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| Lowell Open Studios Postcard |
The Western Avenue Studios participated in the October Open Studios in Lowell, MA the weekend of October 5th and 6th. They were just one of nine art studios/venues that participated in the city-wide event. This October celebrated the 13th Annual Open Studios and each year it is wonderful to see more and more artists becoming involved.
I had an opportunity to attend the
Western Ave Open Studios last Sunday and a chance to visit with some of the artists
that I haven’t been able to view their work previously. I have been attending the
Open Studios off/on for a while now, but it is up to the artist’s discretion on
whether or not they wish to participate in the Open Studios… and during the
summer months, quite a lot of them are unavailable. The Open Studios are held
the first Saturday of every month, however, during October and December they are
open both Saturday and Sunday allowing for more time to visit with the artists.
I love this event and have long
been fascinated in how other artists set up their studios: What supplies do
they use? What books are in their library? What music inspires them? How do
they have their studios set up? Is the entire studio used as work space or do
they have a display area for visitors? I
enjoy wandering through the studios and chatting with the artists about their
work, who influences them and what inspires them, to discuss their techniques
and learn about new business practices. All of the artists I have come in
contact with at Western Ave are very open and happy to talk about their work
and have been extremely helpful in offering advice on how to become established
in the local art community.
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| Entrance to the Western Avenue Studios |
Those who have never attended an
Open Studio event may find the immense size of the buildings a little
overwhelming, but remember: this is an on-going event and you can chose to do only
a portion of the studios per visit. It is a great opportunity to see some great
art, make new friends and support the local art community – best of all: the
event is FREE.
There is literally something for
everyone at Western Ave Studios: every style of painters working in all media,
fabric artists (there is a wonderful artist that designs playful yarn
creatures), photography, sculpture – don’t miss the gargoyles on the 5th floor
or the Metal Men, stained glass, jewelry design and ceramics… there is even a
model ship studio with amazingly intricate battleships. Many of these artists
also offer classes and workshops, so if you are interested in learning or
trying out a new media, you will have plenty of choices to pick from.
Please note: there are elevators
in the mill buildings, I find it easier to take the elevator to the top floor
and work my way down. There are also plenty of common areas on each floor with
seating for those who wish to take a break during their visit.
Upcoming 2013 Western Ave Open
Studios:
November 2nd from noon
to 5:00 pm
December 7th & 8th
and 14th & 15th (first two weekends in December) from
noon to 5:00 pm
The Western Ave Studios are
located at 122 Western Avenue near downtown in Lowell, MA and consists of two converted
mill buildings connected by a “bridge” that encompasses six floors and over 200
artists. Please check out their
website and blog for upcoming events and exhibitions for the Loading Dock
Gallery as well as artists in residence at: http://westernavenuestudios.com/
Jenn White
White Rooster Studios
Jenn White
White Rooster Studios
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