Evelyn Hinojosa
On Cue
A mobile blueprint for Block Parties within Marginalized Communities
On Cue represents a mobile and adaptable Block Party blueprint that interweaves historical and contemporary narratives into the urban landscape. It functions as a stage for social movements and creative exchange within marginalized communities. The concept embraces impermanence through both physical and digital spaces, serving as a conduit for narrative dissemination.
Building upon Sekou Cooke's foundational concept of hip-hop architecture, On Cue naturally evolves to encompass not only the musical aspect but also the intricate tapestry of hip-hop music, fashion, and cultural expressions. This evolution takes us deeper into the realms of identity and narrative, crafting a curated spatial dialect that bridges the physical and digital realms. Within this framework, my primary focus rests on the art of narrative utilization through archives, an approach that mirrors the rhythmic artistry of hip-hop's rhyming (cyphing) and music production as signaling. This narrative-driven intervention becomes an alternative blueprint for architectural development, where stories themselves become the structural foundation of spaces that resonate with intention.
The arrangement and design of these spaces serve as a curated package tailored to the specific community. They extend an invitation for certain activities to unfold, while also allowing for the element of surprise that contributes to the distinctive nature of these events. Through this thesis, the exploration begins to challenge established infrastructure and explores alternative ways of holistically representing the community it champions. The gestures of scratching, cueing, bending, looping, sampling, and remixing are no longer confined to the realm of music technique; they have metamorphosed into the foundational elements of architectural expression. These actions, now transcending their musical origins, have gained new dimensions as they transition into the very vocabulary employed to shape spaces that harmonize with the community's culture, identity, and vitality via a live-streamed production.
The selection of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn as the site for this intervention is both deliberate and strategic. This neighborhood stands as a cultural epicenter for hip-hop representation, a trailblazer in fostering communal endeavors, and a repository of a profound history that often remains untold within the community and its new inhabitants, residing silently in the archives. The block party as a medium and typology stem from its origins as a vessel to host hip-hop parties moving them from the underground space to the public space.
By combining the elements of hip-hop and block parties as an adaptable and mobile (physical and digital) concept it serves as a catalyst for changes in community behaviors amid cultural transformations and gentrification. This approach offers a natural solution to foster self-reliance and healing in diverse communities grappling with social and economic disparities, educational gaps, and safety apprehensions.
The communal preparation for the On Cue Block Party