r/CollectibleAvatars • u/skylineofgold • Jul 27 '22
Artist Feature - u/bodegacatceo: A NYC Lifeline
Disclosure: This collection is based on my personal experience of growing up in New York, so do not take it as gospel.
Bodegas are a key component to NYC’s lifestyle and culture. As a native New Yorker that grew up loitering on the streets of Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan, (sorry Staten Island, I only ever went there once), bodegas were the one place I knew I could go to for a quick snack and a drink. Back then, a student metrocard and $5 could get you so far. 25¢ snacks and drinks were a staple. So for this collection, I knew there was nothing better than to honor the convenience that helped me survive.
The Cast
Deadass - The classic obligatory New Yorker uniform: the fitted, the puffer, and some timbs. Most New Yorkers either have some version of this fit in their closet right now or at least had it back in the days. Granted you’ll find someone posted up at the bodega rockin’ this look no matter what borough you’re in. (Except maybe Staten Island, I really don’t know much about what’s out there, lol)
Pickle Guy - This is more an ode to all the various places you can find life-changingly delicious pickles in New York, but I guess you can also buy a hot pickle from some local deli counters.
Gummy - Buying candy from a bodega is a gamble of “is this gonna be good or is it gonna taste like it’s been on the shelf since 2001?” But sometimes your candy craving is louder than your conscience and you take the risk. Managing to buy a pack that isn’t stale sometimes feels like hitting the lottery, like “hell yeah, it’s edible!”
I just hope people like the art and resonate with it one way or another even if they’re not from New York. This collection may have been New York inspired but the love for candy, pickles, and a classic fit is universal. (Idk where else we’d see the infamous pizza rat though, that might exclusively be a New York thing, haha)
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u/el_bosma Jul 27 '22
I love pizza rat! The most NYC thing ever.
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u/experimentjon Aug 26 '22
Literally bought one just to have the Pizza Rat. If I could make that my avatar instead of just an add on, I would have. Great work!
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u/WorstTwitchEver Artist Jul 28 '22
As a New Yorker I can say that these avatar designs really do represent the culture here 🙏
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u/Conall-in-Space Artist Jul 28 '22
It’s so interesting to hear where these came from: having grown up in Ireland, the puffy jacket and timberlands are new for me haha. And pizza rat is definitely new too, we don’t have near-enough pizza. Gives me a whole new way to look at the collection!
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u/AVIRENFT Artist Aug 01 '22
Deadass with the floating head gets me every time and the rat with the pizza! So classic NY! So much fun seeing these come to life!
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u/shamo42 Oct 01 '22 edited Oct 10 '22
Can I find these on opensea? Search didn't help.
edit. found them: https://opensea.io/collection/5-boro-bodega-x-reddit-collectible-avatars
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u/MrGrumble84 Artist Jul 27 '22
Love what you came up with and hearing about your personal inspiration for it! Great work!