7 million in damages.

Even though they received compensation, the murals were lost forever. The entire episode is a testament to the value and appreciation of street art. Although no longer standing, the legacy of 5 Pointz will continue to awe and inspire us.