Bushwick Collective

At the Bushwick Collective Museum with: Giz & Ghost, Dan Witz, Tim Okamura, Enx, Anna Orcutt-Jahns, Nicer, See One and more

June 4, 2016

While visiting the Bushwick Collective on Thursday as it was readying for its 5th Annual Block Party, we had the opportunity to spend some time in its wondrous pop-up museum at 198 Randolph Street. The brainchild of Bushwick Collective founder Joe Ficalora, it showcases an extraordinary array of works by Bushwick Collective artists, along with art by community members, local youth, Parsons School of Design at the New School students and more. We also had the chance to speak to the Bushwick Collective Museum‘s director, Asja Gleeson.

This is all so amazing! There are works here by artists who’ve exhibited in museums, along with art by children who live in the neighborhood. Just about every art genre and style is represented here. How did you connect to so many diverse artists?

Joe Ficalora simply gave me a list of the folks he’d already reached out to. In the five years since he’s founded the Bushwick Collective, he’s made so many wonderful connections.

How did you connect to Joe?

Dan Witz introduced me to Joe two years ago, and I worked with Joe and Dan on the exhibit for the Collective’s 3rd Annual Block Party. The experience was so fantastic that I was thrilled to have an opportunity to be involved once again with the Bushwick Collective.

As director, what are some of your responsibilities in managing an exhibit of this scope?

I had to contact all the artists and make sure that their work arrived in a timely fashion. I assisted Stan Sudol the director of the Mana Urban Arts Project, in installing the works. And, basically, I was in charge of organizing the exhibit and assuring that it runs smoothly.

What — would you say — was your greatest challenge?

Getting it all together in the span of a week.

That’s quite an accomplishment! Have you an academic or professional background in art?

Both my parents are artists, and I studied Art History and related fields at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. I’ve also worked in several Chelsea galleries.

How does working here differ from working in Chelsea?

It’s more of a labor of love here! The pace is faster, and there’s far more community involvement here in Bushwick than in Chelsea.

What is your impression of the art on exhibit here? Have you any favorites?

I’m so impressed by the quality of it all. There are so many wonderful pieces. Among my favorites is the one by Enx. It speaks to me!

How can folks see this exhibit? It’s an amazing opportunity to not only view such an eclectic selection of quality artworks, but to purchase art at remarkably reasonable prices — with all proceeds going directly to the artists.

It remains open to the public from 10am-5pm through the weekend.

Images

1. Giz and Ghost, RIS

2. Dan Witz, with director Asja Gleeson

3. Tim Okamura

4. Enx

5. Anna Orcutt-Jahns

6. Nicer, Tats Cru

7. See One

Photo credits: 1, 2, 4 – 7 Tara Murray, 3 City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Bushwick Collective Founder and Curator Joe Ficalora on Community Engagement, Mana Urban Arts, Art Basel, the Bushwick Collective’s Upcoming Block Party and more

May 18, 2016

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Bushwick Collective‘s founder and curator, the indefatigable Joe Ficalora, as he readies for this year’s 5th Annual Block Party, June 3-5.

As you prepare for this year’s 5th Annual Block Party, can you share with us some of this past year’s highlights?

Last June’s Annual Block Party was certainly a highlight! The entire community came together as a family. It was a beautiful sight! A special highpoint of this past year was the Bushwick Collective‘s collaboration with Mana Urban Arts. We had the chance to go down to Miami in December during Art Basel. NYC artists, along with local Miami ones and artists from across the globe, painted together, transforming the inside and outside of the RC Cola Factory. It was a particular thrill to have seven-year-old Lola join us and watch her paint with Chor Boogie. We’ve also facilitated murals in Miami and Jersey City in coordination with Mana Urban Arts. And – more recently — during Frieze Art Week, we participated in Art New York on Pier 54 with Sipros in support of the Perry J. Cohen Foundation.

What would you say was your greatest challenge this past year?

My greatest challenge was dealing with all the marketers trying to hunt down walls. Now that this neighborhood is “cool,” they feel that they can take advantage of the public space without giving back.

What can we expect at this year’s Block Party?

There will be live painting, food trucks, local vendors, special activities for families with kids and surprise performers. A pop-up exhibition at 198 Randolph Street will feature artists from the The Parsons School of Design at the New School, the official sponsor of the weekend, along with local artists. The Museum of the City of New York will be projecting images of Bushwick from over 100 years ago and sharing a huge blown-up photo of Bushwick in 1909. All money from the artwork sold at the exhibit — that opens to the public at 7pm on Friday, June 3, and can be viewed on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm — will go directly to the artists. Local artists will also be exhibiting their work independently. Performers opening the weekend include: The BBoy Rebels (NYC Original Subway Dancers), DJ Mister Cee, Loaf Muzik, Monsters of Brooklyn, Thorough, Thirsting Howl lll, Styles P and Jim Jones. And on Saturday — in addition to JADAKISS — DJ Statik Selektah and friends, Lil Waah, Joell Ortiz, Dave East, Chris Rivers, son of the legendary Big Pun, and The BBoy Rebels will perform. Keep posted to our website for updates.

Who are some artists we can look forward to meeting?

Artists from everywhere will be painting. Among them are: D*Face, Case Maclaim, Sipros, Atomik, Don Rimx and Trans1. Local artists include: Giz, Tats Cru, Crash, Meres, Topaz, Plasma Slug, Lola the Illustrator and Hops 1.

That sounds great! What’s ahead for the Bushwick Collective?

We will continue to grow as an organization and evolve with time. We look forward to further collaborations with Mana Urban Arts. We also look forward to establishing new partnerships.

Images

1. Giz, Ghost, Such, RIS Crew

2. Sipros

3. Case Maclaim

4. Oji

5. Starfighter

Photo credits: 1 & 3 City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen; 2, 4 & 5 Lois Stavsky; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky with Sol Raxlen

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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The Bushwick Collective x Mana Urban Arts Project at Wynwood’s RC Cola Factory with Rimx, Jimmy C, Shok1, Giz, Lady Aiko, Mr. June, Hoxxoh and Christina Angelina

January 16, 2016

In collaboration with the Mana Urban Arts Project, the Bushwick Collective transformed Wynwood’s former RC Cola Factory into a Mecca of first-rate street art and graffiti. During Miami Art Week, celebrated artists from across the globe painted alongside local Miami and NYC-based artists. Here are a few more images from among the dozens of murals I saw last week while visiting Wynwood:

London-based James Cochran aka Jimmy C

London-based Shok1

NYC-based Giz RIS

NYC-based Lady Aiko

Dutch artist David Louf aka Mr June

Miami-based Hoxxoh

West Coast-based Christina Angelina

First image is a close-up from a huge mural by David Sepulveda aka Rimx

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Curious Characters on NYC Streets, Part VII: Fanakapan, Bebar, Telleache, Pyramid Oracle and Mr Nerds

October 1, 2015

This is the seventh in a series of occasional posts featuring the range of curious characters that have made their way onto NYC open spaces:

London-based Fanakapan at the Bushwick Collective

French artist Bebar in Brownsville, Brooklyn

Mexican artist Telleache at the Bushwick Collective

Pyramid Oracle at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

Mr Nerds at the Bushwick Collective

Photo credits: 1, 3 & 5 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 4 Tara Murray

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Girls on Walls, Part XVI: Dasic, William Power, Toofly, Jorit Agoch, QRST, Tristan Eaton, Zeso, JR and Ananda Nahu

August 12, 2015

This is the 16th in an occasional series of posts featuring images of girls — and women — who grace NYC public spaces:

Dasic Fernandez at the Bushwick Collective

William Power in East New York

Toofly in Astoria for the Welling Court Mural Project

Jorit Agoch at the Bushwick Collective

QRST in Bushwick

Tristan Eaton in Little Italy for the LISA Project

Zeso in Astoria for the Welling Court Mural Project

JR in Nolita

Ananda Nahu in Hunts Point, as seen on this past weekend’s #NYTBronxWalk

Photo credits: 1, 2, 5, 7 & 9 Lois Stavsky 3, 6 Tara Murray 4 Courtesy Jorit Agoch & 8 Courtesy M18

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B-U-S-H-W-I-C-K: Spelling It Out at the Bushwick Collective: Sexer, June1, Sheryo & the Yok, Dasic, Billy Mode, Eelco, Crash and Zimad

December 29, 2014

With Sheryo and the Yok completing the missing letter — S — , the B-U-S-H-W-I-C-K mural at the Bushwick Collective is now complete. Here are some images:

Sexer at work after completing the letter ‘B.’ Letter ‘U’ by David Louf aka June1 to its right

Sheryo and the Yok, the letter ‘S’

Dasic Fernandez at work on the letter ‘H’

Billy Mode at work on the letter ‘W’

Eelco ’Virus’ Van den Berg, the letter ‘I’, with Bushwick Collective founder and curator Joe Ficalora to its right

John Matos aka Crash, the letter ‘C’

Zimad at work on the final letter, ‘K’

With some additions

Photo credits: 1, 4 & 7 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2, 3, 5, 6 & 8 by Lois Stavsky

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Kids on Walls — Part VI: Jerkface, Axel Void, Billy Mode & Chris Stain, Damien Mitchell, Enzo & Nio, Banksy, Jef Aerosol and Razo & Dead Rat

December 15, 2014

This is the sixth in a series of occasional posts featuring images of children that surface on NYC public spaces:

Jerkface in the East Village

Axel Void in East Harlem

Billy Mode and Chris Stain at the Bushwick Collective

Damien Mitchell at the Bushwick Collective

Enzo and Nio in Williamsburg

Banksy on the Upper West Side

Jef Aerosol at the Bushwick Collective

Razo and Dead Rat on the Lower East Side

Photo 1, 3 – 6 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2, 7 & 8 by Lois Stavsky

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Kids on Walls — Part V: Jef Aerosol, Jerkface, LMNOPI, Kaffeine, Solus and Sexer

October 20, 2014

This is the fifth in a series of occasional posts featuring images of children that surface on NYC public spaces:

Jef Aerosol at the Bushwick Collective

Jerkface in NoLita

LMNOPI in Bushwick

Kaffeine for the Welling Court Mural Project

Solus in Little Italy for the Lisa Project, close-up

Sexer in the Bronx for the TAG Public Arts Project

Photos 1, 3, 4 and 6 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2, 5 and 7 by Lois Stavsky

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It’s Happening at the Bushwick Collective: Mr. Prvrt, Bishop 203, Thievin’ Stephen and more

October 7, 2014

It’s been busy at the Bushwick Collective with new murals surfacing by local, regional and international artists. Here’s a small sampling of what’s been going down:

Mr. Prvrt — pictured above — with his new mural, and as seen, below, in Sunday’s sun

Bishop 203 to the left of Danielle Mastrion’s long-running Biggie mural

Thievin’ Stephen — at work on Jefferson off Saint Nicholas

And tomorrow — Wednesday evening — at 5pm, Tyson, a dear friend of the Bushwick Collective, is opening his doors to his new restaurant, Arrogant Swine, at 173 Morgan Avenue.

Bushwick Collective founder and curator Joe Ficalora invites the Bushwick Collective fam to head over there. Expect to dine and wine with DJ’s, fire breathers, free tattoos and more surprises, along with a newly completed mural by Sexer.

Final image by Vers; all photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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