‘Birdhouse Repo’ Reminds us that Even the Animals Can’t Afford to Live in NYC Anymore
To live in New York City is so expensive, even the birds can’t afford it. This truth is the creative mojo behind a new temporary art project coming to First Park this month.
The incoming sculpture, aptly entitled “Birdhouse Repo,” is the work of city native Aaron Schraeter. Simple yet brilliant, his goal was political commentary on the immediate surroundings, where gentrification is crowding everyone out.
This “foreclosed” birdhouse will post up adjacent to the former “rat alley,” now an open air gallery, rechristened First Street Green. Public unveiling is planned for the end of the month, and will be on display until sometime in June. As for assembly, the 36-inch-high model will be a miniature replica house atop an eleven-foot pole. Same materials, smaller scale. For instance, tar paper and shingles will be used for the roof, while the rest is pressure-treated plywood. The front door to the Birdhouse, so to speak, will be boarded up, yet Schrater noted that “wouldn’t be too upset” at the sight of bird squatters.
More from the proposal:
Aaron Schraeter draws inspiration for his work from the constantly changing neighborhoods of New York City, especially the effects of gentrification and who gets to stay. The city has become increasingly expensive, with new luxury condos replacing older commercial spaces and skyrocketing rents due to mass migrations to newly gentrified neighborhoods coupled with the flailing job market and extended recession. With that, this sculpture—a birdhouse under foreclosure—is a simple statement: New York is becoming so expensive that even the animals can’t afford to live here. As many human domiciles have, this one will remain “vacant,” save for some possible winged squatters. The openings will be boarded up, and signs will be posted on the sides of the structure reading “house under foreclosure.”
Schraeter presented these plans before the Parks subcommittee of Community Board 3 last week. And while the advisory body wasn’t required to make a motion, the panel seemed to enjoy the overall message. He further quipped that “there’s no guarantee in my adult life I’ll be able to continue living here.”
Recent Stories
Rent Hike Ousts Trendy ‘El Rey’ Cafe After 5 Years on Stanton Street
Time has come for El Rey on the Lower East Side. The trendy California-style cafe, founded by Nick Morgenstern back in 2013, is closing at the end of the month. El Rey spent five years at 100 Stanton Street, and in the end, a rent hike is allegedly to blame. The official word is that […]
Pols Commit to Returning Stanton Storehouse to Community Use
The Stanton Street storehouse inside Sara D. Roosevelt Park – a Parks Department silo – will finally return to community use. But don’t get too excited just yet. According to a report in The Villager, the Chief of Staff for Councilwoman Margaret Chin, former Community Board 3 Chair Gigi Li, told the Parks subcommittee last […]
Report: Jared Kushner Just Bought the Hotel on Rivington
Surprise! Trump son-in-law, and presidential adviser, Jared Kushner, is under contract to purchase one of the most notorious properties on the Lower East Side. The posh, yet problematic, Hotel on Rivington in the heart of Hell Square. The New York Post broke the story, noting that Jared and brother Josh are entering new territory by […]
Anti-Amazon Stickers Slapped on Subway Etiquette Signs
Anti-Amazon attitude is at a fever pitch barely a week after the online retail conglomerate announced that half its second headquarters (HQ2) would be situated in Long Island City. Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, and real estate speculators are all equally salivating over the deal, which will see an influx of 25,000 employees and create […]
Under Legal Threat, MoMaCha Tea Shop on the Bowery Becomes ‘MaMaCha’
Within the last couple weeks, and under fire, the MoMaCha tea room on the Bowery changed its full branding and identity. Henceforth, the business is now morphed to the homophone, MaMaCha. Though, not voluntarily. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) filed a lawsuit almost immediately after the art-focused cafe opened back in April. Then, last […]
