writers and other originating artists with venues and each other,” according to the nonprofits’ online content. This year, for Bushwick Open Studios Norte Maar decided to focus on the “found assemblage work” of Jabaut, Andrew said. Originally from Plattsburgh, Jabuat has traveled extensively and does most of his work at his home in Jay, New York. The work Jabuat showed at open studios was minimalist, installationstyle sculpture, made mostly from discarded items. “Jabaut draws inspiration from the natural world reclaiming the industrial and vice-versa. His materials are collected from seashores and abandoned sites alike,” his biographical essay, hosted on the website explains. He is also “inspired by the American landscape of discarded objects, be them industrial or domestic items such as a metal frame for a conveyor belt or a wooden kitchen chair,” Jabuat said. Concerning the importance of Bushwick Open Studios to Jabuat as artist, “it is an important aspect to my existence in Bushwick,” he said. “BOS has allowed me each year to converse with my neighbors about the strong aspect of community in the art scene and how the big ‘ego’s’ and curatorial nature of other art groups is still relatively absent from BOS still. The New York art world will still continue to pan certain Bushwick art establishments, but the key is that BOS allows them to participate in an art event that does not require ‘thousands of dollars’ as an entry fee to be seen,” Jabuat added. Photographers Ray Henders and Joanne Leah showed work at their home. They own a large photo printing machine that is kept on the first floor, making the duo something of a self-contained, cottage industry for high quality photography. They also have a print studio in their apartment where they produce original work. Henders, originally from Chicago draws inspiration for his work from that city of Big Shoulders. “I was just sort of inspired by the Chicago train,” Henders said. Some of the photos at the show were shots of local trains rumbling through the neighborhood where he now lives. “When I moved to Bushwick, I was very inspired by the elevated train lines, I was drawn to that,” he said. “I was also interested in the history of Bushwick and how things like old signs are disappearing so quickly.” He captured some of the images shown with a cheap, toy camera, in part because “it’s less assuming on the streets of Bushwick,” he said. Of this work, Henders said, “It’s about the stuff that is disappearing in Bushwick.” The “most recent black and white Bushwick work was inspired the history of the neighborhood. I was drawn to the train lines and the fading signage, from a more prosperous time in the neighborhood,” he said. Leah, a photographer as well, described the distinction between the two artists work as “he’s more documentary, with portraits. It’s a good balance. He uses a more black and white, while I tend to use a lot of color,” she said. “To me, art is the search for bravery and honesty,” Leah added. “My work is inspired by personal storytelling.” For Leah, Bushwick Open Studios is about “connecting with people,” she said. To Henders, the events are a way to celebrate local artists. “Most important to me as an artist in Bushwick is giving a voice to all artists in Bushwick, not just those being shown in ‘Galleries.’ Open Studios is about giving the public a chance to see artists work, in progress in the environment they created it. Not about ‘curated’ shows,” Henders said. TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 • 57 Artists Make Most Of Bushwick Open Studios -CONTINUED FROM PG. 19-
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