Bee Scene: Accessible Art for All

Over the past week, there’s been a lot of press surrounding street artist Keith Haring, whose 50th birthday would have been on May 4th. Haring died from AIDS-related illnesses in 1990 at age 31 and devoted his life to creating art in public spaces around New York City, living up to his belief that art should be accessible to all.

I first remember seeing Keith Haring’s artwork as a teenager in the early 1990s, when it was animated for MTV’s use in public service announcements about AIDS, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was at an all-time high.

For your own tour of Keith Haring artwork around NYC, start here at neighborbeeblog! Last week I wrote about walking tours. In keeping with that theme, here’s where you can stroll about and see Keith Haring’s work –for free– all over New York City.

Keith Haring Bathroom, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 West 13th Street (A/C/L/1/2/3 trains to 14th Street)

In 1989, Haring and 50 other artists honored the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots by painting every room of the LGBT Center. Haring painted the top half of an entire bathroom on the second floor. The LGBT Center has preserved this artwork, although the bathroom has since been renovated into a meeting space.

To see this amazing work (pictured above), visit the Information & Referral Desk on the first floor of the LGBT Center. The staff is happy to show you the room as long as no meetings are taking place at that time. The LGBT Center is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, 3 Clarkson Street & 7th Avenue South (1 train to Houston Street)

From the LGBT Center, walk south on 7th Avenue South in West Village and turn right onto Clarkson Street. On your right, you’ll see see a playground that contains a large mural that Haring painted three years before his death.

Homage to Keith Haring, Houston Street and Bowery (F/V trains to 2nd Avenue)

Since you’re already downtown, you may as well visit an homage to Keith Haring’s work. Walk east across Houston Street to see a recently commissioned work by The Keith Haring Foundation, Deitch Projects and Goldman Properties, who honored Haring’s 50th birthday with a large mural, a reproduction of a Haring work that existed 25 years ago. It can be seen now at Houston Street between Bowery and 2nd Avenue until December 21st.

Crack is Wack Playground, Harlem River Park, East Harlem:

In 1986, Haring painted a mural on the playground at this East Harlem park. According to the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation site, Haring painted this mural “to call attention to the damage drugs can inflict on community welfare.” The mural was restored by the Keith Haring Foundation in 1995 for the enjoyment by future parkgoers.

To access this playground, take the 6 train to 125th Street. The park is located at 2nd Avenue and East 127th Street.

I am a huge fan of street art and plan to visit all these sites in the near future and photograph them. I currently have a small collection of Haring’s work that you can visit on my Flickr.

Know where to find more of Keith Haring’s work? Add it in the comments!