Two sides to Every Coin-part 2
I figured PosterBoy should have a chance to answer the questions surrounding his arrest. We are happy to be able to provide PosterBoy the opportunity to tell his side of the story.
PAC-People are hearing rumors that you were arrested on Friday evening. Wanted to get the straight scoop directly from you.
PB-Henry Matyjewicz was arrested Friday night at 7:30pm, sent to central booking, then sent to Rikers. He was bailed on Sunday night, and was released Monday 2am.
PAC-Explain to everybody what you were doing the night of your arrest.
PB-Tossing back a couple of brewskies and watching Henry Matyjewicz get arrested for art crimes he didn’t commit.
PAC-Were you expecting a police presence at your first "real" exhibition in New York?
PB-First off the work was a live contribution from the Neo-Cons (Poster Boy, Aakash Nihalani, and Ellis Gallagher) to help raise money for Friends We Love. Since the flyer guaranteed Poster Boy’s presence we expected the police to come through.
Look at the piece that was put up. It would’ve been a success either way, but how “ironic” is that? Maybe too ironic. The party would’ve gone a lot smoother without an arrest, but it didn’t hurt the cause. It feels good to exploit the NYPD.
PAC-What were the police's reasons for arresting you?
PB-According to Henry they were trying to find Poster Boy. The plainclothes officers arrived around 7pm, like the flyer said, then started snooping around. They overheard Henry talking about the piece he helped install then arrested him. I reviewed the evidence presented by the NYPD through Henry’s account. They have a some random pics from the Lorimer stop on the L line of some vandalized advertisements and Henry’s grey hoody which is supposedly the same one from the youtube video. So basically they have nothing.
PAC-What is the best thing that's happened to you since being in jail?
PB-Henry’s arrest helped propagate the ideas behind Poster Boy. I hear the new Poster Boy movie is set to come out this summer. I hope it’s a trilogy. Thank you NYPD and Henry.
PAC-Did anyone buy the now notorious "the neocons did it" piece that you were making especially for the exhibition?
PB-No physical work of Poster Boy will ever be sold or privately owned. The piece will be recycled and used for other work.
PAC-In your own words, what does this arrest mean to you and in relation to your work?
PB-More visibility. This will help the public see and understand the issues at hand. It’s unfortunate that Henry was arrested, but there comes a time in a person’s life when their beliefs are put to the test. Henry Matyjewicz passed with flying colors.
PAC-Any last thoughts you might like to ad?
PB-The only thing that could match the NYPD’s shit investigation is the New York Post’s shit reporting.
PB-Of course I’m not surprised. It’s the New York Post.
PAC-People are hearing rumors that you were arrested on Friday evening. Wanted to get the straight scoop directly from you.
PB-Henry Matyjewicz was arrested Friday night at 7:30pm, sent to central booking, then sent to Rikers. He was bailed on Sunday night, and was released Monday 2am.
PAC-Explain to everybody what you were doing the night of your arrest.
PB-Tossing back a couple of brewskies and watching Henry Matyjewicz get arrested for art crimes he didn’t commit.
PAC-Were you expecting a police presence at your first "real" exhibition in New York?
PB-First off the work was a live contribution from the Neo-Cons (Poster Boy, Aakash Nihalani, and Ellis Gallagher) to help raise money for Friends We Love. Since the flyer guaranteed Poster Boy’s presence we expected the police to come through.
Look at the piece that was put up. It would’ve been a success either way, but how “ironic” is that? Maybe too ironic. The party would’ve gone a lot smoother without an arrest, but it didn’t hurt the cause. It feels good to exploit the NYPD.
PAC-What were the police's reasons for arresting you?
PB-According to Henry they were trying to find Poster Boy. The plainclothes officers arrived around 7pm, like the flyer said, then started snooping around. They overheard Henry talking about the piece he helped install then arrested him. I reviewed the evidence presented by the NYPD through Henry’s account. They have a some random pics from the Lorimer stop on the L line of some vandalized advertisements and Henry’s grey hoody which is supposedly the same one from the youtube video. So basically they have nothing.
PAC-What is the best thing that's happened to you since being in jail?
PB-Henry’s arrest helped propagate the ideas behind Poster Boy. I hear the new Poster Boy movie is set to come out this summer. I hope it’s a trilogy. Thank you NYPD and Henry.
PAC-Did anyone buy the now notorious "the neocons did it" piece that you were making especially for the exhibition?
PB-No physical work of Poster Boy will ever be sold or privately owned. The piece will be recycled and used for other work.
PAC-In your own words, what does this arrest mean to you and in relation to your work?
PB-More visibility. This will help the public see and understand the issues at hand. It’s unfortunate that Henry was arrested, but there comes a time in a person’s life when their beliefs are put to the test. Henry Matyjewicz passed with flying colors.
PAC-Any last thoughts you might like to ad?
PB-The only thing that could match the NYPD’s shit investigation is the New York Post’s shit reporting.
PB-Of course I’m not surprised. It’s the New York Post.
Labels: Friends We Love, interviews, MTA, New York, NYPD, Poster Boy
2 Comments:
That was brilliant.
Reminiscent of Fight Club.
I am Henry Matyjewicz.
You are Henry.
She is Henry.
Everyone is Henry.
Last night before a benefit he was scheduled to participate in at a loft in Soho, the street artist known as Poster Boy was arrested by an undercover cop. Poster Boy was listed on a flyer for the event, a festival put on for Friends We Love, a series of videos documenting the process of a dozen different artists, including Poster Boy, who talked with us just last week.
Photographer Jim Kiernan tipped us off to the arrest. He arrived at event at Broadway and Howard Street to meet up with Poster Boy around 7 p.m., but police had already arrived after spotting the Poster Boy's name on the flyer. Kiernan says, "There was an undercover cop on the block and they came and picked him up. As far as I know, he's still in Central Booking right now and waiting to get in front of a judge...It's the second time they've gotten him."
There doesn't appear to be one specific piece or incident that triggered the arrest, but Kiernan wonders if it might have something to do with Poster Boy's recent move above ground, taking his "photochop" style and applying it to a Van Wagner billboard in Brooklyn. He told us, "He's f*ckin with money. He's cutting up advertising. Advertisers aren't happy about that. And I'm sure the Van Wagner people weren't thrilled."
Friends are waiting for Poster Boy to go before a judge and have bail set with hopes that it will happen today, but fearing that it may not be until Monday. Collaborating artists Ellis G. and Aakash Nihalani photochopped up a couple of impromptu pieces at last night's event declaring "Free Poster Boy!" and "NYPD=Joke". When asked if he thought the arrest would deter Poster Boy, Kiernan said, "It definitely won't—no way. His whole concept is that it's a movement. It's bigger than him."
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