Last year, we started noticing a few pastings on empty walls around Bed Stuy, Brooklyn.
In addition to the graffiti and art pieces that make the neighborhood so much fun to visit (and live in), these drawings stood out. Stark and minimalistic in nature, beautifully-realistic women stared out as you walked by with different messages in bold letters underneath.
Stop Telling Women to Smile. Women Don't Owe You Their Time or Conversation.
Powerful words with a very personal message you could feel jumping out from the black and white drawings.
We did some digging and found out the artist responsible is Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, a painter and muralist from Philadelphia. She started the project after moving to Brooklyn and constantly feeling uncomfortable walking down the street because of the barrage of verbal harassment that would follow her.
These drawings were a way for her to cope, as well as getting her message out. And the response around the neighborhood was interesting. You can read and listen to an interview with Fazlalizadeh from last year on WNYC.
Some men interviewed think hollering at women is just part of being a man and should be seen as a compliment. Some women agree. Others, obviously, don't.
Fazlalizadeh's drawings started a written dialogue as well, right on the white space of her pastings. She eventually took them down because of some people taking their comments too far and we haven't seen any of her work since.
Well, two weeks ago, that changed, and it's all thanks to Bed Stuy Beer Works, a new addition to the area between the Myrtle Willoughby and Bedford Nostrand stops on the G. Making a beer stop before the Oscars, there were seven beautiful new drawings on the side of the store.
There are the original ones from 2013 that we saw, but also new drawings that declare: "My Outfit is not an Invitation" and "Women are not Outside for Your Entertainment."
Stop by on your way to Home Depot or the Citi Bike station across the street before they are gone and share your thoughts below. It will be interesting to see what dialogue happens as a result to this new work!
Happy International Women's Day Drifters!
