By now, news of the destruction of famed graffiti mecca, 5Pointz, has been spreading through social media platforms like wildfire. As of Tuesday at 7 am, the 5Pointz that Long Island City has been known for is no longer. All through Monday night, paint crew employed by the owner of the 5Pointz building painted over more than 12 years of graffiti street art with white paint. Just like that, a long-standing New York unofficial landmark was destroyed without a trace. This paint undid the artwork of over 1,500 artists who showcased their artistic visions in arguably one of, if not the top, street art melting pot in the history of graffiti.

With that being said, when I first heard of the news a couple hours earlier, my first thought was “Wow, the owner actually did it–he destroyed 5Pointz forever.” The first and only time that I saw 5Pointz in all its glory was back in mid-October, when I went there with Karen for her research on her digital archive project. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the real impending danger that 5Pointz was facing when I walked along its colorful walls and breathed in the lively air. You may not believe me when I say this, but the atmosphere really is different over there. Graffiti artists creating massive artworks with aerosol spray cans, perfecting each and every stroke of paint–it really made me feel like a part of the creative, real, and artistic side of New York.

The day that I was there, I had the great fortune of meeting one of the artists hard at work painting her self portrait onto her canvas. Hailing all the way from Paris, France, Doudou spoke with a heavy French accent as she tried to explain to me and Karen what she was working on and her artistic vision. She had come here to New York City to show her artwork to the world. Although we didn’t understand much of what she was saying, I could feel that she was very passionate about her art and the fact that she was painting on the famous walls of 5Pointz, months before its doom.

At the time, rumors were already circulating about the demolition of 5Pointz, so we were there right in the nick of time to catch the last of this true graffiti mecca. Still, I can’t help but feel angry about the destruction of 5Pointz. Essentially, the owner chose money and personal gain over the importance of art–especially art as monumental as those in 5Pointz. At the end of the day, I feel for those who were planning to see this landmark; I can’t imagine how they felt when they discovered freshly painted white walls instead of the imaginative and creative artworks of artists from all over the world.

This goes to show that beautiful things don’t always last forever, so we should appreciate things while we can. 🙁

New York Times Article on 5Pointz Destruction: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/nyregion/5pointz-a-graffiti-mecca-in-queens-is-wiped-clean-overnight.html?_r=0

–Joanna Huang