All Of It: Episode Summary – "100 Pieces of (Street) Art"

Host: Alison Stewart
Guests: Steve Harrington and Jaime Rojo, Co-founders of Brooklyn Street Art
Release Date: February 13, 2025
Duration: Approximately 33 minutes

Introduction

In the centennial episode of WNYC's All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the vibrant world of New York City's street art. Celebrating the city's rich cultural tapestry, Alison introduces listeners to "100 Pieces of Art to See in the City," a heartfelt compilation curated with insights from experts like Jackson Arne from The New Yorker and renowned artist Glenn Ligon. This episode focuses specifically on outdoor art, encouraging listeners to lace up their walking shoes and explore the city's hidden and prominent artistic gems.

Guests Introduced

Steve Harrington (00:36): "We wanted to make sure, hopefully, it's still up because the nature of street art and graffiti is that it gets destroyed by the weather or by your peers or by the owner of a building if it is against the law."

Jaime Rojo (00:36): "Placement is key. If it's placed in the context within the community, within the neighborhood, within the culture, and also place specifically on a wall, I think it makes the art pop."

Brooklyn Street Art Project

Steve Harrington and Jaime Rojo, co-founders of Brooklyn Street Art, share their journey in promoting street artists since 2008. Having published over 6,000 articles, their project has expanded from Brooklyn to five continents, highlighting the global impact and diversity of street art.

Steve Harrington (02:25): "Brooklyn Street Art is an artist project. We're both artists. We both lived in New York since the 80s and we've both worked in many creative industries and we began Brooklyn Street Art as a way to help street artists who we knew how to promote themselves."

Highlighted Art Pieces

1. Big Apple Invader (04:19)

Located at 322 W. 14th St., this piece features Invader, a French street artist known for his pixelated, tile-based mosaics inspired by 8-bit video games.

Jaime Rojo (04:33): "He had this project in Paris where he wanted to do 1,000 pieces. And he did it in 2011. And we like this piece because he's giving homage to New York."

Steve Harrington (05:07): "City with the Big Apple and Milton Glazier. It seems like a meta version of I love New York. It's Invader loves the Big Apple."

2. Tom Otterness Sculptures (06:04 - 07:02)

Listener Peter from Jersey City praises the whimsical sculptures by Tom Otterness, scattered across various locations like the 8th Avenue and 14th Street subway station. Despite Otterness's controversial reputation, his brass works remain enduring public fixtures.

Peter (06:11): "I love the tiny sculptures by I think his name is Otterness... They're tiny whimsical figures interacting. There's a whole civilization in the subway station."

Steve Harrington (07:03): "He is a controversial figure, but the art, you know, is made of brass. I think it's going to stay for a long time."

3. Nick Cave Mosaics (07:34)

TJ from Brooklyn highlights the vibrant mosaics by Nick Cave along the 42nd Street corridor.

TJ (07:34): "I love mosaic in general, but the Nick Cave mosaics... I was blown away by how beautiful, how much energy and life they had in them."

4. Bird Mural by Roy (08:42)

A detailed discussion unfolds around Roy's monochromatic bird mural at 16 E. 2nd St., emphasizing its placement on razor wire, symbolizing the intersection of nature and urban decay.

Jaime Rojo (09:04): "He's known for his large scale monochromatic murals depicting animals, often in states of decay or dissection."

Steve Harrington (09:18): "He's trying to figure out whether that is a starling or a crackle, if anyone in that neighborhood has an opinion."

5. Bed Stuy Walls (10:54)

Deborah from Brooklyn shares her admiration for the annual murals at Lexington between Lewis Avenue and Stuyvesant Avenue, showcasing global and local artists.

Deborah (10:54): "It's street art and murals... Artists come in from all over the world... It's one of the different sites you could find street art in Brooklyn."

6. The Cube on West Fourth Street (12:05)

Deborah also mentions the interactive cube at West Fourth Street and Lafayette, a symbol of individual impact within the vast cityscape.

Deborah (12:05): "I always bring my guests to see it because... you make an impact and change the face of New York right now."

7. Dogs on a Wire by Skewville (13:03)

Steve introduces the playful installations by Skewville, consisting of sneaker-shaped dogs perched on wires across Brooklyn, particularly in Bushwick.

Steve Harrington (13:03): "They are echoing something that already is a normal sight in many neighborhoods... it's a mixture of humor, nostalgia, and mischief altogether."

Jaime Rojo (14:09): "What's interesting about these pieces is that sometimes you see a singular pair, sometimes you see multiples."

8. Hammer Boy by Banksy (14:34)

One of Banksy's rare and preserved pieces, "Hammer Boy," located near Zabar's on the Upper West Side, exemplifies Banksy's interactive and preservation-friendly approach.

Steve Harrington (16:19): "I love it because the boy is swinging a hammer... He's cleverly interacting with a piece of street furniture."

Jaime Rojo (16:19): "The focus is the way that he puts pieces and then he invites the public to interact with them."

9. Triangle Fire Memorial (17:34)

Listener Tom from Manhattan shares a personal connection to the memorial dedicated to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire victims, featuring engraved names and contemporary quotes projected onto mirrored surfaces.

Tom (17:16): "It finally recognizes and memorializes the victims of that fire... one of the victims was my great aunt Fanny."

Steve Harrington (18:51): "Memorial murals have such an important role to play in communities and feelings of connectedness."

10. Yusuf Hawkins Tribute Mural (19:18)

A poignant mural recalling the tragic death of Yusuf Hawkins, a 16-year-old from East New York, emphasizing racial tensions and community healing.

Steve Harrington (19:18): "Yusuf Hawkins was surrounded and harassed... Floyd Sapp created this mural originally in 1989 and it was restored by Spector from Canada."

Jaime Rojo (20:27): "He restored it again in 2016 and last year, adding beautiful magnolia blossoms."

11. Love Me, Love Me Not by Fail (21:49)

Located in Transmitter Park, this mural by the duo Fail combines artistic influences from Lichtenstein and Warhol with environmental themes introduced during Climate Week 2016.

Jaime Rojo (22:24): "It was done in 2016 and it was done for Climate Week. And it has also a little frog next to the girl."

Steve Harrington (22:48): "Her socks have patterns from Polish lace as a nod to Greenpoint's immigrant population."

12. Radiant Madonna by Owen Dippie (22:59)

A striking hybrid of Renaissance art and pop culture, featuring a large-scale Madonna holding Keith Haring's Radiant Baby.

Steve Harrington (22:59): "Instead of holding the baby as she was in that painting, she has Haring's Radiant Baby. It's such an amazing hybrid."

13. Rock on the Break of Dawn by oshemiôs (23:54)

These murals, created by Brazilian twins oshemiôs, celebrate New York City's 1980s hip-hop culture with vibrant, dreamlike narratives.

Steve Harrington (24:23): "They are Brazilians, Octavio and Gustavo Pandolfo. They create dreamlike narrative, rich street art characterized by their signature yellow skin characters."

Jaime Rojo (25:13): "They have boom boxes, tracksuits, Converse sneakers... a tribute to Rocksteady Crew."

14. Chambers Humiliated Sound Art (25:49)

Musician Lee from Tribeca highlights an auditory installation at Chambers Street subway station, featuring a multi-tone drone that enriches the commuter experience.

Lee (25:49): "It's called Chambers Humiliated... it's a really vibrant, droning sound. Every time I'm in that station, I stop and listen for a while because it's so beautiful."

15. Duke Ellington Memorial by Robert Graham (26:54)

A recommendation to visit the Duke Ellington memorial at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street, a detailed granite carving celebrating the jazz legend.

Promoted Text (26:54): "Take a ride to Fifth Avenue and 110th street to see the sensational Duke Ellington memorial by Robert Graham. Bring binoculars to dwell on the many interesting details."

16. Wild Things by Fred Tomaselli (27:32)

Located at the 14th Street Subway Station, Fred Tomaselli's "Wild Things" features vibrant, multi-species bird imagery, contributing to the station's artistic ambiance.

Steve Harrington (27:37): "Fred Tomaselli uses compositions that incorporate painting, collage, resin, encased materials... they alter perception."

17. Cornerstone by Ken Hiratsuka (29:34)

Gloria from the Upper West Side introduces the "Cornerstone," a clandestine granite carving by Japanese artist Ken Hiratsuka, symbolizing the blend of traditional craftsmanship and street graffiti.

Gloria (29:34): "It's a carved granite stone at the corner of Prince and Broadway. Made by Ken Hiratsuka, a Japanese artist who carved it by hand with hammer and chisel in the stealth of night."

18. Circulating Yarn Slaves by Dan Waits and Olek (31:24)

The duo's installations feature haunting imagery of trapped individuals interacting with urban structures, blending traditional painting with contemporary street art techniques.

Steve Harrington (31:24): "These are gratings and windows that will normally occur in a cityscape, usually with some hands poking through them or a trapped person."

Jaime Rojo (31:24): "Olek is from Poland, and Dan Waits focuses on the placement of his pieces to seamlessly integrate with the urban environment."

Listener Contributions and Interactive Segment

Throughout the episode, Alison Stewart encourages listeners to share their favorite pieces of street art via calls and texts, fostering a community-driven exploration of New York City's artistic landscape. Listeners like Peter, TJ, Deborah, and others contribute personal anecdotes and recommendations, enriching the conversation with diverse perspectives.

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Steve Harrington and Jaime Rojo express their gratitude for participating in All Of It, emphasizing the continual evolution and preservation of street art in New York City. Alison Stewart closes by acknowledging the vast array of art pieces still waiting to be discovered, encouraging listeners to remain engaged with their city's cultural offerings.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Harrington (04:19): "We tried to choose things from a wide range. Really small things, hidden things, and enormous things."

• Jaime Rojo (03:05): "Placement is key. It makes the art pop, it makes the art interesting and it cuts. Gets the attention of the public."

• Tom (17:16): "I always glad now to be able to see her name there and to take friends and family to look at this new memorial."

• Jaime Rojo (27:25): "The art actually brightens your day... It just brings so much color and vibrancy and life into our daily experiences using the public transportation."

This episode of All Of It serves as a comprehensive guide to New York City's street art, blending expert insights with community voices to celebrate the ever-evolving cultural mosaic of the city. Whether you're a local or a visitor, "100 Pieces of (Street) Art" offers an enriching itinerary to experience the dynamic artistic expressions that adorn the city's streets.