Bushwick, Brooklyn - Part III

View Part I
View Part II

Harlem was always a wonderful place in my mind. So rich in history and a place where many famous musicians, actors, actresses and activists have called home, and ever since I was a young teenager I have always wanted to live here. A little over a year ago I made that a reality. Sadly now I find myself wanting to move on, wanting to be where the current artists are and dive into present day culture, so I am strongly considering moving back to Brooklyn - Bushwick, specifically. But it's complicated. As an activist that values community and family, I cannot move into a neighborhood that is rapidly experiencing gentrification [read about it here] if I'm going to be part of the problem. So I have to think long and hard before making the decision to move and if ultimately I do decide to, take every precaution that I, as a single white person, will not be exacerbating the problem. I have been to Bushwick multiple times and have even done a photo shoot out there with a client, but I never just perused the neighborhood and photographed, so on Sunday, April 26th, I ventured out to do just that. Here are some of my favorite images:

Bushwick, Brooklyn - Part II

View Part I
View Part III

Harlem was always a wonderful place in my mind. So rich in history and a place where many famous musicians, actors, actresses and activists have called home, and ever since I was a young teenager I have always wanted to live here. A little over a year ago I made that a reality. Sadly now I find myself wanting to move on, wanting to be where the current artists are and dive into present day culture, so I am strongly considering moving back to Brooklyn - Bushwick, specifically. But it's complicated. As an activist that values community and family, I cannot move into a neighborhood that is rapidly experiencing gentrification [read about it here] if I'm going to be part of the problem. So I have to think long and hard before making the decision to move and if ultimately I do decide to, take every precaution that I, as a single white person, will not be exacerbating the problem. I have been to Bushwick multiple times and have even done a photo shoot out there with a client, but I never just perused the neighborhood and photographed, so on Sunday, April 26th, I ventured out to do just that. Here are some of my favorite images:

Bushwick, Brooklyn - Part I

View Part II
View Part III

Harlem was always a wonderful place in my mind. So rich in history and a place where many famous musicians, actors, actresses and activists have called home, and ever since I was a young teenager I have always wanted to live here. A little over a year ago I made that a reality. Sadly now I find myself wanting to move on, wanting to be where the current artists are and dive into present day culture, so I am strongly considering moving back to Brooklyn - Bushwick, specifically. But it's complicated. As an activist that values community and family, I cannot move into a neighborhood that is rapidly experiencing gentrification [read about it here] if I'm going to be part of the problem. So I have to think long and hard before making the decision to move and if ultimately I do decide to, take every precaution that I, as a single white person, will not be exacerbating the problem. I have been to Bushwick multiple times and have even done a photo shoot out there with a client, but I never just perused the neighborhood and photographed, so on Sunday, April 26th, I ventured out to do just that. Here are some of my favorite images:

FEBRUARY 11, 2015: JUSTICE FOR AKAI GURLEY

On November 20, 2014, NYPD officer Peter Liang and his partner were conducting an illegal vertical search of the Louis Pink Houses in East New York. As Akai Gurley and his partner Kim were coming down the dark stairwell where the lightbulbs were out, Liang raised his gun and shot at them, hitting Akai Gurley in the chest and killing him. Neither officer attempted to perform any type of resuscitation nor did they call for an ambulance right away. It is alleged that they texted their union representative.

After all the officers in the recent past have not been indicted for the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and many others, it was announced that officer Liang WOULD be indicted. On February 11, 2015 he turned himself in and appeared in court, in a full suit, no handcuffs or shackles, and to the dismay of many of those present, the appointed judge is Asian. So is officer Liang. Many of us have spent many days in court and we've never before seen an Asian judge.

After reading the charges, the DA claimed that they did not see him as a flight risk and motioned for him to be released on his own recognizance until his next court appearance in May. WHAT? If that had been US, if WE had been in court for the murder of a police officer [if we were so lucky to survive to our court date], we would have been in shackles and thrown in a cell until May. Every day is more proof that there are two separate justice systems, one for those who are wealthy or police and another for the rest of us and if history has taught us anything, it's that an indictment means very little. The killers of Sean Bell and Ramarley Graham were both indicted, yet acquitted or got off on a technicality. We want to see REAL justice and that means everyone receiving the same penalty regardless of skin tone, officer vs non-officer or wealthy vs poor.

Here are some photos that I took of the demostration outside the court and DA's office in Brooklyn, New York.

5POINTZ: NOVEMBER 11, 2013 // PART IV

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5Pointz was a graffiti mecca. A bastion of art, visited by tour groups, New Yorkers, other artists and anyone who could appreciate well-executed crafts by local artists, as well as those worldwide. The 200,000 square foot factory building in Long Island City, Queens boasted colorful pieces and was visible from the 7 train. Its name signifies the five boroughs coming together as one.

And it has now been completely destroyed.

In the middle of the night on November 18, 2013, as a result of the property being sold, painters began whitewashing the art, for the sole purpose of making it unavailable to artists to try to claim the pieces of their artwork. Hundreds rallied on a cold night to denounce the cowardly move by property owner and developer, Jerry Wolkoff and speak their minds while saying their good-byes.

The property will now be used to build condos. Instead of a bastion of art, it will now represent the rapid gentrification of New York City and symbolize the criminalization of any art done by the People and not for-profit. This is the world we live in, where the rich want it all and they will go to any lengths to push us to the fringes. WE MUST FIGHT BACK.

Despite having lived in New York City for just over two years at the time, I had never made the trek. Luckily for me, I finally did on November 11, 2013, just one week before the destruction. Here are some of the photos that I took.

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

FIVE POINTZ

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS, NYC