FEATURES Our Neighborhood: The Way It Was • Interesting People • Local History • Events Around Town And More 21 • TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 Bushwick Open Studios Focuses On Local Artists Lots Of Art Events To Enjoy by Noah Zuss The annual Bushwick Open Studios festival brought visual and performance art lovers to the neighborhood for the eighth year this past weekend, with 623 participating artist studios, satellite events and group show spread across East Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood. Over its first eight years the festival has grown into a bigger event, according to Katz. “It used to be quite a bit smaller,” but its mission remains the same; “to give local artists a platform to show their work to the public and to each other, Katz said. ”We’ve grown in size and scale, ”and the event is “a celebration of the community.” Artists can sign up at Bushwick Open Studios mixer events, or online. Arts in Bushwick also does a lot of outreach on the web to get artists signed up. “We do a lot of social media,,” to promote events she said. To focus the event on Bushwick, and the surrounding areas, and to keep the festival about the community, a rule for who could participate was put into place. The new rule, and just about the only one, is that an artist needs to have a year-round presence in Bushwick to participate, meaning they must either work, live, or have a studio in the neighborhood. For group shows, 50 percent of the artists must conform to this standard. The new rule was to bring the focus back to local artists, Katz said, because “a lot of people were showing that didn’t have live or have a studio in Bushwick”. Nine Hub locations were set up near subway stops stocked with festival maps and information and plenty of water. Bathrooms were also put at the hubs to ensure everyone remained comfortable while enjoying the sunny weekend. Though the open studios and events were spread around the nine hubs, thoroughfares like Wyckoff and Flushing avenues were buzzing with people, both young and older, descending on the cafes, bars and restaurants surrounding the festival. One event, Radio Bushwick, broadcast live from outside on Wyckoff Avenue. Since the first festival in 2007. “it’s changed a lot, Katz said. “There was a completely different leadership at the time We really kinda work year-round and a great deal to make this festival happen.” The neighborhood “is really an artists mecca and a hub for creative minds.” And Community involvement has been great, Katz said. “Yes, definitely. Hugely. In varying -SEE ARTISTS ON PG. 60- Gabriella Rassi of the band Silverteeth kicked off Bushwick Open Studios at the launch party Friday, May 30. Some projects encouraged engagement with the work, like Spread Art’s performance piece outside Pine Box Rock Shop on Grattan Street on Saturday, where people were invited to jump into the pool and “swim” around. This event also featured a black tent that people could crawl into and enjoy the cool air while surrounded by large blocks of ice. (top photo: Ryan J. Davis) Glendale School Goes Walking For Funds Students ran and walked laps around the Victory Field running track in Forest Park last Friday, May 30, during Redeemer Lutheran School’s annual walk-a-thon. The annual event raises funds for the Glendale school’s many educational programs. Students, teachers and parents are pictured above with Michael C. Williams, the school’s principal, at far left. (photo: Robert Pozarycki)
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