~HELLO BROOKLYN~

 Williamsburg is a neighborhood within Brooklyn, New York. The area once purchased by the Dutch West India Company from the Native Americans back in 1638 , has shared it's long history of changes along with the whole City of New York. From the immigrants that settled here in the 1800's to the musicians and artists that would eventually move in by the 1970's due to cheap rent, the influence left by these groups of people is still visible in these streets. The current gentrificiation and rising rent is reshaping this community for better ( or for worse, depending on who you ask). High crime and poverty was on the rise in the 80's along with graffiti ,where artists just wanted to be heard, during these dark/corrupt times in NYC. Dark times, like all in history, eventually would shed light, spark inspiration and a renaissance in art and music that would change the world.

  Today, the music such as rock and hiphop once deemed as music for rebels and outlaws, can be heard in some of these high end bars and luxury hotels. Graffiti/Street Art from artists past and present can now be found in galleries and auctioned for thousands of dollars. With a mixture now of illegal and legal/freelanced artwork , these neighborhoods are like free open outdoor galleries. Now that we all have access to a camera and social media these works of art are shared and many of these artists can truly be seen and heard as originally intended around the world.

 The Street Art/Graffiti scene along with the various events,bars, and restaurants is what keeps me coming back to Williamsburg and through bordering neighborhoods like Greenpoint and Bushwick ( Where you'll find the Bushwick Collective!). It was actually the Abandoned Domino Sugar Factory that first caught my interest, due to my interest in history. I wanted to snap pictures before the destruction of this refinery that dates back to 1882, when it was the largest sugar refinery in the world.

 The first set of pictures I took are from April 2014. I took a nice walk from the Lower East Side in Manhattan and crossed the Williamsburg Bridge.

View from Williamsburg Bridge

My Dude Grimm The Street Kat "LIFE IS BETTER IN COLOR"

On my most recent visit on August 2014, I had to take my partner in crime;my wife; J.Stylist!

My Wife J.Stylist: HairStylist, Model, Fashionista

Home of The Brooklyn Lager!

Mast Brothers Chocolate http://mastbrothers.com/

http://mastbrothers.com/

Jersey's Own MR ABILLITY spotted in Brooklyn!

" VALUE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DOLLAR BILL"

NYPDs 21st Precinct Turned Graffiti x StreetArt Exhibition

   The NYPDs 21st Precinct acted as a functioning precinct from 1863 to 1914. Located on 327 East 22nd street, it is now the current location of a Pop Up Street Art/ Graffiti Exhibition: The 21st Precinct x GasHouse District , before its demolition by the end of August. Presented by OutLaw Arts and Curated by Robert Aloia & VNA Mag . NYC artists along with artists worldwide, helped transform all 4 floors of this space (Ironically once used for Out Laws,lol) into a wide open canvas filled with murals, wheatpastes, & graffiti.

  My wife Jess & I, arrived and waited in line to go inside this incredible Pop Up Gallery. The line moved pretty quick, once inside it almost felt like we walked into a 80's/90's house party. The music was first being mixed by DJ Miranda Maxwell, then takin over by DJ Natasha Diggs, whom we have been aquainted with by Jess's cousin DJ Sweet V. They really did a great job setting the tone of the visual experience of art layed out throughout the whole space of the event. Free beer & wine was being served, as they were accepting tips. The atmosphere was positive and people throughout the whole gallery were snappin pictures left and right.

 Going up the stairway to the 2nd,3rd, & 4th floors, almost every inch of space was filled with art. The writings and paintings on the walls reflected the sarcasm, mood, and thoughts of that artist in that particular space, occupied by spray painted words, abstract paint, or characters large and small. From the ceiling to the floor and corners of almost each room, provided a 3D take on that artists artwork! Check out the pics below~ Peace!

Posted on the Blog on http://www.brooklynstreetart.com , here are the artists involved in this project:

Adam Dare, Al Diaz, Amanda Marie, ASVP, Bad Pedestrian, Ben Angotti , Bill Claps, Bishop203, Bunny M., Cash4, Chris RWK, Chris Soria, Coby Kennedy, Curtis Kulig, D. Gaja, Danielle Mastrion, Dasic, Dizmology, Duel, ELLE, Erasmo, Esteban del Valle, Faust, Ghost, GIZ, Hellbent, Hue, Icy & Sot, Iena Cruz, Jesper Haynes, Justin Carty, Ket, Lexi Bella, Li-Hall, Lorenzo Masnah, Matt Siren, Mr. Toll, N. Carlos Jay, Nepo, Nick Tengri, Pesu, Phil, Pixote, RAE, Rambo, Ricardo Cabret, SAE, Savior Elmundo, Shery-o & The Yok, Shiro, Tone Tank, URNY, Vexta, X-O