Festival & Tournament @ intersection of 127th St. and Willets Point Blvd, Queens NY
This project was covered by the New York Times. To read the full article and to see their photos and a short video click here
DAY 2: WILLETS POINT FESTIVAL
On Sunday Nov. 6, approaching el “Estadio”, the stadium we had created out of a dumping lot, there was something different. Food tents lined the entrance with local worker’s families serving Mexican, Ecuadorian & Peruvian food. Latin music filled the roads and children and their parents were on hand in Willets Point. Stepping inside el “Estadio” we found the field clean and the entrance cleared of the debris that had remained on day 1. The community had stepped up and made this theirs.
A Willets Point tour with a local worker
Photos by Annalisa Iadicicco
And throughout the tournament day we were not only thanked but questioned; when is the next event? It should be soon, like next week! We’ve got to keep this going! The enthusiasm and embracing of the unity, community spirit and positivity of the whole event was clear and undeniable. We were told that people are now organizing a baseball tournament, for those who do not play soccer. Even we were told about the singers and musicians that could play on a stage in el “Estadio” and how admission could even be charged. In short, there is potential for a consequent action to really support Willets Point’s community development.
But for the time being, in Willets Point first tournament, the soccer team and local restaurant La Nacional lifted the trophy while Mera sported the second place medals. And for the mufflerman sculptures, Juan Campoverde was made the winner of the sculpture competition. And following the tournament, a large celebration at the nearby Marco’s Bar & Restaurant saw workers and visitors celebrate and dance what was one of the greatest events to happen to Willets Point. But for some, including us, this was not seen as an end point but as a beginning.
Photos by Annalisa Iadicicco
DAY 1: WILLETS POINT FESTIVAL
A water pump ran throughout the night whisking away the downfall from Saturday’s Noreaster. And on Sunday, the first day of the two-day public festival proceeded as a widespread celebration and expression of Willets Point. Artefacting transformed a neglected lot into a stadium, and was brought to life by the workers and families of the business community.
Mad Max Stadium lit for night play
Willets Pt worker Dave Ruff spins down tempo music
Mufflermen sculpture submissions
A sculpture submission
Flowmaster
Installation of Willets Point photography by Annalisa Iadicicco
Installation of Willets Point photography by Annalisa Iadicicco
Installation of Willets Point photography by Annalisa Iadicicco
Organized by Artefacting
Soccer brought the people together, along with the music of a local family business member DJ Dave Ruff. Samosas and Chai were served to guests and locals by an Indian mechanic, and a family of a Peruvian Auto garage served Ceviche, barbeque and other typical latin cuisine. A loudspeaker yielded by another business owner roared play-by-play and jokes to the audience on hand to watch the first round of the soccer tournament. Spectators watched alongside Mufflermen sculptures made by local mechanics.
Photos of the soccer tournament by Annalisa Iadicicco
With the first round nearly complete, we turn our attention to next Sunday when group play will lead into the elimination rounds and at around 8pm yield the final match which will determine the Willets Point Champions. COME JOIN the Willets Point worker community in what will surely be a lively and perspective challenging experience. Directions below.
Easy on the first day of the festival
This festival is Artefacting’s positive contribution to help counter the infrastructure shortfall and neglect of Willets Point. Willets Points’ roads are not paved yet local mechanics take on the responsibility of filling the potholes to make this place work. The festival and public tours are about supporting and exploring a hard working local economy threatened by an eminent domain taking from the City. This festival provides urban renewal of another course; support for this working community’s em-betterment as a functioning economy and support for the JOBS these people have engendered.
SCROLL DOWN FOR EVENT SCHEDULE & DIRECTIONS
Willets Point, also known as the Iron Triangle, is New York City’s cheap auto-parts and service supermarket. It’s a surreal landscape, as autoshops line a pothole-peppered roads that make you feel like you are in an abandoned city. Yet all around shop’s are busy with work, and across the way lies the brand new CITIField Mets Baseball Stadium, and overhead planes are constantly buzzing to and from LaGuardia airport. More investigation reveals an ethnically diverse business community, in which many individuals have invested 10, 15 even 20 years of their lives. It’s a phenomenon of a local economy that is bizarre in many ways… and a phenomenon where auto parts merges with urban identity.
Estadio
Locals & Artefacting cleaning up El Estadio
Mad Max Estadio will come to life on Oct 29 & 30
Temporary goals @ Mad Max Estadio
Iced Tea and lunchtime for an autoshop crew
Willets Point; making it work
Autoshops come together to compete & celebrate this Sat & Sun
Willets Point; fixing old American Cars
Daily obstacles to workers
Photos by team member Annalisa Iadicicco
A place typically looked at through the perspective of blight, neglect and contention as an opportunity for redevelopment. But on Oct 29 & 30 the public is cordially invited to see it in a different light through a one-of-a-kind festival. Willets Point’s character and nature will be amplified through a weekend of events and celebration that exhibit Willets Point’s ethnic diversity, resourcefulness, economic unity, and industrious community spirit.
24 car workshops and garages will be represented as teams competing for a soccer championship in Willets Point Stadium; a 4 vs. 4 lighted soccer arena carved out of an industrial lot with a local DJ spinning music atop of stacked shipping containers. In the adjacent center, mechanics’ life-size Mufflermen (sculptures from car parts) will great visitors and accompany local ethnic music that will stream from an open microphone.
The Willets Point documentary “Chop Shop” will be screened at E.T. Tire Shop… photography will be exhibited as an installation, and Chai & Samosas will be made available from Willets Point’s own Spice Factory.
Queens Museum of Art is partnering in the Festival.
 Chop Shop will be shown on Sat @ 5pm & Sun @ 6.30pm |  “Mufflermen” competition, photo by team member Annalisa Iadicicco |
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Directions; take the 7 train to Willets Point. When you exit the subway, you follow Roosevelt Ave - keeping CITIfield on your left. When you get to the first intersection, the diagonal street on your left is Willets Point BLVD. Halfway the blvd is the location of the festival. total walking time is less then 5mins.
hey guys my name is john i work in the junkyard and i got to tell u that i love what u guys do and is good to know that there is people like u in the world u guys are the best god bless
Hey John... thanks so much for being a part of this-cleaning out the field, refereeing, and keeping things going. Next Sunday will be even better with the final games. Its been great to be in Willets Point and to get to know los "Janquis" a little bit :)
mi nombre es david y este torneo rapido de soccer fue la mejor cosa que apasado en willents point
mi nombre es david y este torneo rapido de soccer fue la mejor cosa que apasado en willents point
Hola David!
Pues no esta en el pasado aun!!! Manyana lo llevamos acabo...y veremos los campiones del PRIMER torneo de WIllets Point. De lo que vemos y oimis, parece que habra otro torne/celebracion en Willets Point.
hi ,I am one of the player of juanita's national team ,we are the champion my friends and I want to thank you to bring this tournament to this place,it was a nice experinced ,you guys are a good soul people,and god bless you.