Gowanus Open Studios will celebrate its 30th anniversary Oct. 17-18, welcoming visitors to more than 100 locations across the Brooklyn where more than 500 artists are expected to exhibit their work.
The event, organized by Arts Gowanus, began in 1996 as the Gowanus Annual Studio Tour, when a small group of local artists opened their workspaces to the public. It has since grown into a neighborhood-wide arts event featuring studio visits, exhibitions and other cultural activities.
The anniversary comes as Gowanus continues to change following a 2021 rezoning that accelerated residential development, as reported by the Brooklyn Paper. New apartment buildings and rising rents have increased pressure on artists seeking affordable workspaces, prompting efforts to preserve the neighborhood’s creative community.
“I remember when that started and it was just a few artists very close to the canal opening their studios and having a few people in the neighborhood and from beyond the neighborhood stop by,” said JoAnne McFarland, an artist who has been participating since the beginning. “But it was lovely.”
Arts Gowanus helped secure agreements with developers to include affordable artist studios in new buildings. So far, 22 studios at 420 Carroll St. and 498 Sackett St. are occupied, and 15 will participate in this year’s event.
Among the featured exhibitions is “30 for 30” at Union Channel, showcasing 30 local artists, including longtime participant JoAnne McFarland and emerging artist Sashia Jiang. McFarland will display mixed-media dress collages incorporating paper, fabric, poetry and political imagery.
Visitors can also preview Judgy Baby, a new creative space at 170 Second Ave. featuring works by more than a dozen artists, including Chico MacMurtrie’s kinetic sculpture “Organic Machine.” The venue will also host a coffee shop and live music.
Other events include a makers’ fair at the Old Stone House, the Van Alen Institute’s Fall Fest and a screening of the documentary “Gowanus Currents.”
Visitors can find participating locations and event details on the Arts Gowanus website, with printed maps available at selected neighborhood locations.
