WRITING
Dumbo Open Studios in full tilt
Contributed by Patrick Neal April 27, 2023 10:58 am
Open Studio events always take place on weekends throughout artist enclaves in the city, and this past weekend it was DUMBO’s turn. This year, DUMBO Open Studios included a slew of events — 140 open studios, pop-up shows in studios and conference rooms, installations in storefront windows and on sidewalks, self-guided and docent-led tours, and artists selling their wares on the street. Art in Dumbo’s website offered several helpful maps and interactive tools to assist in planning a weekend of studio hopping, and they will continue to be a useful resource for the art community. A special feature this year was Curated Guides, specializing in specific areas of interest like drawing, mixed media, sculpture, and non-objective art. Exhibitions in commercial, non-profit, and residency program galleries were abundant, as were opportunities to talk to artists in their studios and see work in progress.
Part of the fun for me was straying from familiar streets and better-known venues to discover new art, places, and terrain, such as the backstreets of Vinegar Hill, and arriving by ferry instead of subway and experiencing breathtaking waterway views. I began my adventures on Friday night attending opening receptions at various group shows before heading out to individual studios to see art all day Saturday and Sunday.