After departing from Manhattan by coach, your guide takes you along the Bronx's 20-block-long Grand Concourse, an urban boulevard lined with prewar co-ops as well as Tudor, Beaux-Arts and art deco buildings. On your way to Bronx Little Italy, a thriving cultural district filled with specialty stores and Italian eateries on Arthur Avenue, you'll drive past the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, Yankee Stadium, Fordham University and Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, a modest home built in 1812 in what is now Poe Park.
Learn about the working-class neighborhoods of South Bronx, considered the birthplace of hip hop, and discover how street artists have used graffiti as a form of expression within hip hop culture. Now a recognized art form in its own right, graffiti murals have captured the attention of mainstream culture and can be found in some of the world's most renowned art galleries, as well as in international advertisements.
Meet with seasoned graffiti writers who share their experiences and tell you about the history of the graffiti scene, including various styles that emerged from individual or collaborative works. Hear about artists' struggles to establish themselves despite measures taken to eradicate graffiti art from public spaces, and discover the tools of the trade during a demonstration. In the hands-on workshop, you have the opportunity to use spray paint and different types of nozzles to achieve various effects as your group collectively works toward the completion of a sketch under the direction of the artist.
Enjoy photo ops and a Q&A session before returning to Manhattan.
