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More than 50 multicolored murals have transformed a swath of buildings into a vast outdoor gallery known as the Bushwick Collective. The accidental curator of the Collective is Joseph Ficalora, a native of this Brooklyn town. Up until the last fifteen years, Bushwick had been an area of high crime and blight. In fact, it was the devastating murder of Joseph’s father back in 1991 that prompted his son to take positive action and initiative.
In 2013 Joseph decided the best way to heal from this tragedy and support his still-beloved neighborhood was through a transformative Graffiti and Street Art project. Once he started googling key words related to this art form, his role as a steward of outdoor art began. He reached out to artists from around the globe, asking them to contribute their talents to the canvases that are the industrial and residential buildings of Bushwick. There are a few rules: nothing offensive to children, women, the local businesses and no politics. It is truly a wonder to behold!
The area is now wonderfully diverse and home to some great eateries so do support local commerce while you’re in town. Two of my favorite spots to grab a bite are:
- Hi Hello, 247 Starr Street (on the corner of Starr and Wycoff http://hihellobk.com
- Roberta’s Pizza, 261 Moore St. http://robertaspizza.com
HOW TO GET TO THE BUSHWICK COLLECTIVE : Take the “L” train to the Jefferson Ave. stop. As soon as you get out of the subway you will see the murals. I walk one block to Troutman and Wycoff Streets and start meandering from there.