In the wake of the recent announcement that the beloved neighborhood-wide festival, Bushwick Open Studios will be held in October instead of the usual June this year, at least the date of one iconic Bushwick event remains unchanged.
Popular Bushwick Collective Block Party, which has been held on the first Saturday of June for the last four years, will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2016.
The Bushwick Collective Block Party organized by the street art curatorial project of a Bushwick native Joe Ficalora in itself attracts thousands of people to the neighborhood. The party features music stage, live street art painting, art show as well as community performances and contests sponsored by local businesses. This year again it will be held at its usual spot — on the block of Troutman St. between St Nicholas Ave. and Wyckoff Ave. spilling into Scott Ave.
“It’s never been about Bushwick Open Studios for us,” Joe Ficalora told us. “We’re gonna miss them. They did a lot for the community and it is unfortunate that they decided to just walk away from it,” Joe added.
Joe also told us that not for a second did he doubt his decision to hold the fifth annual block party in June.
“[Being held in October], it’s not the same thing,” he said. “There are so many events throughout the world; December belongs to Miami because of Art Basel, and June was for Bushwick Open Studios,” he said.
“In October a lot of people will be at school, or vacationing; also the weather is unpredictable. I know it because we paint outside,” he added.
“I started to do [The Bushwick Collective] for my mother, and then 30 days later we had a party. They happened to had Bushwick Open Studios. It was one big family,” Joe said.
Joe confirmed that The Bushwick Collective is currently looking into further options to provide Bushwick artists with a summertime opportunity to show their art but wasn’t able to confirm any details as of yet.
Another music street event, which has been gaining popularity in the recent years of BOS, Color Me Bushwick will also maintain its June date. Organized by a high-end hair coloring studio Pickthorn located at 61 Wyckoff Ave, the music festival will also be held in the first weekend of June, according to the owner Chelsey Pickthorn.