Whats Up With 200 Seventh Avenue?

I've always been intrigued by the crazy/ creepy/ fascinating artwork that's been hanging on the brick facade of 200 7th Avenue (between Second and Third St). Who's responsible for them? And how did they get there? Some investigation was in order. 

The pop-up gallery on the ground floor was a good place to start, so I gave the owner a call.

His name is Mark Ravitz, and he's owned this building since 1977. While growing up in the East Village he mingled with artists including Roy Lichtenstein and photographer Ray Maisel, and took an interest in set design at an early age. This led him to become the scenic designer for three of David Bowie's tours, Diamond Dogs (1974), Serious Moonlight (1983), and Glass Spider (1987). He also designed sets for KISS, Whitney Houston, and The Backstreet Boys, as well as Studio 54's legendary Halloween parties. 

In 1980 the public art movement was at its peak in the city, and Ravitz wanted to get on board. Instead of submitting slides and going through selection committees, he decided (wisely) to just put his art up on his own building. 

In the past 20 years, at least seven separate installments have appeared on the facade, all "drips," his particular style of art. They've ranged from solid black to red-and-gold to cows to the current installation, eyeballs surrounded by copper leaf and glitter. 

So what's next for 200 7th Avenue? Ravitz has been trying to sell the ground-level retail space for a little while, and has received plenty of offers, from nail salons to a gun store. He plans to keep it art-related though, and is in talks with a graphic design company to open up a shop there.

Within a few months the "Four Eyes" will be taken down and replaced with the next installment, "Urban Nests," currently in the prototype stage. If you look carefully at the drawings currently in the window, you can get a glimpse of what's to come. 

Comments

[Anonymous]

This guy is an amazing artist. I think he should put his drips up for auction!!!