Gowanus Artists, Advocates & Councilmember Lander Protest Mass Eviction
During the weekend of October 17 and 18, Gowanus Open Studios — an opportunity to visit and engage with artists in their studios — took place in a variety of venues all over the neighborhood.
The event is a celebration of sorts, as neighbors and visitors have an opportunity to recognize the vital role artists play within the community. Unfortunately, many of these same artists spent their time protesting rather than being creative. And the stakes are extremely high.
Approximately 300 artists who have their studios in various buildings on 9th Street, 10th Street, and 2nd Avenue near the Gowanus Canal have been told that either their leases will not be renewed, or that they must vacate their studios within 30 days. Abby Subak of Arts Gowanus specified that the buildings affected are “but not limited to 94 9th Street, 98 9th Street, 75 10th Street, 75A 10th Street, and 112 2nd Avenue.”
“When you consider the types of artists we have here — designers, painters, musicians, makers of all types, printers, graphic novelists — every type of artist you can imagine we have. This is a tremendous loss,” says Mahlia Stines, a textile artist.
Stines describes her particular rental situation as being “on furlough. It’s a reprieve, like a prisoner who has been given a few days.”
During the rally, Subak explained that the building changed hands during the spring, and that “so many art-making careers are in question.”
Councilmember Brad Lander was on hand to encourage the community members to sign their names to a petition to support the artists that are being evicted. The petition will be submitted to building owner Eli Hamway and his company Industrie Capital.
“The Gowanus arts community is and remains a diverse one,” says Lander. “That’s what we’re fighting for, the values of Gowanus, the values of our community, against just the values of the dollar.” He highlighted the importance of supporting the artists, because he feels strongly that they should “not get rolled over by a big box economy.”
Jenny Dubnau of the Artists Studio Affordability Project (ASAP) spoke about the importance of passing the Small Business Survival Act, which would assist artists in lease renewal arbitration as well as allow them to receive longer-term leases. You can read the bill and sign the petition here.
Sally Lesser (a costume designer, who has been focusing on flamenco dancer closing design), James Ewart (who is both a sculptor and performer), and Susan Newmark (a collage and mixed media artist) pointed out that artists were receiving different information about what is actually happening at 94 9th Street — one of the buildings owned by Hamway.
“They’ve told each of us a different story,” says Newmark.
Lesser echoed Newmark, explaining the building ownership is “very hard to reach.” Ewart is doing the best he can to engage during Gowanus Open Studios, but tells us, “I have to be out [of my studio] by Halloween weekend.”
The Gowanus Open Studios weekend highlights the generosity of many local artists who open their workplaces — the heart of their craft — to the community in order to engage in dialogue with others.
We tried to reach out to phone numbers listed under Industrie Capital, however the phone was not answered.
Now it’s Eli Hamway’s turn to come to the table and engage in clear dialogue with the artists and the community. There are simply too many livelihoods at stake.