No Free Walls | Street Art & Gentrification Collide in Bushwick

NO FREE WALLS is an in-depth look at Brooklyn's changing landscape, through the eyes of Joseph Ficalora, the founder and inadvertent art curator of The Bushwick Collective. Joe, son of Italian immigrants, grew up in Bushwick, a neighborhood in Brooklyn once ravaged by drugs, neglect and violence.
He lost his mother to cancer as an adult and rather than going into deep depression, he decided to honor his parents and the neighborhood that raised him. He started contacting muralists from all over the world and 5 years later, Bushwick is one of the fastest growing gentrified neighborhoods in New York.
As advertisers and new residents flood Bushwick, longtime residents struggle to keep up with rising rents and changing landscape. Complex News Documentaries asks: Can a community thriving off its native creativity survive all the change? Will the spreading wave of gentrification whitewash the now world-renowned art and who is at fault?
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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.

[@amenophisiv6904]

Dude crying for his mom was real, made reflect on family and shit.

[@kidnickles101]

Shit for real

[@thelolcat100]

me too.

[@Juggernautss_]

Use a fire extinguisher to paint over them ads.

[@Inkulabi]

burn em

[@krampussbe]

montana ultra wide cans if you dont got an extinguisher

[@kristianafaga2149]

@@krampussbeMTN Madmaxxx

[@krampussbe]

@@kristianafaga2149 pretty much same thing as an ultra wide. i like the mad maxxx better tbh

[@kristianafaga2149]

@@krampussbe madmaxxx is basically a extinguisher

[@greenleafgoblin]

i woulda bombed the ads lol

[@systemdown6220]

Complex doing Docs now had me thinking this was a VICE video

[@fuzionghost7253]

System Down 😂same

[@angeloconigliaro3884]

lmao great comment

[@amenophisiv6904]

Damn, where the reckless teenagers at when you need them, I would have probably painted over all their ads if I was younger. Every time, just out of spite.

[@hansolodolo92]

hell yeah, i miss writing

[@jamesparkerone]

Amenophis IV too right. Destroy them adds

[@oneilmabile5618]

haha thats what i just said

[@jimdor8353]

there sipping coffees and wearing tight jeans

[@briboggs5805]

Or maybe they're** in school learning correct grammar

[@Rapewagon]

rich kids ruin everything

[@jordinhocharles]

Rapewagon *Hipsters ruin everything

[@one_nation_fanwear]

Good to see my man Bishop @10:28 in this video. In the late 90’s I would couch surf at my friends spots in Bushwick / Flatbush writing graff and hitting underground hip hop / hardcore shows. It was dope to watch those neighborhoods evolve with the art / street culture. I miss those days. S/O to Stark & Bisc.

[@1kalmer]

The advertising guy seemed cool then near the end he got so disrespectful, shows how much of an act he was putting up. They should fuck the ads up, that is the true nature of being a writer and the ad companies would stop wasting money if they were being fucked up every day. They go over you, you go over them it is very simple.

[@godessofwrath]

This was awesome and I am glad they covered the displacement of the longstanding community members. I hope that people are not kicked out of their community due to the increase in rent. Keep Fighting the Good fight BUSHWICK !!!

[@agostocobain2729]

Dude let's give it up to Joe for real for real...

[@hatednyc]

As a fellow Bushwick native, born and raised, it’s a total source of pride.

[@joaquintapia8227]

love watching these documentaries, so interesting !

[@michaelturner4290]

Just found this video and saw it for the first time because I looked into Art Gentrification after visiting Wynwood Miami arts district that had a lot of art 15 years ago 10 years ago even a few years ago but 2022 is mainly apparel, sneaker and sunglasses in spaces artists cleaned up back when no one wanted to even go there. The area looks nice but none of the artists can afford the rent.

[@danielchun431]

by far best doc by complex

[@cherrypop555]

Graffiti has evolved in many different directions- especially in the last 5 years. a focus on tradition, the deconstructive and rudimentary, influences from contemporary art, the obvious complexity of evolving trends in lettering. If you want an accessible example seek out Revok's latest contemporary work vs what he is known for. The reason artists outside of graffiti choose to follow this trend of stealing from the essence of graffiti yet not take the risk, and mostly do characters, patterns, minimalism, objects, animals, etc is the same reason as the ad campaigns. it still blows my mind that people would rather paint a cartoon pixar looking monkey rather than try to understand the history of graffiti and focus their energy and time into the practice of the real thing. Because when this trend of "street" "art" is over, when all these basic fools and rich tourists find something new to be voyeuristic yet safe experiencing, and that brand of liquor isnt mentioned by a dated rapper and falls off.. tagging will still be there, and tags are what will be directly on top of all this bullshit.

[@datitsdapussy4283]

Kinda true kinda falls graffiti over street art though graffiti is the pure foundation and non profit

[@mattpruitt5017]

Extremely well said and true. I’m watching the same shit happen over here on the west coast in Oakland. People aren’t giving in as easy and it’s pretty common to see advertisement bullshit get beat into the ground with throw ups and handstyles. No matter where they put them.

[@DeKay1471]

@@mattpruitt5017 same shit where I live in the UK, they are cutting back every public service, but the buff continues.

[@jc9291]

Forreal. These walls tell a story around the hoods of who’s getting up and what’s going on in the neighborhood, constantly getting buffed and you see who’s really active hitting spots, then you got these guys that come and paint a giant mural on that wall, and it’s left to sit never to be tagged again. Fuck that shit

[@acex222]

@@DeKay1471 The buff doesnt just continue, now it's on the spot £1,200 fines from the fascists we call the conservative party

[@folahanadelakun7188]

I love this guy's energy

[@misaelortega6862]

That first add at 11:38 was well placed lol

[@100mphFastball]

The rapper Bushwick Bill even though he's not from Bushwick makes Bushwick respectable because Bushwick Bill is scary.

[@gdupkwin9676]

He is from BUSHWICK his name is rich i used to see him all the time

[@Marcos-xo8nc]

Meanwhile while I try this in my city I get charged for defacing property yeah Ight

[@ItalianIrishguy]

Great documentary! I hope the community stays true to its roots and they kick out those advertisers!

[@genewagner4386]

this is why you need to paint on removable surfaces. Like taking prepped plywood and paint on it then attach it to the area so you can keep moving it. then just place it right over the advertisers .

[@angelicalaflame8413]

Yo complex this the kind of real I want to see, true to the streets that our subculture comes from. Hot 🔥🔥🔥of truth. W.

[@we2mod]

Finally something dope from Complex

[@fiercekoolaid7711]

i live in Philly and every block whether its the hood or center city has a mural and a city like new york should have a program like ours

[@KIMSHIUHN]

it really makes me rethink about the way of overcoming gentrification and other money problems.

[@JWFdocumentaries]

How did this not go viral?

[@charliewingate3x]

Listen to Gentrify my hood - your old Droog .. I'm from Flatbush BK and I see the huge change gentrification is bringing

[@ManilaFreshTV]

This was a sick documentary, props!

[@aloguez87]

this is and still happening in logan square chicago

[@VanillaGorilla7]

LONG LIVE THE BUSHWICK COLLECTIVE AND JOE🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@lmocreativetribe]

Good doc complex!

[@chong3201]

street art is to graffiti as mumble rap is to lyrical rap

[@gonzomax7]

i always say: street is to graffiti what iggy azalea is to the rap game watered down, exploitative, and fake

[@caillou7552]

I love the comments asking for graff artists to paint over ads. Lol real graff artists wouls be way more disrespected by free walls then ads

[@justinsheridan6698]

Street art is fake as fuck

[@seiner0ne]

@@caillou7552 i write and would love more legal walls.

[@tommmy8625]

How do I unsubscribe from Complex Hustle?

[@SankofaNYC]

LMAO!!!! That shit is hosted by like the Complex B squad

[@chainsawteddybear]

you're a fucking idiot

[@konyinsola12]

more complex documentaries pls

[@digiaotearoa5897]

awesome film man

[@jaystewart3820]

This is newton and the inner suburbs of Sydney used to be a lots of cool space to paint ext. now just full of rich hipsters.

[@owleystudios]

Right down my block. Very dope vid y'all.

[@kinimediagroup]

Pretty dope docu!

[@hydrobill]

Excellent doc.

[@chromecannon2536]

Why not paint all the murals blank and make the advertisers pay to have them put back up. Could that work?

[@turbangraffiti2204]

great documentary! I thought I feel exhausted editing my art stuff..^^ But thats realy hard work!

[@conchezness335]

Joe is a cool dude. respect

[@lauw6999]

That's not a piece that's a masterpiece

[@besoebesoe6822]

This video is three years old wow it's still the same to

[@perfectjaffa]

Nice doc, big up Bushwick Art

[@dagrosafinearts]

I grew up in the Bronx in the 80's, and while where I lived in Pelham Parkway was good, if you drove down the Cross Bronx Expressway to the GWB all you saw was burnt out buildings and slums.

[@jordinhocharles]

Now they gotta paint over the ads... since they putting ads over the murals

[@MrThefrederikhh]

this is exactly like the 19th season of southpark!

[@JakeZuidveen]

loved this..

[@angelicalaflame8413]

This is the story of every major city in America today

[@karld6550]

Amazing

[@vlim9606]

Dope af!

[@ZELONER495]

Awesome loved it ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@aime1graffiti818]

those ads need to be buffed

[@karinlo87]

Love it

[@2lbs]

Are all those ads crossed over now?

[@justinhearst]

It's lit. statik selektah is in this

[@thug4life440]

*Rip Bushwick Bill*

[@ef8535]

I love complex

[@JsT.V.]

Graffiti artist should just diss the ads simple yo.

[@jenniferlevesque3433]

Sweet!

[@robinss2863]

BUSHWICK REPRESENT

[@flingstar1244]

how in the f- did they do the editing with those pictures, looking at old pictures with things moving, zooming in at things and looking around on the photos like they're videos, i wanna learn that!

[@Inkulabi]

hey if there is any space to paint please let me know

[@Wagmiman]

Basically this is behind the scenes of the get down

[@munozjonathan86]

Dope lil documentary for the culture

[@tylerdemmerle9816]

This is real Brooklyn shit bushwick represent

[@izhan6991]

great place

[@epademk]

im suprised this dude isnt going around at night with an extinguisher of red , putting huge x's thru all the adverts...

[@JoelVanPatten]

Ads on Street Art KZbin docs are ironic...

[@Juggernautss_]

Use a fire exinguisher to cover the ads in paint.

[@forti8209]

Upload think of what u said

[@CremedelaRay]

Loved this

[@arielrr]

I swear if my city turns into a giant ad... 😤😤😤

[@johnathan1737]

shoutout from bushwick

[@hairystyles4212]

This is happening here in Detroit now too. It's getting bad. Fucking bird rental scooters everywhere in the road and shit all over

[@BUDBLOOOD]

Good man starting the Art Project :) I hate advertising with a passion! I'm halfway through the doc, I hope it turns out well. Get rid of advertising. People before Profit! NOT profit before people. Piece by Peace or Piece by War. Destroy the advets!

[@BUDBLOOOD]

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

[@johnmcfarlane9647]

Anyone recognize the artist who did the 's' in 'Bushwick"@3:33?

[@dillwill1813]

I think it was yer mom

[@deeznuts3455]

love this shit Comlex

[@NycerKWS]

So much respect for Fuckin REVS!! One Love ❤️

[@BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

Lol, mami said “you had your gang bangs”, LMFAO, I know exactly what you’re trying to say but damn that was funny.

[@BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

No love for StylezP, what’s up with that?

[@grief7827]

End credits instrumental?

[@grief7827]

Thanx.

[@beeroot9]

Good shit this was..

[@kerfuffle3891]

bomb the ads

[@deeznuts3455]

10:50 OH my WADDDD.

[@jab7168]

Can i help you? I don't know, what services do you offer?

[@MrDBcooper77]

Loved this shit!...

[@lindylindylindy]

The Get Down already got me hip

[@izhan6991]

artsy af

[@xyvxyethe5584]

first company to choose hand paint as ads?? thats an arrogant statement, obviously this dude don't have research on advertisement from the 1920's - 1930's

[@izhan6991]

I'm coming bushwick

[@--Paws--]

2:50 Is this why there are a lot of random fires lately?

[@Castillionaire]

Nfs 4:40 really got me sad

[@indrataylor9800]

🙏🏿🖤✊🏿🖌️🎨

[@DB-td2qx]

this guys a fuckin boss

[@mattpruitt5017]

Maaaannnn I’d go ham bombing the shit out of those advertisements

[@kalmer5410]

That's one real dude.

[@gabbajon5654]

Cover the ads with throws

[@cloud-seven]

13:00 Let them do it, then paint the fooker

[@gadsenkersczwyk9121]

hey look another beautifully uplifting story that's actually depressing as fuck. way to go, humans. but I'll still buy a plane ticket to NYC & give that dude Joe a hug