In this episode of “I Was There”, VICE meets Chris Pape, a renowned artist known for his graffiti work in the “Freedom Tunnel”. The tunnel runs under Riverside Park in Manhattan and was used for freight trains until its closure in the 1980s. Once closed, a community of homeless people began to flourish. Chris Pape talks about his experience with this community and the art he practiced there until the tunnel completely shuttered a decade later.
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I remember this was explored in the episode of MTV's Downtown
🔥🔥🔥
Had they never invented spray paint. We'd have so many nice things still
Important message of the day: HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE TOO AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH
There's a documentary somewhere on yt about some of those guys who lived in those tunnels. It focused on a few specifically, and their lives in the tunnel and after in section 8, getting drug free, etc.
Such a tumultuous time but such a great time for art and free expression in the city. Now it’s just Disney World with no life, no culture, just pure consumerism.
Vice please make more of these
I need a creative space like this. We all do, I bet. That rendition of Goya's Third of May was arresting–I had to pause and take it in. I'm so glad this footage exists so that we can marvel at such a magical phenomenon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUrGAguaNqk
To get more of that "Old-School New York City feel", watch 'Jane Child – Don't Wanna Fall in Love'.
Graffiti is letters I didn't see nothing but mural style art
I bet the people who ran off the mole people claim they're Christian.
Truely inspirational portrayal of youth in NYC
After decades of fame, Amtrak painted over most of Chris's pieces a few years ago. That spot still has a lot of graffiti history left in it though, not everything was buffed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLWjrfJxSVc
I like how freedom is telling his story but hate how the spot is getting all this attraction.
Kids back in the day. Breaking into subway tunnels kids now “let me watch another kid play with a toy on YouTube” lol not to hate it’s just so intense
Eh.
Bernie sanders younger brother was a tagger 😕 😕
Great story Freedom 2bad wee didn't hook up b4 I left NYC in 1986 ,,,respect 2u from Mack-Tatscru
Pass him by and tell me you would know he was a graffiti writer.. Seen his work and the guy's good.
Wow the memories ❤️
Whoever steve 161 is hes a legend
🗽🌉🌃🧱🚇🧱🖼🖼🖼👨🏽🎨🎨🖌🥫📸🧐👍🏽
another graff legend wow…
Love this man! In Amsterdam * * * we also have a graffiti history in the subway tunnels.
Legendary.
Took me most the video to work out who he sounds like. Seth Rogan!