By Jessica Brockington
Street artist Hons Honschar was back in action on Friday in front of Zabar’s spreading a little Shabbat love.
Hans says the police gave his art materials back after they were confiscated by officers in Brooklyn a few weeks ago, and he wanted to thank Upper West Siders and West Side Rag readers in particular for their support.
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I enjoy art in public spaces. Thanks
Love it when I come upon his work. Always a cheerful sign of life!
Glad he’s back! Love the chalk drawings.
I wonder if a person of color would be able to get away with this. Is this art or vandalism and who gets to decide?
Is this legal? Does he have permission from the City to draw on the sidewalks?
He had a drawing last weekend in front of Steps on Broadway: “Dancers are the athletes of God.”
Yay! Glad to see his work will be back in the neighborhood again.
how can you find out where he will be next?
I enjoy some of his drawings – but that phrase is pretty lame.
Nice to look down and see something lovely instead of dog poop!
I saw him doing his work in front of a AT&T cell phone store on Amsterdam last Thursday and witnessed this crazy interaction:
Manager of Store: You can’t do this here! I want you to leave!
Artist: Why?
Manager: Because I want you to, either leave or I will call 311.
Artist: Tell me what is your name?
Manager: What does that matter? Please leave!
Artist: You seem like you need medication, are you under a lot of stress? You need to let it go, just don’t get so worked up over small stuff.
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Mark, curious why you think the phrase is lame? He is wishing folks a peaceful Saturday!
Mimi – I was referring to “Dancers are the athletes of God”.
Unfortunately it seems that yet again we can’t add a comment to a previous comment.
I wish WSR would fix this.
Chalk on, sir! Love to see your work.
And son what do you want to do when you grow up.
I want to draw on the filthy, grimy, smelly sidewalks of NYC.
I encourage Hons to draw some trees at 79th Street & Columbus where the museum proposes to cut the real ones down.
Maybe that would help President Futter and the other trustees to see the folly of their ways.
Would Hans put a warning on the sidewalk in front of Fairway on Broadway warning all not to leave their handbags unattended.
Numbers 4 and 15 above: good points.
I have no idea why anyone would criticize this kind of whimsical endeavor. It cheers me up to see a positive point of view expressed in living color. “Shabbat shalom” in front of Zabar’s? This man’s work makes me smile. As for the individuals who think an individual of color couldn’t get away with this — BAH. That is simply not the case. Is it really against the law to use chalk on sidewalks? What about the hopscotch games on the side streets? They make me happy, too.
Hooray!! So glad he’s back with his supplies!!!
For Mark and WestSide_Mimi (in case this doesn’t add on to your previous comments): The reference to a dancer as “an athlete of God” comes from a 1953 essay by Martha Graham – you can read the full essay here: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5065006