Meet Amazing Artists Aplenty This Weekend at Gowanus Open Studios
Gowanus Open Studios has just about arrived, providing the community with an incredible and rare opportunity to meet artists and engage in a dialogue about their work in their very own studios.
This year, there will be over 350 artists participating.
The studios will be open on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday 16 between 12-6pm, when you can see pieces while exploring their workspaces, which stretch from 6th Avenue to Lorraine Street in Red Hook, and from Pacific Street to 17th Street.
We’ll be writing a review of highlights from the weekend, so you can check back early next week for our thoughts.
Last year, Gowanus Open Studios was also a time of protest. Approximately 300 artists who have their studios in various buildings on 9th Street, 10th Street, and 2nd Avenue near the Gowanus Canal were told that either their leases would not be renewed, or that they must vacate their studios within 30 days.
Abby Subak, Director 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.”
And more recently, a group of about 20 comic books illustrators had to vacate their space at 2nd Avenue and 9th Street, DNAinfo reported.
On the upside, the neighborhood has been a hotbed of talented artists for months now. Last month, the wildly successful first annual Art Slope, a nine-day arts festival, took over.
Are you overwhelmed by the possibilities? Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know to enjoy everything the open studios weekend has to offer.
• Get a preview of the participating artists online to figure out what you’d like to see.
• Maps will be available around the neighborhood, but print this one out, or bookmark it on your phone.
• The Kickoff Party in on Friday at 7pm at Dirty Precious (317 3rd Avenue near 1st Street)
• The GOS 2016 Art Party on Saturday at 6pm, presented by Gowanus Swim Societyy at Halyards Bar (406 3rd Avenue, corner of 6th St) and featuring live music and artistic performances.
• Come to the Closing Party hosted by Arts Gowanus at Threes Brewing (333 Douglass Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues). Admission is free and the party begins at 6:00pm.
• This is a great chance to buy art, but bring a checkbook in case the artist doesn’t accept credit cards.
• Artists and visitors are encouraged to document the weekend on Instagram and Twitter (@artsgowanus) with the hashtag #GOS2016.
The cultural backbone any neighborhood, city, or region is strengthened by the hands and ideas of artists. While Park Slope Stoop aims to cover all multi-disciplinary in the neighborhood, it’s nearly impossible. The talent is simply everywhere.