All posts tagged: Mister Alek

The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023 – Recap

The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023 – Recap

Following the evolution of The Bushwick Collective and its annual block party in Brooklyn has been a captivating journey akin to an anthropological exploration into the growing embrace of street art and murals within the realms of graffiti and HipHop. Back in the day, as the neighborhood began transforming with the influx of gentrifiers, street art faced outright dismissal or was treated as a rare phenomenon, a curiosity.

Unaware of the previous codes that roughly governed the practices of graffiti writers on the street, art-students-cum-street-art-poets often obtusely stomped their way into public view to circumvent a gallery system and to express their right to self-expression in public; something HipHop culture had been encouraging for years but had perhaps not envisioned this way. The rivalry between graffiti aficionados and street artists/muralists was sometimes palpable, with throwies vandalizing fresh paint, the OGs asserting territorial dominance, and at times, even resorting to threats and insults in person and in online forums.

Huetek celebrating the location of the so-called ‘Birth of HipHop’, 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

As the block party, now in its twelfth year, unfolded, its early editions predominantly featured international and some local street artists eagerly seeking out BC’s visionary leader, Joe Ficalora, for an opportunity to leave their mark on his neighborhood walls. Local street art forums found fault with Ficalora, masking a barely hidden contempt for a streetwise guy taking a leadership role and betraying their own classist privileged opinions about the right to curation. That has all melted appreciably; this year’s event evidenced the remarkable shift that has been underway. Graffiti writers took the stage alongside the muralists in prime spots, sometimes seamlessly collaborating to create art transcending boundaries, all while the electrifying sounds of live HipHop performances reverberated through the air and TikTokers danced in front of them.

SEPC. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Let’s raise a bottle to those who always believed in the possibility of this transformative phenomenon, and to those who championed inclusivity over exclusivity. It’s yet another reason why our hearts beat for this extraordinary international art movement, the embodiment of the people’s democratic spirit and the unlimited creative spirit that is in every person. And most importantly, it’s a reminder of why we hold you dear.

SEPC. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tymon De Laat. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
V Ballentine. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes – recreating an iconic New York deli exterior in all its glory. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hodder. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hodder. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Vexta. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Vexta. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dasic Fernandez. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Enjoy Hads. Six Million Dollar Steve. Mr. Makro. Brandy. Creating a tribute to David Jude Jolicoeur, who rapped as Trugoy the Dove in the trio De La Soul. He passed away in February at 54. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Enjoy Hads. Six Million Dollar Steve. Mr. Makro. Brandy. Creating a tribute to David Jude Jolicoeur, who rapped as Trugoy the Dove in the trio De La Soul. He passed away in February at 54. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Enjoy Hads. Six Million Dollar Steve. Mr. Makro. Brandy. Creating a tribute to David Jude Jolicoeur, who rapped as Trugoy the Dove in the trio De La Soul. He passed away in February at 54. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Enjoy Hads. Six Million Dollar Steve. Mr. Makro. Brandy. Creating a tribute to David Jude Jolicoeur, who rapped as Trugoy the Dove in the trio De La Soul. He passed away in February at 54. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mate Artist. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mate Artist. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cody James. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Corey Pane. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Corey Pane. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Blob. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Blob. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Blob. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mister Alek. TankOne. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mister Alek. TankOne. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 08.22.21

BSA Images Of The Week: 08.22.21

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Did you catch the celebrities singing in Central Park last night before the rains of Hurricane Henri reached New York? Talk about electricity in the air! New York is a magnet for a pretty face, it would appear, and a grizzly or wild one too; and our street art proves it. Just a quick survey of murals in Brooklyn this week turns up many a fun face.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Adam Fujita, Anthony Zpadilla, CP Won, Damien Mitchell, David Puck, Dwag Star, Jeyde, Lorenzo Masnah, Mister Alek, NotBanksy, Numak1, Outer Source, Outer Source, Reme821, Sef01, Sipros, United Crushers, and Vers718.

David Puck (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sef01 (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mister Alek for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Numak1 for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sipros for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sipros for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Reme821 (photo © Jaime Rojo)
CPWon (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Damien Mitchell (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lorenzo Masnah for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lorenzo Masnah for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Adam Fujita (photo © Jaime Rojo)
We can’t read this tag…help please. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Outer Source (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Vers718 (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dawg Star doggie style… (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jeyde (photo © Jaime Rojo)
United Crushers (photo © Jaime Rojo)
#notbanksy (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Anthony Zpadilla (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Manhattan. August 2021. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 08.15.21

BSA Images Of The Week: 08.15.21

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Here we are, precisely on the 50th anniversary of Nixon’s shocking removal of the dollar from the gold standard. Seems like everything is going well with fiat currency and the banking system, right?

Ah, never mind, there’s gold in these here streets.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring 4sakn, Adrian Wilson, Against Dgrams, Billy Barnacles, Captain Eyeliner, Corn Queen, De Grupo, DLove, Eye Sticker, Goblin, Mister Alek, Moka, More Less Eveything, Plannedalism, Sara Lynne Leo, Stikman, Sule, The Art of Will Power, Trace1, Werd Smoker, and Winston Tseng .

Goblin (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Midnight Cowboy’s Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. Goblin (photo © Jaime Rojo)
The beloved Biz Markie, who passed in July. The Art of Will Power (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Biz Markie gets his wings. The Art of Will Power (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sule Cant Cook (photo © Jaime Rojo)
De Grupo (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Corn Queen (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Corn Queen (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Corn Queen (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Moka (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Against Dgrams. Mister Alek. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Adrian Wilson in collaboration with The LISA Project NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Billy Barnacles (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sara Lynne-Leo (photo © Jaime Rojo)
4sakn CBS. Trace1. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
More Less Everything (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Winston Tseng (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Winston Tseng (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Werd Smoker (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Collaboration between Eye Sticker & Billy Barnacles. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Collaboration between Eye Sticker & Billy Barnacles. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Stikman (photo © Jaime Rojo)
DLove (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Captain Eyeliner (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Captain Eyeliner. Some rascal edited the text by adding and subtracting letters. The original text read: “Oh no I look incredible”. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Still life with Queen Anne Lace & Sunflowers. Summer 2021. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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