The beloved mural, which served as a warning to crack cocaine addiction, has. Keith harings crack is wack from illegal to protected. Keith harings iconic crack is wack mural in east harlem. Keith harings iconic east harlem mural, crack is wack. Its been 33 years since keith haring painted his crack is wack mural on a handball court near the harlem river drive in east harlem, and now the iconic work is getting a. Made in 1986 on a handball court in east harlem, new york, at east 128th street and the harlem river drive, the now legendary crack is wack mural was inspired by the crack epidemic and its effect on new york city. Keith haring first painted his iconic crack is wack mural in june of 1986 as a response to witnessing, firsthand, the crack epidemic ravaging communities, and the ineffectual and devastating policies of the u. The authorized biography john gruen in harings words. One of new york citys most famous murals, keith harings crack is wack, is getting a welldeserved touchup.
Keith haring crack is wack, 1986, handball court at 128th street and 2nd avenue, new york, photo. A rare look at keith harings original crack is wack mural. Keith haring painting crack is wack, june 1986 keith haring first painted his iconic crack is wack mural in june of 1986 as a response to witnessing, firsthand, the crack epidemic ravaging communities, and the ineffectual and devastating policies of the u. For one, it probably has more daily views than any other mural in nyc, due to its location next to passing cars on the harlem river drive in manhattan at 128th street. Keith haring came up with his celebrated crack is wack mural in 1986, at a deserted handball court located. The mural was immediately put under the protection and jurisdiction of the city department of parks and still exists.
Crack is wack is arguably known as keith haring s most legendary work and the most iconic mural in new york city. Located at east 128 th street and 2 nd avenue in east harlem, new york city, the mural serves as a warning against crack cocaine use, which was rampant in major cities across the united states during the mid to late 1980s. The painting has been undergoing a monthslong restoration undertaken by the artist louise hunnicutt, supported by the keith haring foundation. Keith haring crack is wack mural in harlem 1986 youtube. Keith harings crack is wack in harlem, 1986 posted on 01032014 by leave a reply famed graffiti artist keith haring 19581990 painted this fanciful mural, located at east 128th street and the harlem river drive, in 1986. Where to see the crack is wack mural and more keith haring. Located at east 128th street and 2nd avenue in east harlem, new. Located at east 128th street and 2nd avenue in east harlem, new york city, the mural serves as a warning against crack cocaine use, which was rampant in major cities across the united states during the mid to late 1980s. Graffiti hall of fame park ave, new york, ny 10029. Crack is a highly potent, addictive, and dangerous form of smokable cocaine whose use reached epidemic proportions in the mid to late 1980s. The instructive and inspiring work, painted in 1986 on an 16by26foot abandoned handball court wall in east harlem, has remained in its place as a bright orange warning to children in the neighborhood, although over the years it has suffered from natural deterioration.
Keith haring was born on may 4, 1958 in reading, pennsylvania. See keith harings newly restored crack is wack mural. Pop culture reference, viral video year 2002 origin primtime interview with diane sawyer tags catchphrase, crack, wack, whack, crackhead crack is whack is mural painted in the 1986 by keith haring that inspierd a quote by whitney houston in a 2002 interview with diane sawyer making the words infamous. One morning, during the summer of 1986, he drove a rented van loaded with some ladders from his studio and some new fluorescent orange paint he had bought up to harlem to paint. Crack is wack is a mural created in 1986 by the street artist and social activist keith haring. Keith harings 1986 mural crack is wack, which turned an east harlem handball court into a contemporary art pilgrimage site, is a vital piece of nyc activism. Artist keith haring painted his famous crack is wack mural in 1986, at an abandoned handball court along the harlem river drive. When i discovered this wall, it was a handball court that was more or less abandoned and which didnt have a fence around it. The design is composed of harings signature kinetic figures and abstract forms in bold outlines, cautioning youth against crack, an addictive and dangerous form of cocaine whose use had reached epidemic proportions. One of new york citys most famous murals, keith haring s crack is wack, is getting a welldeserved touchup.
Keith haring rare original keith haring vinyl record art. Nyctv, the cityrun television station, has produced a video about the mural s restoration. The instructive and inspiring work, painted in 1986 on an 16by26foot abandoned handball court wall in east harlem, has remained in its place as. First painted on an east harlem handball court in 1986, keith harings vibrant work crack is wack is being restored to inspire generations to. The doublesided murals location in manhattan on 128th street, next to the incessant passing of cars on harlem river drive, possibly plays a huge role in this, gathering more daily views than any other mural in the city. A brief history the historic 1986 mural, done in harings signature style of thick black outlines, bright colors and intermingling, cartoonlike bodies, was painted to send a serious antidrug message to the community. The crack is wack mural in new york city is more than just one of the most recognized works by the legendary keith haring. In 1986, artist keith haring painted a mural called crack is wack on the wall of a handball court in manhattan. These images taken by photographer juan rivera, only recently available through getty, show haring at work and reveal a different version of the now iconic mural, before it was vandalized, buffed and repainted. How louise hunnicutt brought keith harings crack is wack. Crack is wack mural by keith haring finally getting face. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. East harlems crack is wack mural is being restored.
Crack is wack mural restored in east harlem, city says. Worlds best painters for top creative practitioners, see. Haring painted the crack is wack mural in a single day. East 128th street and the harlem river drive, painted in 1986. Its a piece of art that has defined the generation of the 1980s and. Mural this mural 1986 on handball court at 128th street and 2nd avenue was inspired by the crack epidemic and its effect on new york city. Haring s mural cautions youth against the drugs use.
A doublesided work of art, keith harings crack is wack mural is considered to be one of new yorks most iconic pieces of street art. While painting the mural he was arrested and fined. Murals crack is wack historic districts councils six. Completed in the summer of 1986, the priceless handball court mural. The parable of the crack is wack mural and keith haring might aptly begin with its inception in 1986, a pivotal yearthe pivotal year in the trajectory of crack, urban spaces, and their residents. It was created as a warning and was initially executed independently, without city permission. Keith haring s internationally renowned crack is wack mural first painted on the wall of an east harlem handball court in 1986 is finally getting a facelift. This mural 1986 on handball court at 128th street and 2nd avenue was inspired by the crack epidemic and its effect on new york city. On this day, harings legitimate international career as an artist mattered little. The crack is wack mural is a lasting reminder of harings art, which first arose in public spaces and continues to instruct and inspire through its wit and vibrancy.
Keith harings crack is wack mural on the handball courts in east harlem is now fully restored. Iconic crack is wack keith haring mural is back gothamist. His originally unauthorized 1986 crack is wack mural at a playground on the fdr drive and 12. A restored version of keith harings 1986 mural crack is wack photo by the author for hyperallergic i saw it, and i thought. Restoration completed on keith harings mural crack is. Best murals and street art in new york you can see. It was at the end of the day that a police officer arrested haring for defacing public property and gave him a court date. At the time, the artists assistant benny was also struggling to curb his addiction without insurance and hospital assistance. Keith haring crack is wack mural origin story complex. When i discovered this wall, it was a handball court that was more or less abandoned and.
Famed graffiti artist keith haring 19581990 painted this fanciful mural, located at east 128th street and the harlem river drive, in 1986. Keith harings crack is wack mural is completely restored. Keith harings internationally renowned crack is wack mural first painted on the wall of an east harlem handball court in 1986 is finally getting a facelift. The restoration of keith harings iconic crack is wack 1986 mural in new york is approaching conclusion, according to the citys parks department. The restoration of keith harings crack is wack mural is. Haring painted crack is wack without asking for permission. Back in the summer of 1986, artist keith haring illegally painted his crack is wack mural on an abandoned handball court in a park near harlem river drive in one day.
Harings crack is wack mural is being restored the new. And because the wall looks like a big billboard on the highway, its perfect for a painting. Originally painted back in 1986, in recent years keith harings crack is wack mural underwent a longdeserved touchup. The story behind keith harings original crack is wack mural. Another project of 1986 was my mural called crack is wack, which is located on the east harlem drive at 128th street. A restoration of the historic, twosided mural crack is wack by keith haring was underway on the east harlem handball court located on harlem river drive at 128th street second avenue. It might also be the most famous mural in new york city. Located in harlem, new york, crack is wack is the ironic mural by keith haring also known as the most legendary artwork of the littlemen artist. One of harings canvases, a handball court wall located at east 128th street and harlem river drive, became a mural titled crack is wack. The artist, who had become well known for his graffiti drawings in the citys streets and subways and had just opened the pop shop in soho as a vehicle to make his work more accessible, was cited for disorderly conduct for painting a. Crack is wack playground earned its distinctive name after artist keith haring 19581990 painted the nowfamous crack is wack mural in 1986 on the handball court walls. Keith harings crack is wack mural in new york city gets a second. The mural, done in harings signature style of thick black outlines, bright colors and intermingling, cartoonlike bodies, was painted to send a serious antidrug message to the community. In the summer of 1986, without any legal permission to paint a mural, haring boldly climbed a ladder and finished the painting in one day.
Keith haring was born on may 4, 1958 in reading, pennsylvania, and grew up in the neighboring town of kutztown. The mural was so visible, the message so strong, that local news outlets used the image in their news stories about the crack. Crack is wack is back the artist keith haring died of aids on february 16, 1990, at age 31. Harings famous mural on the wall of a handball court in harlem, ny. Keith harings crack is wack mural in new york city gets a. Crack is wack is arguably keith harings bestknown work. The story behind the keith harings crack is wack mural. Haring s source of inspiration was benny, his assistant, who started to use crack becoming, shortly after, a drug addict. Reports harlem, ny artist keith harings famous 1986 mural at an east harlem handball court will be restored to its original glory. The doublesided crack is wack mural in new york is one of the most famous keith haring works of all time.