October 7–8 Alternative Space Weekend
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Wide Open fRactOpening /Reception: fiction October 6 Westville Weekend: October 7–8 Alternative Space Weekend: October 14–15 Private Studios: October 21–22 Erector Square Weekend: October 28–29 The 20th Annual Welcome! City-Wide Open Studios Welcome to the 20th annual City- CWOS has become a novel place-holder in our ongoing (and Wide Open Studios! Thank you for timely) national narrative about ‘why art matters.’ That question attending and for your participation is answered each year through this remarkable interactive public in the original creative expression art experience curated and hosted by Artspace New Haven. on display that ignites joy and During your journey, take a moment to reflect on how art and wonderment. The artwork on display creative expression exemplify a truly free republic. and the lectures that make CWOS so meaningful for thousands of Toni N. Harp visitors enjoying this important art Mayor, City of New Haven “moment” is admired and appreciated by a very grateful City of New Haven. Likewise, a word of THANKS to Helen Kauder and the bold Art is a powerful part of our leadership at Artspace, a pivotal destination in the cultural economy. The Arts generates jobs, landscape of New Haven – this year celebrating more than 30 cultural tourism and economic years of original and trend-setting, thought-provoking talent. impact. Equally as valuable, art helps to create community identity City-Wide Open Studios is the centerpiece of this month-long and vibrancy, encouraging people celebration of artistic achievement. This annual celebration is of all backgrounds to connect with enhanced by studio visits, unique workspaces, and special each other. The City-Wide Open gallery exhibitions across this historic city. What’s in store is Studios Festival is indicative of literally a treasure-trove of talent and desirable / collectible what it means to provide arts access to diverse audiences. The artworks! It’s a once-a-year gem not to be missed – don’t forget festival celebrates this power by showcasing and supporting to tweet and share the moment with friends everywhere! artists from all disciplines across the state. This year’s theme “fact/fiction” calls for artists to explore the distinction between New Haven has undeniable, global recognition as a destination reality and illusion within the current political climate. In addition, in the Creativity Economy with City-Wide Open Studios a sure- artists are being encouraged to embrace a culture that supports bet “calling-card” to attract artists and visitors from far and wide. curiosity, action and awareness, in, about and through the arts. This year’s Guide delineates a superb selection of inspiring and imaginative artwork. Like you, I always look forward to attending I interact with artists every day, but CWOS provides a unique this very special moment on The Elm City’s Arts Calendar. opportunity for me to meaningfully connect with local artists to learn about their work and process. Year after year, Artspace Whatever the medium: sculpture, painting, prints, collage, continues to curate a festival that combats the norm and jewelry, textiles, installations or mixed media works… inspires critical thinking through the arts. The City Wide Open each studio visit and every interaction and engagement Studios festival is the perfect example of the cultural vibrancy with participating artists validates this amazing initiative that exists within our great State. and reinforces New Haven as The PLACE to BE – Where Ideas Matter! Kristina Newman Scott Director of Culture, Department of Economic & Community As Mayor of this forward-thinking city, I welcome all visitors to Development, State of Connecticut City-Wide Open Studios with an invitation for you to also enjoy the city’s acclaimed inventory of retail shops, restaurants, and regional attractions during your visit to the CWOS. 2 | 20th Annual City-Wide Open Studios @artspacenh | #cwos | cwos.org For 20 years, City-Wide Open Welcome to Artspace’s City-Wide Studios has played a critical role Open Studios! This year marks in the cultural life of Greater New the 20th Anniversary of what has Haven and the State of Connecticut. become the largest open studios From the first time that artists at event in the region. The theme this Erector Square shook hands with year is fRact/fiction, a provocation one another and met in 1998, to related to the ‘fake news’ and ‘fact the thousands of visitors over the checking’ aspects of our current years who have come to delight in political and media environment. the creative work set in iconic spaces like the Pirelli Building and From October 6 to November 7, you will see a number of now the Goffe Street Armory, CWOS, presented and organized performances, installations, and sculptures that address an by Artspace, has been an exuberant, yet steady source of array of national and local questions. These range from what it community vitality and creative inspiration. means to be American to what impact the Goffe Street Armory has in its neighborhood. At the 20-year mark, a Festival like CWOS thinks back to its origins, when artists seemed disenfranchised from the polity In addition to this thought-provoking work, CWOS illustrates and from civic concerns. The impulse in 1998 was to forge how the New Haven community of artists, local government, connections, literally connecting dots on a map made up of businesses, schools, organizations, and volunteers, can come marks, each one made by hand by an artist who had been together and put on a truly spectacular series of events of invited to “put yourself on the map.” which the entire city can be proud. Over the course of these five weeks, I encourage you to immerse yourself in the intimacy The transformation of our community has been remarkable on of the private artist studios, the grandness of the Armory, so many dimensions. Artists hold more power than ever and the energy of the shared workspaces in Erector Square before, are more networked than throughout history, and are and Westville. understood to be unique and innovative agents of change. What now exists in our community’s conception of itself did not exist Behind the scenes of all the amazing artwork is a very small when we started CWOS. group of tireless and committed Artspace staff members. I want to personally thank them each for their commitment to the The fracturing of our lives at a time when the battle between success of CWOS. This event is a reality thanks to their efforts. fact and fiction has never felt more consequential is our chosen theme that has galvanized some of the festival’s most So, on behalf of the staff and board of Artspace, we hope you adventurous work, and our 2017 lineup attests to the sheer enjoy all that CWOS has to offer… and that’s a fact! number and variety of ways in which our most vital artists are pushing the possibilities of their practice. Matt Maleska Board President, Artspace As you explore the studios this month, know that Artspace continues to stand by our mission to catalyze artistic activity, to connect artists, audiences and resources, and to enrich art experiences and activate art. Your participation, whether as artist, visitor, collaborator or partner, and your curiosity, empathy and generosity fuel this artistic community. Thank you for being part of the Festival. Helen Kauder Executive Director, Artspace Studio locations, dates and times were correct at time of printing but may be subject to alterations. Please visit cwos.org for the latest updates. @artspacenh | #cwos | cwos.org 20th Annual City-Wide Open Studios | 3 October 6 Opening Night Grand Opening [ ] Fri, Oct 6, 5 – 8pm f R act Fiction Artspace, 50 Orange St Neo-American Congratulations! You have in Westville Weekend: Oct 7 – 8 p 8 – 11 Pre-Teen Day-Dream your hands the indispensable After last year’s launch of our new kickoff weekend, all the Fri, Oct 6, 5 – 8pm Guide to the next five weeks artists are galvanized to celebrate the tight-knit creative In front of Artspace of City-Wide Open Studios community in Westville. We invite you to visit the main Noodles On9 exhibition at Artspace and circle Fri, Oct 6, 6 – 8pm the artists that interest you. The Alternative Space Weekend: Oct 14 – 15 p 12 – 27 Outside Artspace and maps in the Guide will then help 165 artists, groups, collectives, art departments, along throughout Ninth Square you find each one. with 12 major commissions and specially-invited projects, combine to offer audiences an exuberant and immersive After Party at Cafe 9 Each year, CWOS adopts a experience across a huge vacant building. Fri, Oct 6, 8pm – late theme that prompts artists and 250 State St visitors to reflect on and engage Private Studios Weekend: Oct 21 – 22 p 28 – 34 around issues that impact our community. This year, we A rare chance to step inside private homes and work invited artists to respond to the spaces. Use the map to serve as your guide, or join a October 7 – 8 shifting stakes in the use and cycling tour. Plan ahead to catch all the artists—some are Westville Weekend abuse of truth and alternative open only one day. facts, the resulting fracturing Open Studios of the body politic, and the Erector Square Weekend: Oct 28 – 29 p 36 – 43 Sat & Sun, Oct 7 – 8, urgency of envisioning new and A unique, open-door invitation to visit the largest studio 12 – 6pm empowering narratives. complex in New Haven where some of New Haven’s most Westville Village f[R]act/Fiction would not be possible established artists work, in what was once the Erector Set without our funders and partnering toy factory.