All posts tagged: The Bushwick Collective

Photos of BSA #2 : The Boy, Jean Michael Basquiat

Photos of BSA #2 : The Boy, Jean Michael Basquiat

We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!


It is reported that as a child of 6, Brooklyn’s Basquiat became a junior member of the Brooklyn Museum, thanks to his mom Matilde. Helping him discover and explore artists work and his own creativity was foundational to his later development in studio and as a street artist, along with partner Al Diaz as part of SAMO@. This year Jean Micheal’s sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Basquiat expanded and more fully recounted his personal story for many thousands of his fans, art world documentarians, and educators with their touring King Pleasure exhibition.

Seeing this image of Basquiat as a boy reminds us that children’s creativity should be encouraged and nurtured, no matter what field they pursue. For artist SEF 1, who painted this mural, it was his connection to the graffiti and street art story that compelled him to do this portrait on the street. “It seemed to me that I owed him this last tribute in which I present him as a child, with the innocence of kid who dreams of being someday a great artist making drawings in his notebooks, creating the basis of his adult artistic practice.”

SEF.01 for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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Photos of BSA #5 : Mike Makatron and an Astronaut in Bushwick

Photos of BSA #5 : Mike Makatron and an Astronaut in Bushwick

We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!


“I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.”

– First man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, in a speech to Congress, September, 1969. In a speech to Congress (16 Sep 1969).

Mike Makatron for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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Photos of 2023 on BSA – #10: Huetek’s Hip Hop Roll Call of 520 Sedgwick Ave.

Photos of 2023 on BSA – #10: Huetek’s Hip Hop Roll Call of 520 Sedgwick Ave.

We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!


You heard it all year in 2023 – this has been the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop. There has been an endless parade of commemorations taking many forms all over the city, although people like KRS-One want to know where everybody was during the first 49. But that train already left the station, so scold all you want.

This summer in Bushwick, Brooklyn, artist Huetek unveiled a mural that’s a true nod to the origins and icons of Hip Hop. Crafted in the vibrant lead-up to Joe Ficalora’s annual block party, this piece is a treasure trove for those steeped in Hip Hop lore. At its heart is 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, revered as the cradle of Hip Hop.

Huetek’s mural is more than just a visual feast—it’s a homage, encapsulating the essence of Hip Hop through a montage of iconic images. Each numeral of the address transforms into a canvas, featuring recreations of photographic documentation of pioneering artists who represent the raw, early days of the scene. These snapshots provide us a precious visual legacy of legendary performers.

For some it is a roll call of Hip Hop royalty. You’ll find the Bboy spirit alive in the depiction of Ken Swift, immortalized by Martha Cooper’s lens. Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers, captured by Joe Conzo, represents the Emcee. The Dj element features Kay Slay (Dez), as seen through Henry Chalfant’s photographic eye. And the Graffiti Writer? None other than Dondi White, again through Martha Cooper’s documentation.

Huetek’s work is a vivid reminder of Hip Hop’s roots and a celebration of its cultural pillars. It’s a visual journey through the genre’s history, inviting onlookers to delve deeper into the stories and faces that have shaped Hip Hop culture. This mural isn’t just a piece of art; it’s a slice of history, painted on the streets of Bushwick, waiting to be discovered and appreciated by those who understand its deep-seated significance.

Huetek for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 11.19.23

BSA Images Of The Week: 11.19.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

It’s a new collection of works found on the street here in New York as we head into Thanksgiving week. The boisterous and celebratory party at Skewville in Bushwick last night to celebrate the new Stikman sign show was well attended and full of fans of the artist. The old fans and new donned Stikman masks and wore name stickers saying, “Hello, I’m Stikman.” The long-time imaginative artist is a fixture on New York streets as new generations of artists come and go. Completely anonymous, he never seeks the limelight, preferring to let his copious ideas on lampposts, doorways, mailboxes, and street signs talk for him. In an age of personal influencers and attention seeking, it is refreshing to see his new works quietly capturing attention and imagination on the streets in his way. Bushwick on a Saturday night is teaming with so many crowds of people you may think you are in Wynwood, Miami, complete with food trucks and neon and thigh-high patent leather boots. But the crowds are far more diverse, and the occasional rat is scurrying across the sidewalk before you.

Here is our weekly interview with the street: this week featuring City Kitty, Adam Fujita, Below Key, Eternal Possessions, Hektag, Hops Art, Aidz, Ali Six, Tkid170, Tracy 168, Hydrane, Otam1, Abloker, Nos Ck One, Madison Storm, Melissa Schainker, Wally, J$T, FatJay, Sens-Sational, Aaron Wrinkle, and 5inck.

Adam Fu (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hektad (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sens-Sational (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Aaron Wrinkle (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hydrane (photo © Jaime Rojo)
TKid170 tribute to Tracy168. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
5inck, Otam1, Abloker, NoackOne in collaboration with The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
5inck, Otam1, Abloker, Noa CK One in collaboration with The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
City Kitty (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Below Key and Ali Six (photo © Jaime Rojo)
AIDZ (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Madison Storm (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Melissa Schainker (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Eternal Possessions (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Wally (photo © Jaime Rojo)
J$T (photo © Jaime Rojo)
J$T (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Fat Jay (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art Memorial Mural to honor Sisco. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art Memorial Mural to honor Sisco. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art Memorial Mural to honor Sisco. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Sunset over the East River. NYC. Fall 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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BSA Images Of The Week: 10.01.23

BSA Images Of The Week: 10.01.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

New York is drying out after the most intense storm we can remember just clobbered us on Friday. The loss of life, property, and minds that can happen when two months of rain falls in one day is hard to describe. Because we are such a dirty city, you can imagine the plume of detritus that got flushed out to sea, viewed from above. Our hearts go out to fellow New Yorkers who really suffered as a result of this pounding storm.

Here is our weekly interview with the street: this week featuring Nychos, No Sleep, Optimo NYC, Huetek, Zexor, Mike Makatron, Tempt, Lango, Viva Che Man, Carly Ealy, 2DX, Sucioe, and Colder.

Michael Draghi in Los Angeles, CA. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Michael Draghi in Los Angeles, CA. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Huetek (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lango getting ready for Halloween. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mike Makatron for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mike Makatron for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tempt in Los Angeles. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tribute to Zexor. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Optimo NYC and friends. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Carly Ealey in Los Angeles, CA. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
2DX (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sucioe (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Brooklyn Bitch Bakery (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Brooklyn Bitch Bakery (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Colder (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist in L.A. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Viva Che Man in L.A. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Nychos (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Morning Glory. Summer 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 06.25.23

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.25.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Be it ever so! The long summer days, the walls awash with fresh paint, the overspray and splatter a Greek chorus to cheer our hero/shero. Oh!

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Jason Naylor, Lexi Bella, Homesick, David Puck, Calicho Art, Atom, Hops Art, Caty Wooley, DLove, Stem and Thorn, Minvske, Jappy Agoncillo, KMS Crew, Vargas, Nicky Doll, Kanoy Muse, Bipolar, Nataniel Marreo, Voice, Mista, Carli Tops, and Pamela Rosenkranz.

Lexi Bella (photo © Jaime Rojo)
David Puck (photo © Jaime Rojo)
David Puck (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Calicho Art (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Vargas for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor (photo © Jaime Rojo)
DLove (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Homesick (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Atom (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jappy Agoncillo for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jappy Agoncillo for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Minvske for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Bipolar (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Stem & Thorn for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Stem & Thorn for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Caty Wooley (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Nataniel Marrero for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Nataniel Marrero for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
VOICE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art 1 for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art 1 for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art 1 for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
KMS Crew (photo © Jaime Rojo)
MISTA for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Carli Tops for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Pamela Rosenkranz for The High Line Park. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Summer 2023. NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 06.18.23

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.18.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week! These are our longest days of the year. Savor them, luxuriate in them, celebrate the light. The trees, the grass, the plants, all richly green. The breezes are smooth against your cheek, the sound of kids screaming as they play in the park is like music.

The ebb and flow of humanity washes across the pavement daily here in our gritty city – forlorn, inquisitive, raucous, opinionated, gentle, buoyant, clever, blunt, wonderous, rarely neutral. Our murals are mighty, our styles can be wild, illustrative, fantastic, inertly corporate, romantically impressionist, electric and eclectic. Unlike many downtowns, this collection is organic and unmediated – perfectly imperfect. As inhospitable as this city can feel to a newcomer, remember this; You are welcome. Do your thing.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Faile, Joe Iurato, Queen Andrea, Dasic Fernandez, Optimo NYC, CES, Hef, Spot, KMS Crew, Ange, Bekah Bad, Logan Hicks, Hiraku, Agud, Lexi bella, and Jeff Hernandez.

Queen Andrea (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queen Andrea (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queen Andrea (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queen Andrea (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queen Andrea (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jeff Henriquez (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Agud (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Agud (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dasic Fernandez and a portrait of DJ Kool Herc (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dasic Fernandez (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dasic Fernandez (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dasic Fernandez (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hiraku. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lexi Bella. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Looks like Joe’s son is getting bigger. Joe Iurato & Logan Hicks. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Joe Iurato & Logan Hicks. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Optimo NYC and friends smashing the Houston Wall. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Faile dipping back to one of their early images, updated with hand rendered “1986” (photo © Jaime Rojo)
CES. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Bekah Bad for East Village Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ANGE. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HEF & SPOT. KMS CREW. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HEF & SPOT. KMS CREW. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HEF & SPOT. KMS CREW. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Summer 2023. Hot Pink Hollyhock. New York City. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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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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Danny Cortes and Team Master the Finer Details When Writing 80s Train for The Bushwick Collective Block Party

Danny Cortes and Team Master the Finer Details When Writing 80s Train for The Bushwick Collective Block Party

The Bushwick Collective’s Block Party 12th edition ended with a bang and big crowds. This year Joe Ficalora, the founder, organizer, and curator, threw a warehouse party as part of the festivities and included a full-size replica of a New York Subway train designed by Danny Cortes and tagged by dozens of graffiti writers from the Metropolitan Area. We gave you a sneak peek of the train last week HERE. Today we bring you complete documentation with details shots of the train. BSA spoke about the project with Mr. Cortes, Edward Rivera, Mike See, and Joe Ficalora.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“So it’s amazing to me that you have taken something massive like a 1980s subway car, shrunk it down at one point to a highly detailed miniature…. and now you’re blowing it back up again!” says a BSA interviewer.

“It feels amazing, to tell the truth,” says artist Danny Cortes while a small team of fabricators and painters working feverishly on the full-scale car for an installation at the Bushwick Collective Block Party.

“Which one’s harder to do? The full-sized version or the smaller one?”

“The miniature,” Danny says with no hesitation. “Because the intricate details are so tiny and difficult to mimic something, you know? But it’s all; it’s so much fun. It’s so much fun.”

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cortes has been having a lot of big success in recent years making his painstaking replicas of New York scenes that make you feel warm and nostalgic for the streets; bodega storefronts, ice storage machines slaughtered with tags, box trucks, blue US mailboxes covered with stickers, the front of CBGB’s club, ice cream trucks, even tiny video VHS tapes of classics like “Wild Style.” And like the best writers in the day, he has been blowing up – scoring exhibitions and sometimes a celebrity client.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“I can show you what I’m working on,” he says, “I can show you, uh, one that I got for Drake for July” he reaches in his pocket to pull out his phone to show you his replica of a subway train pulling in under the tiled sign that says “Atlantic Avenue”. “So Barclays Center commissioned me to make this for Drake for his tour that’s coming in July. I’ll show you on Instagram. So it has almost the same concept.”

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mike See, who has been working long hours for days with Edward Rivera (aka Shutter Ed) and a team of people to fabricate this train, doesn’t even seem fatigued. When he talks about the sophisticated techniques of creating the lights, the windows, the seats, the finishes, and even the strap hangers – you can tell he’s excited to be a part of a crew. He may be more excited to have seen some graff heads who stopped by to tag the train in progress.

“A bunch of legendary graffiti artists came through – they cleared the warehouse for certain people to come in and be secretive. They did what they do, and there are layers of graffiti history from New York City graffiti right here. Is amazing. Outsides, insides, .. it makes you imagine the movie ‘The Warriors.’”  

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Legends in the game,” says Cortes of some of the tags they have collected on this tribute train. “These are names that have been doing it for years and used to hit this same style of train for years. So this makes it more authentic. Not only is it like a stamp for me, but it’s also, it’s important to bring realism,” he says as he describes the process of layering, distressing, and applying finishes to the original pieces and tags to make them appear as authentic as possible.  

“That’s why I faded out sometimes, right? You know, just to give it that overlay look and the fade distress, the stress look. That’s my style. The gritty, dirty, rusty. Yeah. What’s an eyesore to somebody else’s eye? It’s beauty to me, okay. So I accomplished that on this piece right here with my team.”

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. Curated by The Bushwick Collective for the 12th edition of The Bushwick Collective Block Party. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This replica of a subway car has been tagged for this special project by GIZ, SAINT, GHOST, THEAM, IR, CES, SPOT, JAKEE, KED, PGISM, ACNE, BERT, AND LANDO, DANNY CORTES, NEP, NOE, CHEO MSG, AND MIKE SEE among other graffiti writers.

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The Bushwick Collective – Block Party 2023 Now Underway

The Bushwick Collective – Block Party 2023 Now Underway

The Bushwick Collective Annual Summer Block Party, now on its 12th edition, has established itself as an official opener of the Summer season in New York City. With its combination of art, music, and food, this is at its root a street art initiative founded and provided by local resident and business owner Joe Ficalora. Joe continues to show his steadfast dedication to the community with a significant, free open event for everybody in the family to enjoy.

Artists from around the world and local artists are invited to create vibrant and large-scale murals that encompass all disciplines, including graffiti in a very big way, on the walls of buildings in Bushwick. Making public space safer for the public to enjoy, many streets are closed off, allowing attendees to roam freely and explore the various murals, including many that are being created by the artists as passersby watch. Live music performances by local performers and DJs add to the festive atmosphere, with food trucks, vendors, and art installations – a true community event for people of all backgrounds.

Here are some of the new murals and installations underway. We’ll bring you a recap of the newly finished pieces soon. Enjoy!

Ruben Ubiera. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ENJOY. MAKRO. ASIA. SURE78. BRANDY. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ENJOY. MAKRO. ASIA. SURE78. BRANDY. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ENJOY. MAKRO. ASIA. SURE78. BRANDY. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor. WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mate Artist. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tymon De Laat. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Huetek. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
You may see Martha Cooper’s photos of Dondi and Ken Swift from Rock Steady Crew here, as well as Grandmaster Caz. Huetek. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
1520 refers to the address 1520 Sedgewick Avenue in the Bronx, historically referred to by many as the birthplace of Hip Hop. Huetek. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Vince Ballentine. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
TankOne. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
TankOne. Detail/WIP. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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Surprise Train Pulling into Bushwick Collective Warehouse Party – Danny Cortes – Sneak Peek

Surprise Train Pulling into Bushwick Collective Warehouse Party – Danny Cortes – Sneak Peek

Joe Ficalora, the Bushwick Collective founder and curator, invited us to stop by the warehouse where tonight’s Warehouse Party will be held and offered us an exclusive peek at the Subway Art Installation that Artist Danny Cortes, and his team – headed by Mike See and Edward Rivera have been working on. This replica of a subway car has been tagged for this special project by GIZ, SAINT, GHOST, THEAM, IR, CES, SPOT, JAKEE, KED, PGISM, ACNE, BERT, AND LANDO, DANNY CORTES, NEP, NOE, CHEO MSG, AND MIKE SEE among other graffiti writers.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“So, the concept behind Danny’s miniatures fascinates me,” he explains amidst the swirling cloud of sawdust, the cacophony of drills, and the booming voices. “They are incredibly small, which presents a unique opportunity for an exclusive experience, allowing you to truly step ‘inside’ his miniature world.” BSA (Brooklyn Street Art) was fortunate enough to be invited for their own exclusive experience. Here we give you a chance to catch a preview glimpse of the train-in-the-making, set to be unveiled tonight at the grand opening of Ficalora’s annual celebration of street culture, urban art, graffiti, Hip Hop, and sidewalk selfies.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

As always, this year’s Bushwick Collective block party sparks numerous collaborations. “The synergies within our circle are remarkable,” Joe affirms. “We rely solely on our resources to create exactly what we need; you know what I mean?”

The level of detail on this train is astonishing. It showcases layers of tags and pieces on the exterior, some acid washed and weathered, while others shimmer with a silver tint. Inside, vibrant tags of New York graffiti heroes from the movement hustle for space, accompanied by door panel pieces, vintage advertising, faded throwies, curved orange seating, and even meticulously crafted 3-D printed straphangers that match the originals in size and shape.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Miniatures of New York scenes are brought to life regularly by Bushwick’s very own Danny Cortes, who faithfully recreates architectural and street-inspired works brimming with nostalgia and imbued with character. In a stroke of curatorial wizardry, Joe Ficalora, the founder of the Bushwick Collective, has decided to commission two enlarged versions of these miniatures, playfully warping perception and conjuring your own memories of New York and its streets.

Over the course of a dozen years, the initiative of bringing hundreds of artists to paint in this Brooklyn neighborhood has undeniably transformed not only the physical landscape but also the scene and spirit of the area. It has become a more welcoming and inclusive environment than one might expect. You will witness fresh combinations, collaborations, and occasional superstar appearances here. However, the essence of the “collective” still remains at the core.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Another one of Joe’s curatorial endeavors for 2023 includes enlarging one of Cortes’ miniature sculptures—an iconic bodega scene—which the artist himself was working on yesterday from a lift. “Zach Curtis from Michigan is also here, and we decided to collaborate once again, this time transforming his miniature model of street life into a mural. The concepts behind the two pieces- the train and the bodega – beautifully align.”

More on this captivating project will be shared here later. Make sure not to miss the grand arrival of the train, scheduled for tonight and set to be showcased throughout the weekend here in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Danny Cortes Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)
Mike See (photo © Steven P. Harrington)
Edward Rivera (photo © Steven P. Harrington)
Danny Cortes talks with Edward and Mike in the background. Subway Car installation with the production assistance of Edward Rivera and Mike See. WIP shot. Curated by The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)
Joe Ficalora, founder and curator of The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 04.09.23

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.09.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Merry Arrestmas!

This is an excellent time to be in New York because everything is in bloom, and for a moment, there is love in the air everywhere you look. Or is that just the legal weed they sell from the truck in front of your apartment the way they used to sell falafel?

This is s beautiful time

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Louis Masai, Jason Naylor, Voxx Romana, HOXXOH, Voxx, Optimo NYC, Vers, Jesus, Lasak, D.Z.L.T., Envio, MENY X, Krave, and Abuse.

Optimo NYC. DeGrupo. Ollyn. SAY NO WARS. Houston/Bowery Wall takeover. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
This is not going all too well Donald, is it? Unidentified artist. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
D.Z.L.T. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
D.Z.L.T. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
D.Z.L.T. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor (photo © Jaime Rojo)
VERS (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Enivo for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Enivo for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HOXXOH for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HOXXOH for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
JESUS (photo © Jaime Rojo)
MENY (photo © Jaime Rojo)
KRAVE for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
VOXX (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lasak Art (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ABUSE for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Louis Masai for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Louis Masai for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Magnolia. Spring 2023. NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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