The seventh annual block party celebrates creativity, culture and community!
Contrary to popular belief, there's nothing more fun than watching paint dry.
The Bushwick Collective, a group of some of the world's best street artists on a mission to beautify the neighborhood of Bushwick one bare wall at a time, on Saturday hosted its seventh annual block party to celebrate the community and inaugurate dozens of new murals.
Photo: Fabiola Jean-Louis
Calling it a "block party" is an understatement, as the event stretched five blocks, attracted around 2,000 residents, with hip-hop legend Ja Rule featured as the headlining musician, along with performances by Chris Webby, Mr. Cheeks and DJ Evil D.
The free event was sponsored by Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Nooklyn, Perrier and Modelo and featured numerous local musicians, vendors, food trucks, live mural-painting, haircuts and face painting.
As part of the group's community involvement, BC Muralist Eric Inkala spent the day before the block party with a few other BC members teaching local high schoolers how to paint and and then gave them a guided tour of the new murals.
"It was awesome seeing kids pick up a can of spray paint for the first time," said Inkala. "Letting them paint with you is super fun. I think the block party is great; it is something positive for the community, for Bushwick. And I think it is important for everyone to come together."
Local business owner Stacie Amador said the overwhelming positivity of the crowd and the event literally took her breath away.
"It brought tears to my eyes," she said. "It's wonderful to see all of the fantastic artists and everybody coming out and supporting the community. The Bushwick Collective adds so much to the neighborhood."
During one of the performances, local musician Rack Lo asked the crowd to make an 'L' with their hands and put it in the air, symbolizing "love and light," to represent the culture and creativity of Bushwick.
"It's like this whole big birthday party for Bushwick and for everyone else who also heard about it and wanted to come," said nine-year-old muralist and Brooklyn native Lola Glass. "Happy birthday Bushwick!"
