Creative collaborators hoop88dreams.com and BlusterOne launched the “Truck Jewelry” series with a one day exclusive art exhibition in 2021. “Truck Jewelry,” hip hop’s golden era inspired art of hand-painted hoops on large and small canvases by the renowned New York City graphic designer and artist BlusterOne.
"It brings me great joy to paint such iconic images of a time of innocence, a time when standing firm and being a strong individual meant the world, the true essence of the hip hop culture," says BlusterOne about the collaboration.
"During hip hop's golden era is when I fell in love with hoop earrings," states Shara McHayle, co-founder of Hoop88Dreams and co-collaborator of the Truck Jewelry art series. "The style is a source of my inspiration and it feels luxurious to create, narrate and celebrate a part of the culture that has impacted me. BlusterOne is a well-respected Artist with roots deep within graffiti art and culture. It's a no-brainer."
In the 1980s, Mayor Ed Koch reigned supreme in a crack & HIV/AIDS epidemic with widespread police corruption. The rose continued to grow from the concrete. The styles created were a reflection of the times within the black inner-city neighborhoods. One style was "Truck Jewelry" and another was what we call "Streetwear" today.
"Truck Jewelry, in essence, signifies power, wealth, and social status. The same way that kings and queens wore their jewelry in African cultures," adds McHayle. "Truck Jewelry has been a hip hop style reference to describe large hoop earrings, rings, medallions, watches, and chains that adorn the biggest drug dealers, hip hop artists, and hood celebrities...then & now. This style has gone to influence fashion globally from Paris & New York Fashion Week designers to coveted magazine covers all featuring hip hop styles in their fashion spreads."
November 13, 2023 to celebrate Hip Hop's 50th Anniversary the dynamic duo dropped a follow up collection with a (7) seven day exhibition in New York City running through November 19th
It was an exciting and successful week filled with diverse and meaningful events! The combination of a beautiful opening reception, an engaging fireside chat with Raekwon, and a partnership with Girls Inc Alumnae demonstrates a commitment to celebration, information-sharing and social impact.
Collaborating with the legendary hip hop figure Raekwon "The Chef" aka "Lex Diamonds" to explore jewelry style, inspiration and influence at the illustrious Fashion Institute of Technology was a unique, enriching experience for everyone.
Our partnership to celebrate the one year anniversary of Girls Inc Alumnae and support their initiative was a fulfilling one. Making the connection between hoop earrings with strong, smart, and bold women was both thoughtful and powerful.
Finally, we are excited to announce beginning December 5th 2023 the showcasing of (17) pieces from our collection during Art Basel, celebrating hip hop jewelry style as a unique art form.
Location:
The Art of Hip Hop
299 NW 25th St
Miami, Florida
For more information www.artofhiphop.com
"Truck Jewelry" is an art collection that personifies the strength and boldness of hip hop' jewelry style. The fact remains the best storytellers emerges from their own culture.
About BlusterOne
James Alicea, is a New York City-based graphic designer and classically-trained fine artist, also known as BlusterOne. He has been an art handler by day and graffiti writer/artist by birth of Puerto Rican decent, since 1970. It was local graffiti scrawls, primal lettering, and colorful murals that sparked his interest in art. His ability to manipulate letterforms and execute simple line drawings in his compositions comes directly from watching Sesame Street, Electric Company, and Zoom. In 1982, Alicea took the name BlusterOne and joined the vibrant graffiti movement.
As an original member of The Barnstormers, a painting collective founded by David Ellis, Bluster's work has been shown in New York, North Carolina, Japan, Puerto Rico, and continues to be sought after and collected. He is also most notably known as co-founder of PNB Nation, one of the earliest fashion streetwear brands of the 90s. Today, he continues to make apparel, posters, prints, and art reflective of hip hop's roots and culture (www.blusterone.com)
About Hoop88Dreams
Hoop88Dreams, is a premier e-commerce platform that specializes exclusively in elevated hoop earrings for the inner fly girl in you. Founded in August 2019 by mother-daughter duo Shara McHayle and Jade Everett, Hoop88Dreams is best known for its widely popular and versatile hoop earrings stylish enough to be worn in the streets to the boardroom.
Utilizing their individual entrepreneurial skill sets obtained by their parallel careers in fashion, lifestyle, marketing, and branding, the mom and daughter team created even a stronger lifelong bond by building a brand around their love for all things hoop earrings. McHayle and Everett have strategically chosen to sell their products online by bypassing traditional brick-and-mortar retailers and opting instead to build an elevated hoop earring business exclusivity around classic styles (www.hoop88dreams.com).
