Where can you run into your high school art teacher & that stenographer you never wanted to see again? Where can you meet artists who’ve never exhibited beside artists who have shown things internationally? Where can you wander back home, then stumble upon a swingset art installation in the lot on the way back to your bicycle? Only at an annual event called citywide open studios, hosted by Artspace, which expands the first weeks of autumn into three weekends of learning, seeing, sharing, and exploring. I asked 6 people and one artwork at Opening Night what they love about New Haven & what they love about City Wide Open Studios…
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
The cultural diversity. Here we have more art and music than anywhere else in Connecticut. It has the best scene.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
Once a year the community comes together, it is open to lots of people, and representative of the diversity of scenes. It allows you to reconnect with people you wouldn’t see otherwise, it’s a good networking event, open to any age group, young kids, old people.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
We are close to the wilderness—15 minutes in any direction to the beach or the woods. But there is enough city action to also be satisfying.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
Sharks and germs.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
It’s eclectic and down to earth.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
It brings together a bunch of artists in one place, there is good energy. It’s a good place to get creatively inspired and excited about making things.
Detail from Ilona Anderson‘s Dwell
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
The interiors and their acceptance of colorful faux bois tree house art.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
It’s a great make-out spot. All the exposure to artwork makes me want to reproduce.
Jennifer Stockwell
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
Diversity!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
Helen Kauder, I can’t believe I’m saying that, I’m so glad she’s back.
Jason Bischoff-Wurstle
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
It’s small & large at the very same time.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
They throw a great party every year, it opens up community at the right time & in the right season.
Mary Dwyer
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW HAVEN?
The mix of people and it’s history are why I love New Haven.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS?
I love the democracy of open studios—not curated, just original.
Thanks to everyone who answered these questions! Please join the conversation and tell us why YOU love New Haven & Open Studios. We’ll be sharing your thoughts and pictures here and on the facebook, but we can’t talk to everyone! Take a photograph of yourself or a friend, or a favorite artwork and tell us why (or they, or it) you loves New Haven & Open Studios. You can e-mail your pictures to cwospics (at) artspacenh.org, or you can tweet them to @ArtspaceNH with the hashtag #CWOS. One lucky photographer will win a CWOS tote bag!
Let’s share love for this place & the art that happens here!
(P.S. I’m fairly certain Open Studios loves you back!)
Your friendly inquisitor, Beth Anne Royer lives in a city, works in a city, and spends a lot of time thinking about why they do & don’t work. She loves New Haven because she fell in love there once, and it will forever be all romantical to her in autumn for this reason.
Beth loves open studios because it is unexpected, and she loves being astounded, surprised, excited, and otherwise engaged in the world and art is good at doing these things.
Filed under: arts, CWOS, new haven, art, cwos, danielle desanti davis, diversity, eclectic, history, inspiration, jason Bischoff-Wurstle, jenn stockwell, learning, love, love new haven, mary dwyer, meg herlihy, reproduction, ryan cyr, seeing
City Wide Open Studios 2010 