Bushwick Gates: Part 1

upfromflames: 27th Aug 2007 - 23:19 GMT

nice work Peter! Photos on demand! It comes across as a photo poem, and I just keep hearing again and again in my head---The Gates are Open!

anon (ool-182e390d.dyn.optonline.net): 28th Aug 2007 - 00:05 GMT

hot damn. One of those is a block from my place. It's interesting to see when someone else takes pictures of a place you go by all the time. Nice shots.

anon (ool-45723c9c.dyn.optonline.net): 28th Aug 2007 - 01:13 GMT

some nice shots. i grow fonder and fonder of our fair burg by the day. shame we'll all be forced into queens in five years or so...

Franny Wentzel: 28th Aug 2007 - 02:40 GMT

You'd think it was Belsen with all the security fencing in front of those brownstones...

lkm: 28th Aug 2007 - 03:07 GMT

Dude, you're comparing modern-day Brooklyn to a WWII-era concentration camp? Please. You've probably never even been here. Or there.

Franny Wentzel: 28th Aug 2007 - 03:20 GMT

Well the look is eerily similar to one of the camps...

And I've been to both.

anon (ool-18bce7a2.dyn.optonline.net): 28th Aug 2007 - 03:32 GMT

Next time take this project to Gates Ave.

99¢Dreams: 28th Aug 2007 - 09:26 GMT

Damn! Major props to you, Peter! An overnight photo montage after my idle posting.

You've even captured the full range, from the mundane to the overWROUGHT. Couldn't have happened better or quicker had I been your assignment editor.

Your last shot, in particular, perfectly captures what I was talking about: the classic gates-with-awning combo. Although it can be found in other nabes, I consider this pure Bushwick. I've often wondered what kind of lazy afternoon sunning can be had behind so much iron and aluminum. But that might be a moot point because I can't recall EVER seeing someone doing such at one of these houses. Maybe not safe enough without bulletproof glass.

I've seen more awning work around some Bushwick houses than in the sun-drenched Caribbean - I'll never understand that. It is important to note, though, how much Bushwick gate-creep is Caribbean inspired -- especially the brick and iron combo, like your photo with the yellow gates, which is classic. They really began to flourish in the 80's and the trend continues. We can thank our many Dominican iron smiths and residents, who've been a major force in this.

Another curious phenomenon has been gate-height escalation, which has been rising in direct inverse proportion to the vast reduction of crime over the past decade. What's up with that?

My next undone hood project: "Bushwick Rat Video"

CE: 28th Aug 2007 - 20:50 GMT

There are a couple pictures with buildings that look identical to the second picture in the Faro Graffiti post. Is it the same building or is it just a mass produced design that can be seen all over the city?

Peter: 29th Aug 2007 - 00:00 GMT

yeah ce, same block, just about three doors down...

rosecolored glasses: 31st Aug 2007 - 17:53 GMT

i had taken a picture of the house on central ave and hart street but misplaced it.
the house is on the north side of central, it has black bars to the second floor. Its funny because my father good friend tooty lived their when they were growing up in the 30's. You have to see it to believe it.

also, houses on jefferson near st. nick with signes on door saying no entryexcept landloard tenant and nypd.

Armstrong: 17th Sep 2007 - 07:46 GMT

wow. I was feeling left out looking at picture after picture of STARR STREET, but then voila! picture #23 from the top actually shows my building! hooray

now I feel special.

JOEY TPA The Public Animals: 27th Nov 2007 - 08:15 GMT

What happened to my beautiful Bushwick, where I was born?

Ivo: 30th Nov 2007 - 16:16 GMT

Simply amazing! I would have never thought NYC would spark me interest.

platano: 25th May 2008 - 22:31 GMT

oh wow i seen one of my old tags lol i cant believe thats still there