Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Spirit of East Harlem Mural Defaced



East Harlem Preservation Calls for Community Action and Cultural Educational Campaign

During the early hours of June 13, one of El Barrio's s most famous outdoor artworks, the Spirit of East Harlem mural, was mysteriously defaced. The landmark painting has significant historical roots in the history of Spanish Harlem and has served as a cultural attraction for thousands of students and tourists from around the country and the world.  Commissioned by Hope Community, Inc. in 1978, the four-story Spirit of East Harlem mural was created by Hank Prussing and featured local residents engaging in everyday activities. Artist Manny Vega, who'd served as Prussing's apprentice, restored the badly weathered mural in the mid-1990s. On June 24 , the main wall of the Graffiti Wall of Fame was also painted over; although the alteration may have been in preparation for a new project. Located on the northwest corner of 106th Street and Park Avenue, the Graffiti Wall of Fame was the first legal and organized wall for graffiti writers to showcase their skills. Created during the early 1980s, the "Wall" has become a formidable means of artistic expression for a group of artists led by the Tats Cru. Manny Vega's internationally acclaimed Julia de Burgos mosaic on East 106th Street does not appear to have been defaced, nor have any works by artist James de la Vega. East Harlem Preservation has reached out to elected officials and other neighborhood agencies to address the matter and hopes to engage in public forums to highlight the importance of preserving local artwork. Stay tuned for further updates. For more information, www.eastharlempreservation.org.
Photos and text courtesy of Marina Ortiz of East Harlem Preservation

1 comment:

Clarisel said...

RELATED

Here's a release from Senator Jose M. Serrano's office:

Elected officials and community leaders spoke out against the defacement of two local landmarks, and declared a united front to protect the cultural heritage of East Harlem.

On June 13, the four-story Spirit of East Harlem mural, at 104th Street and Lexington Ave., was defaced. On June 24, the Graffiti Hall of Fame, at 106th Street and Park Avenue, met a similar fate.

"I am outraged that these East Harlem landmarks have been so casually defaced," said Senator José M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx). "These landmarks reflect the hope and cultural pride that has been passed down for generations. The individuals who committed these deplorable and senseless acts have let down their community."

The Spirit of East Harlem was created in 1973 by artist Hank Prussing, and was later restored by local muralist Manny Vega Jr. in 1998. The mural, most prominently, depicts images of local East Harlem residents at the time of the murals creation.

Since its inception in 1980, the Graffiti Hall of Fame served as a canvas of self-expression for local graffiti artists, but has been known to attract artists from around the world. It was the city's first legal wall for graffiti writers to exhibit their skills to the public.

The neighborhood of El Barrio, home to "mural row," is well-known for the many culturally themed murals that adorn the external brick walls of its businesses, residential buildings, and school playgrounds.

"East Harlem/El Barrio is a unique community with a beautifully diverse and spirited population," said Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito. "Mural painting is a tradition that has long been a part of this community's expression of our culture, diversity, and love of art. As such, I am extremely saddened and alarmed by the recent defacing of two of our beloved art works; the mural on 104th Street known as 'The Spirit of East Harlem' which dates back to 1973, and our 'Graffiti Hall of Fame' which has graced our community since 1980. The mural on 104th Street is appreciated not only as the beautiful piece of art and history that it is but also as a memorial to the local residents it depicts. And although graffiti has not always been considered art, this community has long embraced our Graffiti Hall of Fame recognizing it as an art form and as a valuable venue for various artists to share their feelings and talents.

"I call upon our community to send a collective and forceful message to the person(s) responsible that we will not tolerate these cowardly acts of vandalism and intolerance. I also challenge our community to help educate their children, friends and fellow residents to be respectful of our history, our diversity and our community treasures."

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