ALPHABET CITY SECRECT ART INSTALLATION


Photos by Deann Arce

A special invitation only, secret art installation at a condemned building in Alphabet City, was held by up and coming New York City street artists. Visitors braved the cold to tour four entire floors of a soon-to-be-demolished apartment building. The two-hour show called Surplus Candy, was the brainchild of street artist Hanksy – his name riffing off world-renowned stenciler Banksy and Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks. A small number of graffiti artists spent six previous days and nights inside, to do their work. Hanksy had obtained set of keys from “a friend of a friend” according to those involved. Although no address was given to invitees, a mural previously painted and unrelated to the show on the outside of the East Village building, had to be familiar for those in order to find it. Nothing was for sale and likely to stay up until the place is demolished. About 400 people attended the word of mouth event.