spray-paint and acrylics on canvas

78.7 x 57.1 inches

Making oneself heard by means of slingshots, iron bars, pistols and rifles was not uncommon among New York gangs. The battles between the Irish Dead Rabbits from the notorious Five Points slum and the rivaling Bowery Boys who were close to the Native American Party, are legendary and were extensively shown and, of course, embellished in Martin Scorsese's film „Gangs of New York“. 

In fact, the fights between the rival gangs have been documented by historians, police documentaries and eyewitness accounts. The hail of stones used in such skirmishes were also known as Irish Confetti. The squabbles of the Metropolitan and Municipal Police also provided gangs with welcome cause to target rival adversaries now undisturbed. 

In one of these gang wars, the Dead Rabbit Riots of 1857, an overconfident Bowery Boy stalked in front of instead of behind his own gang's protective street barricade and hit two Dead Rabbits with well-aimed pistol shots. The little brother of a Dead Rabbit, however, finally took heart and sent the cocky Bowery Boy into the realm of dreams with a well-aimed stone throw.