Bowery Gates Painted Ahead of “Festival of Ideas”

The Festival of Ideas for the New City is swiftly approaching, and the Bowery is already being prepped with paint.  Sanctioned murals began appearing on numerous gates along the thoroughfare a couple weeks ago, each with the express purpose of promoting the May 4 kickoff.  As of this morning, there are seven between Delancey and East Houston.

During off-hours, the Chair Factory at 214 Bowery boasts the slogan “I Wanna Rock With You”; its neighbor to the south seems to promote a Doors lyric, “been down, down so long, looks like up to me.”  According to design mag Core 77, the former artwork is by the hand of Deborah Kass.

A tipster sent us the following photo from last night, showing an artist busy working on 261 Bowery, with diagram in hand.  We were told that he’s from Sky High Murals, which does the paintwork for Colossal Media.

And outside 267 Bowery, Attias:

Another at 213 Bowery, Regent Restaurant Equipment: