When visiting New York, an amazing attraction that deserves a visit is the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center. This awe-inspiring center is an outdoor attraction that is made up of spray paint and graffiti art covering a huge building that stretches almost a full block. The 200,000 square foot warehouse is used as an open canvas, attracting famous musicians and artists from all over the world to contribute to the walls. Notable celebrities have visited the amazing attraction, including Joan Jett, Joss Stone, and Grandmaster Kaz.
The basic idea for the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center began in 1993 as an effort to stop graffiti vandalism. The idea was that, if graffitists had an area to display their work as art, vandalism would be decreased. The warehouse was called the “Phun Phactory” and in 2002, Jonathan Cohen was recruited to curate the work. Cohen, more commonly known by his tag name “Meres One”, transformed the “Phun Phactory” into what is now known as the 5Pointz Art Center. He manages and oversees the work and the walls of 5Pointz, selecting and approving artwork from specific artists, and then allocating space for their designs or tags.
The amazing outdoor art attraction has enticed people from all over the world to contribute their work to the center. The walls of the warehouse feature over 250 full color murals and images, projecting a bright, contrasting effect to the surrounding area. Jonathan Cohen views the designs and artwork of others, and then assigns the space for their work. His future plans are to convert the five story warehouse into a graffiti art museum. He also intends on opening an art school for students who appreciate the art of spray painting. New designs and names are frequently added to the warehouse, so there is always something new on this unique attraction.
Also called 5Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burning, this attraction is a unique and awe-inspiring experience. Simply viewing the outside walls of the warehouse are well worth the trip. For those who are interested in seeing more, though, 5Pointz offers a bi-weekly tour. For $35, guests are led on a tour throughout the warehouse by the founder and curator Jonathan Cohen, also known as “Meres One”. The tour also includes a painting demonstration, allowing guests to see how the artwork is done. The 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center is a truly amazing experience that shouldn’t be missed.