Born out of the crumbling buildings that spawned punk and post punk at CBGBs, the explosive creativity of a small group of artists became such a powerful sub-culture, that the art market had to take notice. From 3rd Street to Wall Street.

The consumption of their work by initially an independent collective, inevitably was swallowed whole by the establishment. Schisms formed as a consequence of this commercial success, between its original and early members.

Their ‘Time Square Show’ of 1980, held in an abandoned massage parlour at 41st and 7th was described by arts journalist Elena Martinique as ‘Collaborative, self-curated and self-generated. This seminal group exhibition transcended trappings of class and cultures, and brought together people who would not necessarily come together under any other circumstances’.

Of course the story of the East Village is a cautionary one. It is a tale about how an underground art movement can be; and often is, co-opted by success, and how artists and galleries end up victims of the gentrification they help bring about.

The genuine and subversive creativity of a small and passionate collective, now reduced to so many screen prints on so many caps and t-shirts and tote bags.