Gallery East is an art and performance network based in Boston, Massachusetts notable for being one of the first venues to host hardcore punk rock shows for an all-ages audience.
Founded in 1979 by Duane Lucia and Al Ford, it closed its location at 24 East St. in 1983, but re-emerged in 2006 as a driving force that continues to support up and coming artists and performers.
[3][4] Early shows featured up and coming visual artists such as David Barbero, Al Ford, Armand Saiia, Susan Shup and Pablo Hurtado,[5] with some intermittent music performances by Gary Koepke, Samm Bennett, Paul Shapiro, and others.
[6] New young artists included Walter Tamasino, Kathy Hayes, Magnus Johnstone, Tony Millionaire, Mark Morrisroe, Steve Stain, Kevin Porter, Pia MacKenzie, Susan Hellewell and Robert Dombrowski.
[11][12] Art music, jazz and world sounds were also represented at the gallery with performances by Warren Senders, Raqib Hassan, Tony Vacca, Scott Robinson, Julian Thayer and others.
[16] In late August 1981, two local bands, SS Decontrol and The Freeze, took the stage at Gallery East and introduced hardcore punk to the city of Boston.
The Boston Hardcore crew invited nationally known acts, including Minor Threat, T.S.O.L., MDC, Meatmen, Government Issue, and Necros, to appear on the same bill.
The deco-style pointing index finger was from a shipping label used on freight boxes and was found in a desk when the gallery moved into the 24 East Street location.