HOTTEA Yarn-Bombs the Lower East Side

Olek isn’t the only graffiti artist yarn-bombing the Lower East Side these days. Meet HOTTEA.

Delancey & Eldridge

Within the last few days, three different chain-link fences around the neighborhood received some 3D letter-work that spells HOTTEA in different variations. There’s one on the perimeter fence at the vacant 157 Ludlow Street lot; another outside the lot at the northeast corner of Eldridge and Delancey; plus one for the dearly departed Billy’s Antiques on East Houston.

Ludlow & Stanton

HOTTEA is actually the nom de plume of Minneapolis-based Eric Rieger, a former graffiti artist who began yarning after a the law caught up with him. One night of epic painting above the freeway reportedly led to a chase by the cops, being tasered four times, and spending three days in jail. Locked up for this brief period sparked the change in public art.

Billy's Antiques on Houston

The fencework as he calls it began with him weaving the word HOTTEA into chain link fences. It became his street name. HOTTEA said he chose the word because it had personal meaning for him and his life partner. In fact, HOTTEA said family runs through all his work.

And here’s a fan video of HOTTEA on the streets of Minneapolis…