Open Studios Returns to Red Hook, by Brian Abate

Red Hook Open Studios is returning on October 9th and 10th from 1-6 p.m. after a year off last year due to COVID.

Open Studios is an opportunity for artists and makers to show their work, meet the public and make some sales.

Red Hook Open Studios was founded by artist Deborah Ugoretz, jeweler Katie Lincoln, sculptor Megan Suttles and inventor Richard Upchurch. I spoke to Ugoretz about the event.

“Every year we try to expand deeper and deeper into Red Hook and we started out with about 25 artists,” Ugoretz said. “Two years ago we got up to 100 artists and makers who participated.”

“I’d love to try to integrate the community even more,” Ugoretz said. “It’s exciting to have people come into your space, look at your work, comment on your work and see what they respond to. I think it’s gratifying for both artists and the public. It’s also just really fun!”

The work of volunteers including Ken Aronson is essential for Red Hook Open Studios. He is in his first year on the Red Hook Open Studios organizing team and is responsible for managing the registration website.

“I run Feinberg Studios,” Aronson said. “Feinberg provides studio space  for artists and makers. Currently we have 14 residents that create through a wide variety of media including music production, painting, textiles, woodworking and more. We have a great group of mostly long time resident artists contributing to the artist/maker community in Red Hook!”

Suttles is the owner and founder of Hot Wood Arts, which she founded and opened in 2010. It contains 16 visual art studios, a wood shop, an art gallery and a stage. Hot Wood Arts was developed to encourage collaboration, inspiration and friendship in an urban environment and has participated in Red Hook Open Studios since the first one in 2015.

Red Hook has lots of great artists but many have struggled to find studio space and haven’t gotten the opportunity to showcase their work. Red Hook Open Studios can help bring attention to these artists.

Ugoretz first visited Red Hook in the early 2000s and has lived in the neighborhood since 2011.

“I’ve been interested in art since I was a kid and I have to create,” Ugoretz said. “If I don’t create I actually get grumpy. I studied art in school and even though my parents pushed me to have a more conventional career this has always been who I am… I found the neighborhood so interesting when I first came here because it’s a mix of seafaring people with artists and creatives. I think the fact that Red Hook is inaccessible has kept an authentic feel to it and I think that inspires a lot of artists. It has certainly inspired me.”

When I asked Ugoretz about her hopes this year for Open Studios, she told me “I just hope a lot of people come out to enjoy a weekend of meeting artists and makers while exploring the wonderful neighborhood that is Red Hook. And it wouldn’t hurt to shop in some of the businesses too! I hope we can keep on integrating the neighborhood more and more.”

Registration costs $25 per artist, is open until September 6th. Sign up at their website.