If you ever drove through Long Island City (Queens, NY), you probably noticed an amazing old school building, covered in extraordinary street art and graffiti. If you are a lover of street art and graffiti, anywhere in the world, you know the building, and it was high on your bucket list of places to visit in New York City: it was called “5POINTZ”…

BUT NOW IT’S GONE!  

5POINTZ is history, its art legacy whitewashed away, quietly, secretly, without warning, by an owner with dreams of development, even while the battle to preserve the art raged in court.

Street art and graffiti — the good stuff, by talented artists — is a source of pleasure and inspiration when you discover and pause to enjoy it.

I only visited 5POINTZ once, when visiting Long Island City in October 2012, for something else. My son and I saw the building and ran across the street, to enjoy the art gallery up close! I took quick photos on my phone of one side (western-facing?) we could access that day, and we promised each other to return and see the entire building. Now that it’s gone, I wish I had documented more of 5POINTZ, but at least I got 16 photos of the good stuff, which I am happy to share with you.

5POINTZ Memorial Gallery

RIP 5Pointz…

Camera: iPhone Whatever
Editing: Hipstamatic app on iPhone.
Photographer: Russ Murray aka “remages“
Subject(s): 5POINTZ street art gallery building.
Location: Long Island City, New York

©russ murray