RIP 5 Pointz

"Days after a rally where supporters promised to save it, Long Island City graffiti destination 5 Pointz is now being painted white. The "official" 5 Pointz NYC twitter acocunt noted that the painting occurred overnight, "with police protection." More painting is going on now with security present. 

The warehouse will be razed to make way for luxury condos, by the Wolkoff family who owns the property. The City Council approved the plan, noting 1,000 union jobs would be created, plus there would be 12,000 square feet of art space, 10,000 square feet of external panels for aerosol art, and 32,000 square feet of public space."

5ptz 
[gothamist]

Maurice Sendak 1928-2012

Author, illustrator, designer, raconteur, wit, and friend to countless, Maurice Sendak died on the morning of May 8, 2012, in Danbury, Connecticut, from complications of a stroke.

"I have nothing now but praise for my life. I'm not unhappy. I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can't stop them. They leave me and I love them more," said Sendak .

Lucian Freud 1922 – 2011

"Lucian Freud, one of the seminal British painters of the 20th century, and a grandson of Sigmund Freud, died July 20 at 88 in London. But more must be said about Freud, a Realist painter whose work has been compared to that of American master Edward Hopper and whose outsized personality will guarantee a long afterlife in the British consciousness."

[Eulogizer]

Cy Twombly, 1928-2011

"Cy Twombly, a Virginia-born, American artist whose deceptively simple scrawls, smudges and sculptural shapes made him one of the most significant artistic figures of the past 50 years, died July 5 in Rome. He was 83 and had cancer."

Cy
[WashPo/boingboing]

Harvey Pekar 1939-2010

"Harvey Pekar, 70, the graphic novelist whose autobiographical comic book "American Splendor" chronicled his life as a filing clerk, record collector, freelance jazz critic and one of life's all around misfits, was found dead early today at his home in suburban Cleveland."

[Cleveland.com]

"Comics are words and pictures. You can do anything with words and pictures" - HP

Louise Bourgeois

"French-born American artist Louise Bourgeois, 98, died Monday of a heart attack. Her works are in the permanent collections of such museums as Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, The Tate Modern, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and The National Gallery of Art among many many others.

She is survived by sons Alain and Jean-Louis, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her son Michel died in 1990.

She continued creating art until her death."

[Washington Post/NY Times]

Once Upon a Time...

Jeanne-Claude [Denat de Guillebon] 1935-2009, died suddenly November 18, 2009 as a result of of complications due to a ruptured brain aneurysm

Christo is deeply saddened by the passing of his wife, partner and collaborator and is committed to honor the promise they made to each other many years ago: The art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude will continue.

Christo is dedicated to completing their current works in progress: Over The River, and The Mastaba, Jeanne-Claude would wish.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude met in Paris, France in November, 1958, sharing the same date of birth and have worked together for 51 years creating temporary works of art.

RIP Bea

Washington Post

Brandon Bird

Robert Rauschenberg, 1925-2008

found via Boing Boing ... via NY Magazine...