All posts tagged: Tymon De Laat

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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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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BSA Images Of The Week: 05.07.23

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.07.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Style Wars! A new interpretation of it is blazoned across the Houston Wall thanks to Optimo NYC, who is rather owning it recently. This free-wheeling ever changing magnet for attention in a very gentrified Manhattan cheers the fans of true graffiti almost daily right now, buffeted by the roar of traffic and the occasional rock band playing in front of it.

The many flavors of New York street art and graffiti are everywhere – in community murals speaking about mental health, aerosol tags in doorways, in wheatpasted poems on subway columns, in soldiered sculptures on the sides of parking signs. New Yorkers love to be expressive, and in general, indulge one another’s imperfect ways of doing it. There is usually someone who is crowing about the golden age of New York, and who can deny one person’s perspective. Ever the optimists, we see the changes, the losses, the gains, and the free-wheeling spirit alive on the streets, and we think New York is having a golden age right now.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: EVOL, Cey Adams, Giani NYC, No Sleep, Mort Art, JDL, Optimo NYC, Chris RWK, SEIMR, RUTHE, Scott McDonald, Sawr, Tymon De Laat, Amill Onair, Sherwin Banfield, and David H. Wagner.

Optimo NYC continues the Houston/Bowery Wall takeover with Giani NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
…and the Williamsburg Bridge for that matter… Optimo NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)
EVOL (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Chris RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
JDL’s mural detail with tag. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Profound musings from David H. Wagner (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Surely, the press will tirelessly get to the bottom of any misdeeds our elected officials commit and reveal them to the citizenry. Especially all of those guests gathered around tables sharing a great meal and a glittering night of chummy comedic camaraderie at the White House Correspondents Dinner this week. #whoprotectsmefromyou (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queens-based artist Sherwin Banfield’s sculpture tribute to Biggie reigns supreme this spring at Clumber Corner in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Timed perfectly to coincide with the many celebrations this year of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, the interactive installation is a nine-foot structure made of stainless steel and bronze boasting the likeness of Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G” Wallace, also known as Biggie Smalls. Yes, that’s an actual CD implanted into the sculpture, and you can listen to his music coming from the speakers. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sherwin Banfield’s sculpture tribute to Biggie. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sherwin Banfield’s sculpture tribute to Biggie. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cey Adams (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist’s tribute to James Roosevelt Stokes, a Brooklyn man whose online obituary says “James was a lovable and fun person and was known as the “unifier”. He wanted everyone to be happy. He was instrumental in uniting the Dean Street Neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY.”. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Amilli Onair (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tymon De Laat in Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Scott McDonald and Sawr in Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mort Art (photo © Jaime Rojo)
SEIMR RUTHE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Manhattan Bridge. NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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