On May 16th, 2018, advanced copies of my book arrived from NYU Press. Then a few days later, they started appearing in other people's hands: Do you have yours? Send a selfie via Twitter @JustJess_PhD
Hip Hop
Know Your Herstory: CatFight Digital Zine
So I'm in the middle of writing a new chapter for Graffiti Grrlz: Performing Feminism in the Hip Hop Diaspora based on two old ones (from my dissertation) and I realized two things: 1) I'm writing about how performances of feminism circulate online and my blog has been woefully neglected (my bad! writing a book, teaching, and … Continue reading Know Your Herstory: CatFight Digital Zine
From the Archives: An interview with hemispheric graffitera MISS163
[written Summer 2013] No Somos “Mariposas,” Somos “MariPUSSY”: An Interview with Graffiti Art Activist MISS163 aka Sharon Lee De La Cruz. Walking through the streets of New York City you are bound to note the graffiti-covered buildings, bridges, and tunnels. You may ask yourself “how,” but have you ever wondered: “why” or “who?” Approximately 28 … Continue reading From the Archives: An interview with hemispheric graffitera MISS163
Support Few and Far at Art Basel!!!
Art Basel is America's largest art fair which happens during the first week of December each year in Miami, Florida, gathering thousands from around the world to view the spectacle. Few & Far needs your help to make this happen!! Each year we have gone out and painted, each time with a larger and more prominent … Continue reading Support Few and Far at Art Basel!!!
Go See City as Canvas: Graffiti Art from the Martin Wong Collection
About 3 weeks ago I was back in New York City for a handful of days, thoroughly enjoying the dark skies, slushy snow, and freezing wind. What can I say? I'm a winter baby. I had a short list of critical TO DO's for my visit: 1. eat any and all Latin American food (things like tostones … Continue reading Go See City as Canvas: Graffiti Art from the Martin Wong Collection
Notes on Street Art Night in Dubai
When you grow up in Boston and then live in New York City (or any number of urban centers where graff rules everything around you), you get spoiled. I sometimes forget that "street art," in general, is not always part of everyone's everyday experience. Heck, ART (in general) is not always part of everyone's everyday … Continue reading Notes on Street Art Night in Dubai
Running into Steffi Bow At Quoz Day in Dubai
My fieldwork is wonderful because every moment is a possible encounter with a new work or a new artist. The streets are good like that, full of potential. An NYUAD colleague and I loaded up a bus of students, faculty, and staff to go to Quoz, a day of art, design, music, and film in … Continue reading Running into Steffi Bow At Quoz Day in Dubai
Notes on 5Pointz: Feelings, Responses, and the Desire to “Save”
Just before 7PM on Tuesday November 19th (Abu Dhabi time), I glanced down at my phone to get my social networking “fix” before class. I scanned the latest tweets and status updates. And there it was: Rage. Disbelief. Shock. Sadness. I went through each “stage of mourning” in about 60 seconds. Trying to explain to … Continue reading Notes on 5Pointz: Feelings, Responses, and the Desire to “Save”
I’ll have words later, but for now, a message from Meres
An Open Letter to the Wolkoff Family
October 9, 2013 Dear Wolkoff Family, I perused my Facebook newsfeed while drinking my coffee this morning (as per my morning ritual), and came across Nir’s and Bagli’s piece from yesterday's Times. I sighed and thought, “let’s see what the latest news is.” Sometimes, being in the “future” is a very strange thing indeed. You see, … Continue reading An Open Letter to the Wolkoff Family
Feminism is a verb 