SJK 171

Giulia Shine on Curating a Tribute Wall to Hip-Hop With: Jaek El Diablo, Wagner Wagz, Zwon, Bom5, 3Modes, Lucy, Zane, Mrs, BG 183, Yes One and More

November 4, 2026

A hugely impressive production has recently transformed a wall on Bushwick’s Gardner Street, just off Flushing Avenue. Curated by Italian-born, Bronx-based graffiti aficionada Giulia Shine, this multifaceted production features murals, portraits, graffiti, throw-ups, tags and stickers—all paying homage to hip-hop culture. After visiting the wall, we were delighted to have the opportunity to pose a few questions to Shine.

What is the concept behind this production? It is hugely impressive!

The wall celebrates hip-hop culture and its five elements: Breaking, DJing, MCing, Graffiti Writing and Knowledge.

Who or what inspired this production?

My deep love for hip-hop culture, which brought me to NYC from my hometown in Italy. Martha Cooper’s and Henry Chalfant’s photos of painted trains have always been a huge inspiration. This wall is my way of saying thank you to hip-hop culture for shaping who I am. The wall also slowly evolved into a tribute to the important contributions of Puerto Ricans to hip hop.

How did you get access to this space?

When the artist Veng, who maintains the space, saw the wall I’d curated in Long Island City with EMPTYCANS, he challenged me to organize another one. Son Coro helped me sketch out the wall. But none of us expected such a huge production!

How did you decide which artists to approach?

As I sketched my vision on paper, I thought about the artists I know who are deeply involved in hip-hop culture. I chose among them based on their distinct styles and talents: Zwon for his detailed cityscapes; Wagner Wagz and Jaek El Diablo for their amazing characters; Bom5 and 3Modes for their old-school style; and Lucy for her illustration skills.

As the wall progressed, I brought in Zane and Mrs to represent the new generation of writers, along with Yes 1 and BG 183—both Bronx natives—to honor the Puerto Rican contribution to the culture.

Among those who tagged the piece were Cab, Coser, Henry Chalfant, Ree2, Ira, SJK 171 and Veng. Bombers included Stu, Drone, Loot, EXR, Werds and QZAR. KEST and Sten3 added stickers.

What challenges did you face in bringing the production to completion?

There were many. The first was the wall’s size and unusual structure. Creating a preliminary sketch and continually adjusting it was quite difficult. Other challenges included rainy weather, coordinating the artists’ schedules and keeping the stores’ rolling gates closed as much as possible.

I also had to find an affordable lift rental so I could cover my other expenses. Thankfully, the project received support from some amazing people: Omayra, Angelicae, Falsehood, Dirty Water, StreetArtNYC, Erestina, brooklyn.enthusiast, Sonny, DJ Blimey, Rossana, Ansha, LowBrow, Yough, Nelson Ortiz and Football Café.

How have folks responded to the production?

With great enthusiasm! Many passersby stop to photograph the wall or pose alongside it. Some recognize the characters depicted; others reminisce about their days as b-boys or writers. Models often pose against Zwon’s cityscape, and many writers stop by to check on the wall’s progress.

What’s next?

I’d love to secure walls of my own to curate. In the meantime, I’m curating another space with several artists I’d really love to see paint together. This time, though, they’re free to paint whatever they’d like!

Photos:

1 Jaek El Diablo, portrait of DJ Tony Touch; train by 3Modes

2 Wagner Wagz, portrait of Jorge Pabon aka Popmaster Fabel and Bom5

3 BG 183 at work

4 Lucy

5 Yes 1 at work

6 Henry Chalfant and Popmaster Fabel

7 Giulia Shine posing in front of her name written by Bom5

8 The complete wall

Photo credits: 1-3, 5 & 8 Lois Stavsky; 4, 6, 7, & 9 Giulia Shine

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Christine DeFazio on TALES FROM THE GHOST YARD Featuring MIKE 171, SJK 171, SNAKE 1 and T-KID 170 at Bronx Art Space

February 10, 2026

Located on 10th Avenue between 207th and 215th Streets in Upper Manhattan, The Ghost Yard — the largest train yard in NYC — was once home to many legendary writers. Among the first writers to hit parked trains there in the early 1970’s were MIKE 171 & SJK 171, also known as The Boys from the Heights, along with graffiti pioneer SNAKE 1, co-founder of the legendary Writers Corner 188. And earning the title King of the Yard in the 80’s, T-KID 170 began writing at the Ghost Yard in 1977.

TALES FROM THE GHOST YARD, curated by artist and arts educator Christine DeFazio, features works by these writers along with photographs illustrating writing at the Ghost Yard from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. While visiting the exhibition at the always-welcoming Bronx Art Space, I had the opportunity to pose a few questions to Christine:

This exhibition is so interesting and informative! What sparked your interest in graffiti?

In the early 2000’s, I began teaching in Mott Haven here in the Bronx. That’s when I started noticing graffiti. But it wasn’t until 2019, after I transferred to a school in Soundview, that my interest intensified. I started paying closer attention to the graffiti walls on the streets, and I  began attending gallery exhibitions in spaces — like Wall Works — that featured graffiti.

And what inspired you to curate this particular exhibition?

As I began researching graffiti, I read about the Ghost Yard, and it captured my interest. I was particularly interested in its history and its relationship to the history of graffiti.

What would you like your viewers to walk away with?

A sense of the history and evolution of writing — how writers went from writing on trains to painting with aerosol on canvases.

What were some of the challenges you faced in curating “Tales From The Ghost Yard?”

No challenges come to mind. MIKE 171 and SJK 171 were eager to answer any questions that I had, and I loved hearing Mike’s stories about playing in the Ghost Yard with his friends when they were children.

How has the response to the exhibition been?

The response has been great! There was a really good turnout for the opening. and a wide range of visitors have been coming by.

What’s ahead?

There will be a closing celebration this coming Saturday, February 14, from 5-7pm, along with a launch for my new book, Bronx Visual Identity. Tracing the deveopment of writing “from its inception in 1970’s Washington Heights to the golden age in 1980’s Bronx,” the book can be purchased here.

Good luck with your book! I’m looking forward to reading it. This exhibit has certainly sparked my interest.

Note: Located at 700 Manida Street in the South Bronx, Bronx Art Space, is open Thurs.-Fri., 2-6pm and this Saturday, Februry 14, from noon – 7 for its closing celebration and book launch of Christine’s book, Bronx Visual Identity, published by Lived Places Publishing.

Images:

  1. Christine DeFazio to the left of T-KID 170‘s tribute piece to the late Tracy 168

  2. T-KID 170 and French artist BLEK Le RAT, Aerosol on repurposed street sign

  3. MIKE 171, “Golden Dreams,” 2016, Acrylic and gold paint marker on canvas

  4.  SJK 171, “New Piece with Old Flair,” 2017. Acrylic markers on canvas

  5.  SNAKE 1, Orange and red signature piece, Aerosol on canvas

Photo credits: 1, 3, 4 & 5 Lois Stavsky; 2 Tara Murray

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