USA: Artists say goodbye to a beloved grafitti-covered building, by turning the facade into a giant canvas

U.S. and international artists worked frantically to complete artworks Friday (December 15) in a New York building which will be renovated and converted into condominiums, starting Monday (December 18). About 45 artists from as far afield as France, Italy and Reunion Island heeded the call from the Wooster Collective's Marc and Sara Schiller to transform a 19-century abandoned building on Spring Street into a giant canvas for their creations. The building in New York's NoLIta neighbourhood has long been a vehicle for graffiti and street artists. Many residents enjoy the area's many abandoned buildings and their associated graffiti and others consider the street art vandalism. "When you start to say, well look, let's not condone vandalism but let's just not address vandalism, let's address the art and the artist and the collaboration with the city and let's, let's, let's see where that leads. People get inspired like never before and that's why so many people are here because of the fact that this is the most inspiring type of art, it's not commercialized by corporations, it's not done for gallery sale, it's done for the craft," said Marc Schiller. 11 Spring Street was purchased by Bill Elias and Caroline Cummings who will develop it into condominiums. The business partners wanted to find a respectful method of bidding farewell to the building and its art. They approached the Wooster Collective's Marc and Sara Schilling. The Schillings suggested an exhibition to showcase American and international artists. The result is a 3-day open house event during which visitors will be able to see the artworks before the building is gutted. New York-based artist Jasmine Zimmerman is not phased by the fact that her creation, "The Web Project" will be destroyed in just a few days time. Comprising over 10,000 rubber bands, Zimmerman's work runs from the 5th floor down to the basement of the building and because it is interactive, people can feel one another's presence even though they can't see each other. "It's all about the process for me, more than it is the product and creating an experience and for me, like an experience is more valuable than an object that's going to sit, you know. Like this experience I think is enhanced by its ephemeral quality," said Zimmerman. Another featured artist who understands the fleeting experience of short-lived art is Frenchman Blek Lerat, who was first impressed in the early eighties by U.S. graffiti and street artists when he visited the U.S. He explained, "To work in the street you have to know that you work and two days or one week after, the work disappears. So, it's a normal thing that this kind of work disappears." Although many of the works will have to be removed, the painted brick walls will be covered with dry wall -- hidden, but preserved. "When they do the art anywhere that it can be covered by someone who doesn't appreciate it too much or it can be sandblasted off a building or, so they know what they're doing doesn't have an eternity, but this is like a time capsule where it will have an eternity," said Connie Jones, a visitor from California. Another visitor, Steve Keith believes the idea is good marketing. "I think people are also going to be able to expose it you know, when they buy their condo here, so, and this is brilliant marketing because when was the last time you went to a condo opening before they even built the condos you want to live in," he said. Hundreds of visitors had walked through the dilapidated building only hours after it was opened to the public on Friday.

ITN Source | December 21, 2006

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