5Pointz Revived with ‘Vertical Love Letter’ at CitizenM on the Bowery
The towering new CitizenM hotel on the Bowery opens in just a few weeks. And with it, a revival of the 5Pointz collective and its nascent Museum of Street Art (moSA).
As first reported earlier in the summer, a slew of artists decked the halls (and stairwells) with tags and murals, while photographer Christelle de Castro contributed 62 faces in the windows. This “Citizens of the Bowery” project is all part of the larger art initiative happening at the Bowery skyscraper.
Meres One (aka Jonathan Cohen), the famed 5Pointz founder, teamed up with Marie Flageul to curate this Museum of Street Art, with funding from the Netherlands-based hotel itself. The collaboration is apparently three years in the making – kept secret – and will span twenty floors.
In addition, it seems the New Museum is also involved in the hotel decorating game. Its NEW INC. incubator will loan art for the 300 guest rooms.
CitizenM debuts in a couple weeks, and is reportedly the world’s tallest modular hotel. At twenty stories, the development boasts 300 rooms and two food-and-beverage venues – CanteenM (ground floor) and CloudM (rooftop).
This Bowery hotel is more than ten years in development. The changes began in 2008, when Brack Capital acquired four adjoining properties on the Bowery (at Delancey), including the historic townhouse at 185 Bowery. The assemblage was knocked down a couple years later, and it would take another two years (2012) for CitizenM to jump aboard as hotel operator.
Is this head-to-toe project another instance of “art-washing” the area for further gentrification?
Recent Stories
Full GovBall Lineup Announced for Summer 2020
This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Governors Ball Music Festival on Randall’s Island, and Founders Entertainment has tapped some big names to kick off the celebration. Headliners for this year’s festival are GovBall veterans Tame Impala, alongside New York indie darlings Vampire Weekend. New additions to the top slots include venerable Fleetwood Mac […]
International Center of Photography Launches at Essex Crossing Next Week
For the International Center of Photography, four years of transition come to an end next week, as the institution plans its inauguration at Essex Crossing. The 40,000 square-foot museum and school, reunited for the first time since the midtown move, will debut on January 25 with a free “Opening Community Day.” Visitors on day one […]
Michelin-Star Chef Bringing Omakase to Former Black Tap on Ludlow Street
From shakes to sushi. After the epic bomb that was Black Tap, 177 Ludlow Street is now taking a more upscale tack. Omakase, which is Japanese dining for the ultra-luxe set. Real Estate Weekly has the scoop, reporting that a new mystery tenant, who currently owns and operates eight restaurants in New York and Tokyo, […]
‘Karvouna’ Evicted from the Bowery After Less than a Year
Restaurants can’t seem to make it work at 241 Bowery. The latest entrant, Karvouna Mezze, just joined the growing list of failures at this address. The City Marshal paid a visit to the restaurant and shut it down. All told, Karvouna lasted barely one year. Partners Dimitris Vlahakis, Wei Chen, and Chef Giuseppe Scalco (Merakia […]
Beastie Boys and Spike Jonze Announce New Documentary for Apple+
Apple yesterday announced that a new Beastie Boys documentary is coming to its Apple+ platform this spring. Right alongside the 26th anniversary of Ill Communication. Beastie Boys Story is just that – the history of the band as told by surviving members Mike D. and Adam “Ad Rock” Horovitz. It’s based on the bestselling Beastie Boys […]
