5 Pointz/5 Images | Mickey Z.

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

Nov. 1, 2016

The artwork was always changing but the looming presence of 5 Pointz felt permanent.

Rumors swirled as gentrification advanced but The Institute for Higher Burnin’ would outlive it all… or so we thought. I’m not sure how many others documented the last couple of months but, since I was a frequent visitor to 5 Pointz, I felt compelled to do so.

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

When the reality of losing this graffiti mecca set in, folks suddenly showed up for rallies. Too little, too late. More than that, it was yet another lesson in “activist” futility. As much as we like to delude ourselves, the will of “the people” holds no sway.

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

I was told this was the only promise the building owner kept: To sneak in under the cover of night to whitewash the art. Mission accomplished.

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

Capitalism knows no boundaries.

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

Coming soon: Another high-priced file cabinet for storing yuppies and hipsters.

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Mickey Z. is currently writing two books, a memoir called How to Lose Friends & Influence Nobody: My Life as an “Activist,” and a fusion novella entitled stain red. In the meantime, he can be found here.

5 Pointz by Mickey Z. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://worldnewstrust.com/5-pointz-mickey-z.