The Stoops of Bed Stuy Were Overflowing With Creativity During the Annual Art Crawl
Brooklynites hit the streets this past weekend as the eighth annual STooPS Art Crawl took over the front steps of some Bedford Stuyvesant brownstones.
Robin “Dragonfly” LaVerne Wilson leads the crowd for a variety of games during the 2021 STooPS Art Crawl. Photo by Caroline Ourso
Brooklynites hit the streets this weekend as the eighth annual STooPS Art Crawl took over the front steps of some Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstones.
Pitched as a celebration of creativity in Brooklyn, the festival has brought dance, music, spoken word, theater, conversations and workshops to the stoops and sidewalks of Bed Stuy since 2013.
“While the event has become an anticipated mainstay of Bed Stuy summers, it has become even more important in the midst of the pandemic,” said founder Kendra J. Ross. “As many NYC performance venues remain closed, opportunities to experience the power of live art in our vibrant city have been limited. Since being outside has always been our model, we offer a premier opportunity for folks to experience live art while still being socially distanced and safe.”
This year’s art crawl along Hancock Street featured performances from Ross, who is a dancer, as well as vocalist Courtnie, 15-year-old Bedford Stuyvesant poet Kai Diata Giovanni, Robin “Dragonfly” LaVerne Wilson, dancer Cheri L. Stokes and more.
Dozens of locals packed the street to witness the performances on Saturday, July 24.
Event organizers say the annual art walk aims to bridge the “then” and “now” of the rapidly changing Central Brooklyn neighborhood, with gentrification pushing out some longtime residents and changing the face of the community. Through local arts events, the organizers say, they hope to bring together all factions of the neighborhood and increase the cohesion of the community.
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.
Related Stories
- Flatbush Locals Celebrated Juneteenth With Art to Raise Awareness of African Burial Ground
- Outdoor Exhibition at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Dumbo Explores ‘Lost Ones’ of Racist Violence
- Short Film Documents How the Bed Stuy Black Lives Matter Mural Created a Gathering Space
Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
What's Your Take? Leave a Comment