All posts tagged: Urban Ruben

BSA Images Of The Week: 01.07.24

BSA Images Of The Week: 01.07.24

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

The New Year has been good so far, except if your country is in a war and is being pulverized.

We captured some exceptional street art during our visits to Miami last month. It’s encouraging to see that, despite commercial pressures, the artists’ untamed creative spirit continues to shine through. To balance the collection, we have dirty old New York pieces that pull no punches, and tell no truths, I mean lies. Happy to share these new and dynamic pieces with you.

Here is our weekly interview with the street: this week featuring Tats Cru. Homesick, Werds, Deih XLF, Melski, West, Dase, Banksy Hates Me, Wizard Skull, Johann Art, Arlex Campos, Professorx, d1a5, Salute, Urban Ruben, HITC, Heat, and Kane.

Wizard Skull (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Freedom to Transact in the context of cryptocurrency refers to attempts by traditional banks to attack and obstruct the move by people to use something other than fiat. Unidentified artist in Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Kane in Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Homesick. West. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
West (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Arlex Campos in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Johann Art in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Professorx, Johann Art, and d1a5 in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dase (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Salute in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tats Cru (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Werds (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Melski in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Melski in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HITC (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Banksy Hates Me in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Heat in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Deih XLF collab with Hoxxoh in Wywood Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Peace on Earth (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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The Bushwick Collective 11th Annual Block Party – 2022

The Bushwick Collective 11th Annual Block Party – 2022

Joe Ficalora and the Bushwick Collective crew took over the streets of Bushwick again this year to entertain the locals, the visitors, and everybody else with his annual block party. When you look at the variety and quality of murals produced on these streets regularly, you realize that it’s a splendid fusion that you rarely find in organized festivals.

Elm Status. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Maybe it’s just us talking, but these artists are not usually hamstrung by organizers’ dictates or those of advertisers – they just let their imaginations go. Yes, there are still beefs, and there are battles between styles and histories and all the baggage that writers and artists carry. But in general, this is a somewhat mediated part of street culture, with an opportunity for you to shine if you have the skillz.

We published a handful of the completed walls on BSA HERE; now we bring you the rest…

Elm Status. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Elm Status. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. June. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. June. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. June. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. June. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dean Zeus Colman tribute to ZEXOR. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Loste. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Robert Vargas. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cody James. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cody James. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cody James. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
1440. Detail. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HUETEK tribute to DEZ. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HUETEK tribute to DEZ. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HUETEK tribute to DEZ. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HUETEK tribute to DEZ. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Nap Don’t Sleep. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Stem And Thorn. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Stem And Thorn. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Hydde. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Hydde. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hoddy. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hoddy. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
MR. Blob. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
MR. Blob. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hops Art. The Bushwick Collective. 11th Annual Block Party. Brooklyn, NY. June 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 12.12.21

BSA Images Of The Week: 12.12.21

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Welcome to BSA Images of the Week. The weather is tropical this weekend, like we’re expecting a hurricane – ominous and windy. Maybe its our ongoing fear of runaway inflation, which Fed Chair Jerome Powell is trying to make us forget he called ‘transitory’. That should be the word of 2021. Transitory. Like fanny packs worn diagonally across the chest, or Dua Lipa.

Any great Christmas classics running through your head this year? Christmas in Hollis from Run DMC? Mele Kalikimaka? Mariah Carey? Sorry, we’re in the mood and all these lights and little wonderland displays in the windows of people’s apartments throughout Brooklyn are making us feel romantic for the season, even though most people we know are scaling back this year.

The city’s vaccination rate is 78, and the mayor is requiring more vaccine and mask mandates in private companies and schools. Let’s hope it works, brothers and sisters.

So here’s our regular interview with the street, this week including 4SomeCrew, Buff Monster, Calicho, DAK 907, DOT DOT DOT, Drecks, ERRE, MIDABI, Not Banksy, Paper Monster, Paul Richard, Praxis VGZ, Roachi, Swrve, Urban Ruben, and Zexor.

Buff Monster (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Calicho (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Erre (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Erre (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Praxis. Erre. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dot Dot Dot (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dot Dot Dot (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben in Miami for The Bushwick Collective (photo © Jaime Rojo)
MIDABI (photo © Jaime Rojo)
After Banksy. Unidentifed artist in Miami (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Today, December 12th is the feast of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Patron saint of Mexico (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Today, December 12th is the feast of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Patron saint of Mexico (photo © Jaime Rojo)
This might be an unfinished piece not singed yet. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Zexor (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hot Tea. ‘PERHAPS” (photo © Jaime Rojo)
DAK907 (photo © Jaime Rojo)
4S (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ROACHI 4S (photo © Jaime Rojo)
SWRVE 4S (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Paul Richard (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Drecks (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Paper Monster (photo © Jaime Rojo)
MP (photo © Jaime Rojo)
In Bitcon We Trust (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Winter 2021. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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Highlights From The Bushwick Collective: Edition 2019

Highlights From The Bushwick Collective: Edition 2019

Hyperrealism, Pop portraiture, cartoons, wildstyle, Big ears (Sipros) and of course Biggie, it’s the wake of the Bushwick Block Party!

Urban Ruben (photo © Jaime Rojo)

No matter which year it is, Biggie always seems to make the list and his newest portrait is by Ruben Ubiera from Dominican Republic and its just in time for New York’s naming a street after him. The street Biggie grew up on, Fulton Street and St. James Place in Clinton Hill has just been renamed to “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way”.

Rosk Loste (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Enjoy these shots of some of the newest pieces and murals from around the hood spreading love, the Brooklyn way.

Rosk Loste (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Surface Of Beauty (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Urban Ruben (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Michel Velt (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mico (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lexi Bella (photo © Jaime Rojo)
RIS Crew. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Hydde (photo © Jaime Rojo)
FKDL (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sipros (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sipros (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Pure TFP . DET_RIS (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Chris Soria (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Keops . Atomiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Ghostbeard . Patch Whisky (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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