If you did not hear about Bushwick you should start getting acquainted with this New York City’s area with the burgeoning annual event “Bushwick Open Studios”. Where else can you get inside, through the literally open doors, to hundreds of studios and workshops open and waiting just for you? This is an opportunity to meet artists and discover new artwork. Thousands of people come to Bushwick during these three June days. Judging by outfits, accessories, conversations and equipments, among them you can recognize gallerists, students, musicians, curators, art fans.

Bushwick panorama. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Bushwick during the Open Studios week end. Picture by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Be ready to walk a lot (or use a bike) for this event is not a bazaar or an accustomed art fair covered by one roof and hosting dozens of booths. All open studios are located in different buildings and are spread throughout hundreds  of blocks. Look for a special symbol with the event logo, placed on the walls and doors: it’s a hint for you where to go. The best way is to try to be prepared in advance and know who you want to meet and what studio you desire to visit. But there is always an unexpected element during such fests – by all means, you will meet a new talent, unexpected and unknown before.

Here are some re:artiste’s impressions.

Myles Bennet. His welcoming loft shows the “holy grail” and seeds of his future mixed media art creations giving you an insider’s view on his workshop. You can imaging the steps of making the ART and feel like being a part of a creative process.

At Myles Bennett’s loft. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

At Myles Bennett’s loft. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Natalie Simon. A chess theme obsessed artist, a brilliant story-teller. Her artworks play chess and music, show you intellectual robots of the 19th century and contemporary Einsteins of the games and quizzes.

Clair Cafillaz. A ceramics master. There is nothing more pleasant to touch than hand made crafts. If you are a person who can feel the warmth of clay and traces of a potter’s wheel, the Clamlab workshop is your point of destination to see and purchase your ideally shaped bowl or a perfect coffee mug.

Pottery by Clair Cafillaz of Clamlab. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Artists at Clamlab’s studio. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Glen St.Jean. An artist who created a wonderful series of pictures of chairs, having been collecting those impressions for over twenty years. His series can be viewed as a historical insight on interior design trends. Besides, looking at Glen’s pictures you can find your own perfect patterns that cheers you up and brings color to you walls.

Artwork by Glen St.Jean. Photo courtesy of Glen St. Jean

Andrew Szobody. This graphic artists and sculptor begins with his internal, deep, and very sensitive analysis of the meaning of  life, time, age, sensation and catharsis of overcoming problems, similar at every age but perceived by an individual differently at each phase of his life. Andrew’s sculpture resembling a staircase with the stones and mirrors on each step aims to show a way of life, and you decide whether it’s a time to scatter stones or gather stones.

Street art, or Graffiti. Bushwick is a capital of graffiti, a friendly home for wall artists 🙂 You can see lots of wall paintings walking from block to block in Bushwick. The graffity art can be mobile, too. We saw a team of artists, energetically painting their van!

Bushwick. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Finishing touch. Graffiti of Bushwick. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Jack Henry, represented by Store Front Bushwick gallery. A scavenger, an archaeologist, and an alchemist. He collects discarded roadside objects and debris, which he brings back to his studio to embed within layers of pigmented gypsum cement. The sculptures are cast in wooden molds that result in freestanding columns resembling sections of earth cut from an urban landscape.

Store Front Bushwick. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste

Come see Bushwick Open Studios for yourselves. This year there were 637 shows throughout the entire area – a lot to see and get inspired.

Bushwick during Open Studios week end. Photo by Natalie Burlutskaya (c) 2013 for re:artiste