The Bushwick Collective

I'm not sure I've ever really mentioned it here, but my mom also lives in New York—in fact, we moved here at about the same time. We were roommates for our first two years as New Yorkers, and then I decamped to Brooklyn while she stayed in Harlem. Since we no longer see each other every single day (a healthy thing when you're in your 30s, I think), I make sure we still get together often to catch up. Usually we meet for diner breakfast once every week or two, sometimes followed by a mini city adventure. Recently, she mentioned that she wanted to go to Bushwick to see the street art—she had read somewhere that the area near the Jefferson L subway stop was being called the "new 5 Pointz," and I was intrigued.

It turns out that she was referring to artwork by the Bushwick Collective, a non-profit, outdoor street gallery with works by artists from all over the world. Founded in 2012 by Joe Ficalora to combat the sadness he felt after both of his parents died in Bushwick, the Collective used the walls of buildings Ficalora owned, and added others as he obtained permission from building owners. The artists, chosen by the Collective, donate their supplies and time, and the building owners donate their wall space.

Both my mom and I were in awe at the range of extraordinary talent exhibited on the walls. I am a graphic designer, so I have always gravitated towards creative expression, but the ability to create art just using my hands and eyes has always alluded me. From hyper-realism to silly cartoon figures, the artists chose by the Collective vary widely in style but all of them are the real deal. When you factor in the uneven surfaces, unpredictable outdoor conditions and a material as volatile as spray paint, it makes their creations even more remarkable.

I was fortunate enough to see 5 Pointz before the buildings got whitewashed and then demolished, and while I understand the comparison, the Bushwick Collective feels more organized than 5 Pointz. It covers a greater area and is more like an art gallery—each large-scale piece can be viewed individually or you can step back to take in an entire block of varying styles and messages. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, wandering from piece to piece, discovering new things around every corner—all for the price of a subway ride to Bushwick.