Capturing Communities in Words and Images:

5 Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burnin’

Having a name that represents the five boroughs of New York City, 5 Pointz, located in Long Island City, invites graffiti artists from all over to share there work with the world.  It is important to note that this is one of the very few places in New York, that I know of, where graffiti is perfectly legal.  However, I still find it ironic that a place where anywhere else a person can be arrested for tagging, can be found just blocks away from a courthouse.  Just because graffiti is legal in 5 Pointz does not mean that you can just come and do want you want.  You need permission from Meres, aka Jonathan Cohen, who has been the one in charge since 2002. In order to get permission he needs to view a sample of your work, either in person or through e-mail.

The art at 5 Pointz is not the only reason to visit.  There are many people that come just for the company and form friendships based on there love for the art. To them graffiti is a way of life an not just spray paint and scribbles that look flashy.  Like many communities, there are rules and norms that the artists go by.  There are ways to show respect and there are ways to rebel, and although it might not seem as hard to fit in as other communities, it is and outsiders can be easily spotted.  Because I am used to tagging alone mostly and looking over my shoulder, I am not familiar with the companionship of the artists (and have yet to display my work in a legal way). I have been to 5 Pointz many times and look forward to talking to artists that I don’t know about and how they all relate to each other, and hopefully I can meet Meres and get his permission to paint.

3 thoughts on “5 Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burnin’”

  1. This is a great community –very visual, of course. Your challenge in photographing the community is to capture not just their art but them in the process of making art. It is also to help us understand why they do what they do and how they bond with one another.

  2. It will be very interesting to find out why they chose this particular art form and how the notion of danger is a part of it. DO they see themselves as outsider artists? Are they seeking to be part of an artists’ community? I’d also like to see those rules and codes that you mention and understand how they conform to them and how they came to be. Also, what do they do when they’re not doing graffiti? Where do they come from? Do they hold regular jobs? Can you photograph them in their other life or is this their main existence? By the way, Norman Mailer once wrote a great essay about graffiti artists. Try and find it.

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