I live in an area of Brooklyn called “Bushwick”. Admitting you live here used to get some very interesting reactions from the locals. Let’s just say, if you were interested in taking someone you just met at the bar home with you, you might get the, “yeah, I actually have to get up early in the morning…that is unless you want to come to my place. It’s in Williamsburg!”
Basically, saying you live in Bushwick is like saying you live in Bed Stuy…10 YEARS AGO!!! So, my point is, it’s not like that anymore. In fact, Bushwick is home to some of the most prominent emerging artists and musicians in the NYC area and is quite “up-and-coming”. I’m pretty proud to be part of that.
Bushwick Open Studios started in 2006 with a few artists willing and generous enough to open their lofts and studios to anyone off the street to showcase their art. It started out with a very small community and quickly gained notoriety around 2008. Last year’s BOS did not disappoint and our building, though a bit off the beaten track, was a hot spot.
These are images I took of a performance piece performed by an improv dance group on our roof under a full moon at the last BOS in June 2009. Everything was so perfectly synced and executed. If I remember correctly, it was about 30 minutes in length and quite beautiful.
The beginning started out like this...just girls in white walking around the roof. No one noticed them at first.
Said topless girl and token "dude"
I had my doubts, though. Inevitably, you get those kids banging away on some toddler toy while strumming a harpsichord with their toes (or some crap like that) while another person draws penises on their face in sharpy and ALL in the name of “art”. SO, this group certainly made me a little skeptical. It’s probably because the topless girl was standing outside the front of the building throwing cotton balls at people to get them to come to the roof. Hey…whatever it takes…I guess.
This was intense. Their bodies moved so perfectly together.
Hard to believe this is improv.
She looks like a child here. This is my favorite.
Hard to place this emotion...
The spot lights made amazing natural contrast for photos. I wasn't the only photographer taking advatage of it.
There were several groups of dancers performing at the same time, but most of the time they would direct the audience's attention to other dancers in different areas.
Feet. Like I said...
Ring around the rosey...
The end...
March 30th, 2010 - 9:40 am
[...] artistic growth of the community as perfect timing. Bushwick is also home to Chez Bushwick and Bushwick Open Studios, two organizations Allain describes as intent on creating infrastructure and strength to protect [...]