Installation view of a pop-up show at 610 Smith Street, including a large tapestry by Shura Skaya at far left (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic)
Over the weekend, more than 300 artists opened up their work spaces to the public for the 18th annual Gowanus Open Studios. The event drew huge crowds to typically deserted blocks near the notoriously polluted waterway from as far south as 18th Street all the way up to Pacific Street.
As the guide of an official, ticketed Arts Gowanus walking tour, I had the pleasure of leading a group around the northern end of the Gowanus Canal on Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, studios I visited on 12th Street and in the TI Art Studios on Lorraine Street were already very busy, suggesting a robust turnout for one of Brooklyn’s big three open studios events (along with Bushwick and Greenpoint).
Pop-up exhibitions seemed especially popular this year, with spaces as diverse as the historic Old Stone House and the grungy studio building at 610 Smith Street hosting weekend-long group shows.
A sculpture by Saint Clair Cemin in a pop-up show at 610 Smith Street
Work by Swoon in a pop-up exhibition at 610 Smith Street
A new print in the studio of Brian Adam Douglas at 183 Lorraine Street
A mural by Brian Adam Douglas in the hallway at 183 Lorraine Street
A painting by Rachel Schmidhofer, “Chapstick,” in the artist’s studio at 126 13th Street
A jigsaw puzzle in Rachel Schmidhofer’s studio combining pieces from two unrelated puzzles
Amy Stienbarger, “Grill” (2014) in a pop-up exhibition at Abby Goldstein’s studio at 110 Nevins Street
A sculpture by Amy Stienbarger in a pop-up exhibition at Abby Goldstein’s studio at 110 Nevins Street
Detail of a sculpture by Daniel Wiener in a pop-up exhibition at Abby Goldstein’s studio at 110 Nevins Street
A sculpture by Daniel Wiener in a pop-up exhibition at Abby Goldstein’s studio at 110 Nevins Street
One of Charles Heppner’s “Prayer Rug” photos in his studio at 232 Bergen Street
Sculptures made from wood shards at Liz Sweibel’s pop-up studio at 295 Douglass Street
A sculpture made from wood splinters at Liz Sweibel’s pop-up studio at 295 Douglass Street
Installation view of ‘Common Ground Gowanus’ at the Old Stone House
Joanne McFarland, “Stunned by What She Saw” in ‘Common Ground Gowanus’ at the Old Stone House
Ellen Driscoll, “Untitled I” (left) and “Untitled II” (right) in ‘Common Ground Gowanus’ at the Old Stone House
Works by Dale Williams, “Kings County Content Producers Barbecue” (2013, left) and “Commuter Kick Restarts Subway Train” (2013, right) in ‘Common Ground Gowanus’ at the Old Stone House
Street art where Degraw Street ends at the Gowanus
Gowanus Open Studios 2014, of which Hyperallergic was a media sponsor, took place October 17–19 at spaces throughout Gowanus, Brooklyn.
