It's not what happened here. It's more what is happening here

Earlier this week, an article published in the NYT about Crown Heights included a quote by Kevin Phillip:

“I don’t think anybody really thinks about what happened here,” he said, referring to the riots. “It’s more what’s happening here.”

Understandably, you may have missed the article and the quote. Today, we thought we'd be a little more assertive, and began taking pictures of folks in Crown Heights with freshly printed t-shirts bearing the same message.

"Crown Heights:

It's not what happened here.

It's what is happening here"

the shirts aren't available in small, yet

...many more photos to come.

I wish I was affluent and could afford to buy in crown heights. It's happening!

Wow!

admiN said:

Wow!

We ARE stunningly good looking, aren't we?

Love the T-shirt...I want one!!! How can I get it?

Just to play devil's advocate.

By saying "It's not what happened here" aren't you paradoxically reminding people about what happened?

Type in "Crown Heights" in google. One of the top responses will be: Crown Heights riots

Things like that ensure that no one forgets.

Things like this shirt ensure that no one forgets the riot, AND that they remember that there is a difference between remembering something, and being defined by it.

Keneiva-

Glad you like the shirt! An initial batch was quickly printed for the local merchants and self decribed "busybodies", and I'll let you know once there is a more comprehensive plan.

The team gets things done, but is presently working at getting things done.

Great idea and great t-shirt. Do let us know when they are available.

Readers,

Please chime in whether you'd be interested in going to Candy Shop (located on Franklin Ave in CH) to buy a shirt for, say, $25.

By chiming in, you would not be committing to buying a shirt; you would simply be informing our guess on how many shirts we should have printed.

Make it happen....

We should be good for two.

The orthography is a little unfortunate.

Perhaps.

However, the time it took to go from idea, to production, to retail is quite stellar.

How about on later printings you just have the sentence: It's What Happened Here and then have the what and happened crossed out and write above What's Happening?

Just an idea to cut down on the wordiness. Or put the words on the back of the shirt and the Franklin ave./Crown Heights emblem on the front?

It's a great idea and would be a shame to lose the message in it's effect.

If the plan is to make it for a kids size shirt it's unlikely that it will all fit and still be readable in it's present design.

Not to get too insightful, but some new CH residents commented to me that their first thought was that the quote referenced the incident in which four people were shot (2 fatally) on Labor Day 2011; The police interrupted a shooting in progress, and a full description of incident is available via google.

To my surprise, they made NO immediate association with what the shirt said and the 1992 riot....

Leading me to suggest that the best design for this tshirt may be one in which the reader has to ask the wearer what the quote means TO THEM.

I'm also a charitable guy, and part of me wants the shirt to not be SO great that we put the traditional brick-and-mortar places (like Old Navy and The Gap) out of business due our unfair advantage of not having to pay rent. [/sarcasm]

Regardless, a bunch of shirts with the present design are now available at the Candy Shop on Franklin Ave.

Come and get 'em.

Hot off the press.

Available in a variety of colors and sizes.

I am pleased to report, this project is now at the level that you can pay for a shirt and get it delivered to you in a few days, all without leaving your apartment.

You'll need a paypal account.

http://shop.abouttimeboutique.com/product/new-franklin-ave-tee

I agree with tasteinbk that the design is a little busy, but I really really love the idea (neighborhood pride!) and will have to look for one at Candy Shop.

We hear you on the "make the design less busy", and will see what we can change next batch.

...until then, you can choose from very limited printings of long sleeve shirts, hoodie and non-hoodie sweatshirts and t-shirts in lighter colors!

I'm fine with the design, but the "Its" really needs to be corrected before I can wear one of those :-P

Ah, I see what you mean. Maybe English majors will use a dot of Liquid Paper there.

Are there English majors on Franklin Ave?

Do they still make Liquid Paper?

I bet there are a lot of English majors on the avenue. I am not one of them though. And yes, as a ache I can say that they do, indeed, make Liquid Paper.

Love it! Got mine today, liked the photos so much I reposted them over at ILFA: http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2012/02/its-not-what-happened-here-its-more.html

Attached files

Hmm, must make file smaller ...

People interested in having their photos posted in the shirt can do it two ways:

1. They can upload it to the photosharing website of their choice, then link the location using. Directions can be found here. . Disadvantage, you are posting your own photo, and people will know your avatar = your photo.

2. You can have the folks at Candy Rush take your photo. They will then email it to me to post.

Why is it limited to only Franklin Ave. Is Crown Heights not bigger than that one street.

CH is much bigger than Franklin Ave.

...the tshirt was created in response to an article that focused, almost exclusively, on Franklin Avenue.

...and was created by and for, the members of the Franklin Avenue Merchants Association

Would you like one that left off the part about Franklin Avenue and just said "Crown Heights: It's not what happened here. It's more what is happening here"?

...if there was enough interest, that could happen.

Great idea. I would love one that left off the Franklin Ave. part and would certainly buy it. I bet others would too if given an option.

Yes, please! I'd so buy one that said Crown Heights without reference to a specific street.

pragmaticguy, nearnostrand and nothinlikeabklyngirl, your wish is our command, and shirt like that will be designed soon. However, other wishmakers wished first.

And, with that in mind, I am pleased to present Version 2.0! The new and improved version 2.0 comes complete with printing on the front and the back. This makes the front less busy. We also added a '

Let's review. On Friday, a t-shirt was designed:

Lots of people liked it, but stated it should be less less busy, so we took the writing off the front:

and moved it to the back:

Didn't keep up? This shot shows the front of the shirt "before", and "after":

You and your friend can then look good:

Version 3.0 will come out soon.

Questions?