Local Artists Shine Using Stoops as Their Stage

As a dancer and recent Bed-Stuy transplant, Kendra Ross, 28, is discovering that the neighborhood is a gold mine for creative and performance artists. Yet, she feels, not enough of Bed-Stuy's residents know this.

“The wealth of artistry that exists in Bed-Stuy and the legacy of people like Biggie Smalls and Lena Horne is just incredible,” said Ross.  “And when I meet people outside of Bed-Stuy who are also artists, and we’re like ‘Oh you live in Bed-Stuy? I live in Bed-Stuy too!’ I feel like there’s so much art dwelling and simmering inside of Bed-Stuy, but we don’t know each other.”

“This community is such a strong community; the people are invested. And so I wanted a tangible way for the artists to be able to tap into that as well.”

Ross was inspired by an annual event in Fort Greene called The Stoop, creative by the group Focus which uses the arts to bring the community outside to Fort Greene Park to engage with one another.

“And I thought wow, what if it actually took place on stoops?”

So Ross launched Bed-Stuy Stoops, a day for various Bed-Stuy homeowners to collaborate with local artists – 15 total – to present mini-performances and art showcases on their stoops, yards or sidewalks. 

Bed-Stuy Stoops will take place on Sunday, June 23, from 2:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. (rain date June 30), beginning with an opening reception at Freebrook Mansion, located at 375 Stuyvesant Avenue, where the community will be introduced to the event, its purpose, sponsoring businesses, staff and gracious homeowners. 

The Stoop as the Stage:

Dance, music and theatre performances will continue throughout the duration of the event. Visual artists will showcase their art as well as create live art and will be available in between performances so they can discuss their work, get to know the people of the community, and inspire community members to get to know each other.

Participants will be encouraged to purchase a STooPS SightSeer Schedule, a $10 guide with a map of locations and schedule for all performances, which will be made available at Freebrook. The schedule comes with two raffle tickets for goodies bags filled with items from Brooklyn businesses and complimentary entry into the culminating performance back at Freebrook.

“It’s $10 to purchase a Sightseer Schedule. But technically, you don’t have to buy it, because one of our goals is to make art more accessible in Bed-Stuy,” said Ross. “So you can just stroll up on a stoop and watch. But if you really want to know what’s going on and where, I suggest people buy a Sightseer Schedule.”