History of Hip Hop in Yonkers on Display at Hudson River Museum

Hip Hop Heroes, on display at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, explores how the story of Hip Hop has often been told through various forms of visual arts, such as graffiti writing, murals and comic books.

In 2022, artist Evan Bishop, co-curator of the exhibition, began a public workshop series that explored comic book covers, Hip Hop and superheroes.Prompting participants of all ages and skill levels to look inward, he asked them to create superheroes that not only reflected the elements of Hip Hop, but also incorporated elements of social issues that resonated with them.

Bishop encouraged participants to tell their stories through drawings by posing the question, ‘How do you see yourself as a hero?’ He explains: “Having a narrative to tell, and showing your likeness in a superhero format, can really change people’s views on themselves and the world.”

It was through these workshops that the Hip Hop Heroes exhibition was born. The exhibition pays homage to the history of Hip Hop in Yonkers and its neighboring communities, and acknowledges the narratives of current community members. The viewers are given historical and cultural context with showcased memorabilia such as vinyl record covers, flyers and photographs; they are also encouraged to discover drawings from current workshops, music, and video components. The show is an immersive experience that honors legacy and also celebrates current creations.

An Ode to H.I.P.H.O.P — Her Infinite Power Helps Oppressed People, a mural that is striking in both scale and subject, is a mixed-media collaboration by Marco Barrios, Evan Bishop, Michael Cuomo and Nancy Mendez. Each artist sourced from cultural memory and ancestral connection to explore how Hip Hop has long been attached to themes of unity, peace, love and fun. Merging their individual styles to mimic a life-like urban scene, they created a conversational and monumental work of art. At the center of this piece is a mural of rapper DMX, originally painted in Harlem by BLAZAY (Robin Alcantara). Salvaged from demolition, this panel activates the gallery space and reflects the continuity and transformation of Hip Hop throughout the past fifty years.

“There have been artists creating the groundwork for this kind of show for a really long time,” says Karintha Lowe, co-curator of Hip Hop Heroes, and HRM’s Mellon Public Humanities Fellow. “We wanted to honor that and show the ways [in which] Yonkers has always been a really lively place where graffiti artists, muralists and comic artists have been working together.” The Museum’s Community and Partnership Gallery, where this exhibition is on view through March 3, was created to do just that: prioritize collaboration and outreach.

This Gallery spotlights the work of local, regional and emerging artists, along with artists in residence and community-based collaborations. Lowe says she and Bishop want to “give people a wall to tell their story on.” These walls provide an invaluable space where diverse voices and themes are welcome.

Hip Hop Heroes is an exhibition that mixes historical pieces with contemporary works to tell a dynamic story. It commemorates street art in a way that respects its tradition and challenges preconceived notions of the art form. It invites the community to reflect on the past and pull the curtain back on how current generations are upholding and remixing those traditions.

Concurrently, a series of arts workshops are held in the exhibition space, where visitors can create their own “Hip Hop Hero.” The resulting art will be considered for inclusion in the comic book section of the exhibition.