Bowery Graffiti and Street Art
March 13th, 2012 by chocko
Chocko was hovering around the Bowery last week and noticed some changes in the scenery. It was a surprise to see the completed RETNA mural on the corner of Bowery and Houston Street. At first look, it appears to be ancient script or Hieroglyphics-meets-gang-graffiti in dripping red and blue paint. What does it all mean? There must be a some sort of Rosetta Stone for RETNA’s old world calligraphy-graff but until then, I will visit the Bowery’s newest installation for the next few months, stand in front while scratching my head…attempting to crack the code.
Take a short walk from RETNA’s enigmatic wall to the former Germania Bank Building on the corner of Bowery and Spring Street and you will discover plenty of graffiti, stickers, and art within the ever changing urban landscape. The exterior of 190 Bowery always features something, but it looks like the weather beaten wheatpasted walls could use a little sprucing up. I did find the tiny hummingbird mosaics very interesting.
Finally, a shout out and R.I.P. to Billy’s Antiques & Props whose green tent has been a fixture on the Bowery for more than two decades. Where else can you buy a stuffed coyote, some Ramones records, a glass eye and an old NYC subway sign? The store has been closed and the tent has recently been dismantled and all that is left are the skeletal remains of the structure painted blood red. A building will take the place of the former antique site and Billy’s will be back, but it just won’t be the same.
Tags: billy's antiques, bowery, graffiti, houston street, mural, new york city, nyc, retna, street art
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