BSA Images Of The Week: 05.07.23

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Style Wars! A new interpretation of it is blazoned across the Houston Wall thanks to Optimo NYC, who is rather owning it recently. This free-wheeling ever changing magnet for attention in a very gentrified Manhattan cheers the fans of true graffiti almost daily right now, buffeted by the roar of traffic and the occasional rock band playing in front of it.

The many flavors of New York street art and graffiti are everywhere – in community murals speaking about mental health, aerosol tags in doorways, in wheatpasted poems on subway columns, in soldiered sculptures on the sides of parking signs. New Yorkers love to be expressive, and in general, indulge one another’s imperfect ways of doing it. There is usually someone who is crowing about the golden age of New York, and who can deny one person’s perspective. Ever the optimists, we see the changes, the losses, the gains, and the free-wheeling spirit alive on the streets, and we think New York is having a golden age right now.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: EVOL, Cey Adams, Giani NYC, No Sleep, Mort Art, JDL, Optimo NYC, Chris RWK, SEIMR, RUTHE, Scott McDonald, Sawr, Tymon De Laat, Amill Onair, Sherwin Banfield, and David H. Wagner.

Optimo NYC continues the Houston/Bowery Wall takeover with Giani NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
…and the Williamsburg Bridge for that matter… Optimo NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)
EVOL (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Chris RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
JDL’s mural detail with tag. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Profound musings from David H. Wagner (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Surely, the press will tirelessly get to the bottom of any misdeeds our elected officials commit and reveal them to the citizenry. Especially all of those guests gathered around tables sharing a great meal and a glittering night of chummy comedic camaraderie at the White House Correspondents Dinner this week. #whoprotectsmefromyou (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queens-based artist Sherwin Banfield’s sculpture tribute to Biggie reigns supreme this spring at Clumber Corner in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Timed perfectly to coincide with the many celebrations this year of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, the interactive installation is a nine-foot structure made of stainless steel and bronze boasting the likeness of Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G” Wallace, also known as Biggie Smalls. Yes, that’s an actual CD implanted into the sculpture, and you can listen to his music coming from the speakers. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sherwin Banfield’s sculpture tribute to Biggie. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Sherwin Banfield’s sculpture tribute to Biggie. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cey Adams (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist’s tribute to James Roosevelt Stokes, a Brooklyn man whose online obituary says “James was a lovable and fun person and was known as the “unifier”. He wanted everyone to be happy. He was instrumental in uniting the Dean Street Neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY.”. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Amilli Onair (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Tymon De Laat in Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Scott McDonald and Sawr in Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mort Art (photo © Jaime Rojo)
SEIMR RUTHE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Manhattan Bridge. NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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