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Recently, legend became reality when a 10-story building in SoHo was being converted to a luxury condo. Unearthed in the walls was a large mural created by graffiti pioneers Fab Five Freddy and Futura 2000.
The artwork contains a variety of images and writing executed in spray paint, grease pencil, magic marker and whatever else was on hand — in silver, gold, pink and red. There are cartoonlike pictures of a bomber airplane, images of a heart and a cake, and several references to Quaaludes, a popular 1970s party drug.And that's not all...one part of the mural is believed to be by Jean Michel Basquiat (his tag "SAMO" also appears in the stairwell). deAk even told the new owners of the building that "There is a Basquiat, and it's somewhere where you won't think it is." This being the beginning of a movement, many in the art world who were consulted agree it's "a critical piece of history," and the "Holy Grail" of graffiti.The mural was found in the eighth-floor loft owned by art critic Edit deAk in the late '70s and 1980s — a time when much of fringe art, including graffiti, was being validated. The wall is nearly intact, except for gaps where a dishwasher and plumbing were installed years later.
So how does one preserve such a thing in the midst of a luxury condo conversion? Wall stabilization, tissue paper and cheesecloth were all involved until the graffiti could be "peeled off" and mounted to a movable panel. That panel is being unveiled for all to see tonight at an exhibit focusing on the graffiti art movement in the early '80s. The show will also include works from Keith Haring, Basquiat, Kenny Scharf and Ero. Titled "The Wild Style Exhibit" will be on view through February 15th at Gallery 151 [151 Wooster St, 2nd Floor].
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And that's the sound of Dobkin spooging in his pants. Get a tissue, Jake.
where in soho was this found?
Wow, this is almost as beautiful as a Giotto or a Tiepolo. Thank goodness there are so few earthquakes in New York, so we can preserve these pinnacles of our culture.
I think I was also a pioneer of this "art" form in my elementary school notebook doodling.
I have always wondered what are behind the walls in my building. Sol Lewitt lived on one of the floors in my building for 20 or so years and create books and had a huge collection of art. I always think there might be a lewitt behind one of the walls here! It would be priceless
What a gem.
great news! now I can cancel my trip to Rome who needs old fashioned art like this
http://www.nickwinter.com/journeys/images/europe/italy/rome/loyola_2.jpg
Basquiat sucked. Any of the old school kids from the BX could have schooled his ass right with writing.
I'm not much of an aviator, but that looks more like an approximation of a fighter rather than a bomber.
'holy grail,' huh? so people were on a quest to find this? seems like time well spent.
why is it part of an exhibit on graff in the early 80's? in the early 80's graffiti was on a whole other level. this right here is some 1971 type stuff
big ups to freddy & futura!
in 50 years the media will find a neckface scribble and it will make the frontpage of the martian colony times.
Vandalism, imo. A crime has been uncovered. This is like finding the body of a mob boss. Case closed.
As the world (and NYC) grows increasingly tame and homogenous, the ordinary becomes precious and celebrated.
Cultural inflation. On a pitifully grand scale.
Too bad it's not a Norman Rockwell!
Oh, or a Da Vinci!
It's a piece of history, like it or not, it's an interesting find.
Geez, what a bunch of Asswipe Commenters.
Hi my name is yuppie. i wear glasses and follow all the rules.i have five pocket protecters and tuck my shirt in after peeing so hard i cant feel my balls for a whole week.did i meantion i hate graffiti? sorry,got to go..theres some suspicious african american punks in front of my building..got to call the police!!