Keith Haring

An invitation to the Sound Factory Halloween event, designed by Keith Haring.

• Keith Haring (American, 1958-1990).
• Reads “Keith Haring & Sound Factory Invite You to A Special Halloween Costume Party on Halloween!!”
• Offset printed invitation.

In 1988, Junior Vasquez and nightlife impresario Christine Visca opened and closed Bassline, a small club that attracted the attention of Phil Smith, a co-owner of Paradise Garage, where Vasquez was studying how Haring’s close friend DJ Larry Levan had the crowd going crazy every Saturday at Paradise Garage. Richard Grant joined the team the next year and brought management skills learned in the business world. In 1989, they opened Sound Factory in a converted warehouse at 530 W. 27th St., at a time when the far west side of Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood was still an abandoned urban wasteland. By not serving alcohol, the club could skirt the mandatory Sunday closing between 4AM and 8AM, thereby merging the underground vibe of an afterhours club with a big room attendance. By 8AM, the dance floor was packed, and stayed that way until well into Sunday afternoon.