Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella Doomscroll 45.5: John Wilson
Apr 20, 2026
John Wilson, filmmaker and video artist behind The History of Concrete, reflects on making art in New York amid rising rents and vanishing venues. He recounts early Bushwick studio life and the shift to laptop-based practice. Conversations explore how digital platforms, funding, and production reshape artistic life and where cultural spaces are headed.
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Hogs And Heifers Moved To Las Vegas
- John Wilson recalled bars and neighborhood places disappearing, naming Hogs and Heifers as a vanished fixture moved to Las Vegas.
- He linked that loss to a broader New York-to-Vegas migration among aging patrons and even landlords.
Living In A Bushwick Loft On $400 Rent
- John Wilson lived in a Bushwick McKibben loft where his room was the exact size of a mattress and he built the walls himself.
- He paid $400/month, shared the apartment with six people, and described unfinished spaces like a dirt-floor closet turned living area.
Fewer Physical Venues Push Artists Online
- Cultural venues like galleries, small theaters, and music spots are contracting, reducing sites to share and perform art.
- This contraction contributes to fewer physical exhibition opportunities, nudging artists toward digital distribution and festival circuits.