One thing that really amazed me was the first stop at Wyckoff Starr and the map with the pins where all the residents are from. The push pins in those maps were a real eye opener for me.

Thanks to all the organizers of this event

and Erin I will look for you as well

1. The Open Spaces event is focused on Morgan and Jefferson because it’s a one-day event in the winter, not due to any lack of awareness of or connection with the other 5/6 of the neighborhood. As Erin noted, the summer event (Bushwick Open Studios) encompasses the whole neighborhood, and some bits of surrounding neighborhoods as well — we’ll be doing this more expansive event again this coming summer.

2. The event at Bushwick Impact is the second in an ongoing series of dialogues we’re putting together to initiate conversation and bridge-building around the arts and neighborhood change. I understand why a lot of people are skeptical about the awareness of these issues on the part of artists and other younger, whiter, more hair-dyed, etc new residents in Bushwick and other similar communities dealing with the problems of gentrification — trust me, I’ll be the first to tell you that a good number of the artists and other new residents in Bushwick haven’t given this a second thought. However, a large and growing number of artists (including the organizers of Arts In Bushwick) actually are aware of these issues and we feel a responsibility as new residents who are having substantive effects on the lives of existing residents to discuss these questions openly and honestly, make connections across the cultural divides in the neighborhood, and work toward an integrated, sustainable community.

We are beginning to work with a number of organizations in the neighborhood around both sustainability issues and community arts initiatives, although of course building these connections is a slow and complicated process. Jeremy, I hope you and your readers will consider being part of this process, bringing your voice into the conversation and engaging with all Bushwick residents — including the artists — rather than assuming that we’re all a bunch of clueless interlopers who are only giving lip service to the idea that we care about other communities we have come co-exist with in this neighborhood.

If you’d like to come out, the discussion forum will be held from 1-4pm at the offices of Bushwick Impact, 69 Central Avenue @ Melrose. Hope to see you there!

Laura Braslow
Arts In Bushwick

Given the time of year, a more condensed show seems to make sense, and this old guy will try to make it to Bushwick on Sunday to see as much as he can. Tell me, where will you be exibiting?

Best of luck.

Artists are people who make stuff, period. Sometimes, they try to make beautiful stuff, they feel a drive to do it for some reason. Some people find meaning in it and people who can afford it, buy it. Art enriches life. You all have art in your lives, whether you realize it or not. Music and movies of course, if not visual art. It doesn’t come out of a black hole – it comes from a community where artists can afford to live and create something, despite their struggle to stay afloat doing something that is rarely lucrative.

It is good that Bushwick supports artists – and that some of the artists here are trying to be a part of the extant community.

It is difficult to organize a walking tour of all of Bushwick – they did last time, I believe, and it was too dispersed to be a real success. So this time it is two stops – the stops with the artist’s studios.

What other spot in Bushwick is that rife with artists? I’m sure there are other pockets and scatterings, but that’s the mutherload. Can’t be perfect.

Yawn.

It’s funny how little of Bushwick really matters to these cats. Have fun cultivating “curatorial opportunities for individuals in the neighborhood,” when you’re only focusing on a sixth of the neighborhood.