{"id":67579,"date":"2019-07-20T20:20:47","date_gmt":"2019-07-21T00:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=67579"},"modified":"2019-07-20T20:39:26","modified_gmt":"2019-07-21T00:39:26","slug":"visit-this-brooklyn-graffiti-exhibit-before-it-closes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/67579\/visit-this-brooklyn-graffiti-exhibit-before-it-closes\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit this Brooklyn Graffiti Exhibit Before It Closes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nowadays, Brooklyn is loaded with trendy stores, <\/span>restaurants<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>coffee shops galore<\/span><\/a>. Arguably it\u2019s coolest neighborhood, Williamsburg, is now the home to a new street art exhibit called<\/span> Beyond the Streets<\/span><\/a>. Yes, it\u2019s worth all the hype.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the Streets didn\u2019t randomly choose this spot, <\/span>Brooklyn has long been an epicenter for graffiti.<\/span><\/a>  The comprehensive show features the works of over 150 artists from around the world and aims to defy normal conventions. Sprawling over two floors, the show is located in Twenty Five Kent, a new creative office building with impressive floor-to-ceiling windows facing the East River with eye-candy views of the city skyline. The show is curated by graffiti historian and urban anthropologist, Roger Gastman, whose mission is \u201cto examine the fundamental need for public self-expression\u201d. From a special Beastie Boys installation featuring artifacts from the band\u2019s 4-decade history, to works from art world giants such as Jenny Holzer and Takashi Murakami, and even a fully recreated train car set which features replicas of graffiti art, this show is truly epic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the Streets is vast and we recommend making a full day out of it or even taking a few trips to fully experience and absorb all the works on display. But for those of who don\u2019t have the luxury to visit multiple times, below are some of our highlights we recommend checking out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Brooklyn

Kilroy Was Here<\/span><\/h2>\n

The show starts with Kilroy Was Here. This now iconic image, first seen in the 1940s is a man peeking over a barrier with an accompanying text \u201cKilroy was here\u201d. This image, along with its caption, was a mainstay on the sides of ships and walls during WWII. At the height of its popularity, the moniker symbolized victory and was a morale builder for WWII soldiers abroad. The image is attributed to James J. Kilroy, a shipyard inspector who began leaving the mark on ships to ensure quality control. Kilroy Was Here has since found its way all over the world and is exhibited on various toys, pins, t-shirts and other items of paraphernalia. Kilroy Was Here can still be seen all across the world. It\u2019s now colloquially considered to be the original \u201cmeme\u201d so it\u2019s no surprise it\u2019s that this is one of the first things visitors see when they enter the exhibit. From the very beginning, we\u2019re being asked to stretch our imaginations and expectations of what graffiti and street art looks like within a larger context. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Brooklyn

Playground Hangouts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Within the same room as Kilroy Was Here, is a textbook introduction to 1960s street art. Focusing on graffiti hot spots such as New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, the show captures the first stylized tags as defined by various hangouts and crews in high school playgrounds, the breeding ground for graffiti writers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Learn about the first stylized tags, easy to read block letter tags championed by STAY HIGH 149 who started writing in 1971 and dubbed the now universally known stick figure icon, \u201cThe Smoker\u201d. Learn about the love story of STITCH 1 and ROCKY 184, two anonymous writers whose romance blossomed after meeting on the corner of 188th and Audobon. Since STITCH 1 lived in the Bronx they would meet at their original meeting place, just out of reach of ROCKY 184\u2019s father. For over a year, they started writing each other\u2019s names all over the city and sparked CORNER 188, a social touchstone within the gang culture. Each section is dedicated to various crews in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and the relationships writers had with each other and to their communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Brooklyn

Henry Chalfant<\/span><\/h2>\n

Henry Chalfant\u2019s sculptures look like something out of a sci-fi comic book, which is not surprising seeing as he\u2019s best known for his PBS documentary, Style Wars and his book, Subway Art which he co-authored with Martha Cooper. He\u2019s considered one of the leading experts on graffiti art culture. In this exhibit, his sculptures are prominently featured against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. It\u2019s a stunning and appropriate setting to see these works. This room also features some heavyweight graffiti artists such as Rammellzee, Futura, and Daze which feature a handful of oil paintings and mixed pieces, a perfect blend of street art meets studio art. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Freight