The Politics of Art & Authenticity

Early in the semester, I tagged along to 5 Pointz in Queens with a group of Macaulay kids and a couple of enthusiastic adults. I was pretty excited since we were about to see informal type of art. An art in which many attach a dirty and negative stigma yet here was a place in which that unwanted art is appreciated. I did not know what to expect. I was just pumped for any graffitti.

As soon as we got off the 7 train at Court Square, I couldn’t stop looking at the covered buildings. There was just so many to inspect, analyze, and admire. I couldn’t wait to keep walking around. There were scenes depicting darkness, some had more positive messages, some were brightly colored, others were lighter. There were patterns and  spray painted figures of every kind in every shade imaginable. All around me was excitement depicted in vibrant and colorful spray paint. And then… I walked past the woman. The grey woman.

She was on one of the side buildings, away from the “main attractions” of 5 Pointz, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls. You had to walk around a building, past the headquarters of the New York City Halal food carts and around another corner. There were lively pictures on either side of her but she, with only a few shades of grey, was the most striking. She looked solemn, enlarged, but very realistic. Her seemingly blank look actually communicated a sense of isolation and indifference. It was the one piece that spoke to me.

I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this was spray painted. On top of that, it was only using black and white! It seemed like an authentic charcoal sketch. Just large and on a brick building. Seeing 5 Pointz has truly opened my eyes to the wonders of New York City and its talented urban culture. I wish to someday contribute to that. (Except not using a spray paint can).

http://photobento.blogspot.com/2011/03/5-pointz.html