“Ziti Love ”
The other day , I was going through stuff ; cleaning up and throwing things away , when I came across this image . It was like unearthing , something from Pompeii , for me . It’s a terrible photograph , shot at the end of a roll of color film but one of my favorite pieces of graffiti art , ever .
It also , was like a touch stone ; I remembered having my first “real camera ” and strolling around New York , shooting pictures of weird things , that appealed , only to me . There used to be a local , funky , hangout called the ” Lambda Bar ” , till the Lambda fell off the front of the building , one day and it , then became ; “The
Bar . ” It was located on 2nd Ave. and 6th St. and you would go there to meet with friends and just, the regulars ; people from The Lower East Side . I think it’s the last place , I can remember , running into Peter Hujar , for instance . Well , any way ; once , I had to use the bathroom and I noticed this little piece of graffiti , so , of course , I got out my camera ( no flash ) and took this picture with the last , possible frame .
I think , it was probably scrawled on the stall by one of the neighborhood , Italian kids ; who’d found his temporary , soul mate . I wish I knew , for certain , because ; I would love to give the artist credit . I really think it’s brilliant and very funny .
Someone , even mentioned it to me one day , because they’d seen it and really liked it , too . They were one of the old timers , as well . I told them I had a photo of it , somewhere and promised to share it with them , so : here it is . You know , who you are .
The artifact from the days , when the village , was still “The Village” and everyone , knew everyone , else . A time when there were endless clubs and night spots , then the after hours places but it was all the same characters , that would show up .
If you were broke , the local bars would have Sunday specials and all you had to do , was pick up an empty beer can and carry it around , in order , to take advantage of the “free buffets. ” Rents were also , very inexpensive , especially on The Lower East Side . I knew some people who actually , lived rent free , because the landlords were too frightened , to go there , to try and collect .
Then , there was the Fillmore East , where all the psychedelic posters by Bill Graham , were just , strewn all over the ground , free for the taking . Who knew , they’d be so collectible ?
Also , The Electric Circus on St. Marks place was going full blast with the smaller space : The Dom , downstairs , underneath it , where Andy Warhols’ Plastic Fantastic Explosion debuted Lou Reed and The Velvet Plastic Underground !
If you ever want to see a glimpse of the Old , St. Marks Place , in the East Village check out the clip on Google ; Joe Dallesandro / Trash , then look for Joe Dallesandro and Andrea Feldman http://www.56.com/u64/v_MjI4Njk2Njk.html there’s a scene of Joe Dellesandro on St. Marks Place, from about 1970 . You’ll get an idea of what it was like then .
I know , I must sound like an old Austrian immigrant , reminiscing about the Danube , when it was actually blue . This would be a fairly , accurate comparison but for my nephew and some of the other , younger people , I know ; who like these kinds of tales from the “olden days ” or for me the “golden daze ,” I will indulge myself .
Here’s an early black and white Polaroid , photograph of me and Larry Happl ( the first guy I lived with , in New York ) in Central Park , from that time zone . Yes , I went everywhere dressed like that , including the biggest of night clubs ;, like Max’s Kansas City , even ! LOL !
Well , so much for nostalgia …………..
Tags: "Ziti Love ", 1970, black and white, Bruce Eyster, Central Park, color, gay, grafiti, hippies, Joe Dellesandro, Larry Happl, long hair, Lower East Side, Max's Kansas City, New York City, nostalgia, photograph, Polaroid, The Bar, The Lambda Bar, Warhol