New Haven and West Haven will host the fourth annual Open Studios festival throughout October, turning the historic Erector Square complex and surrounding neighborhoods into a city‑wide art showcase. Over the next two weekends, more than 150 artists will open their workspaces, galleries, music incubators and community theaters to the public, offering a rare glimpse into the creative process.
Artists lead the celebration
Potter Niko Scharer, who also serves as a primary organizer this year, describes the event as “a party” that lets people see how art is made. “I love talking to people and showing them the process,” she said. “It’s about the people and the shared experience.” Other participating makers include potter Annie de Graff, ceramicist Susan Rogol and kiln operator Margaret Ulecka‑Wilson, who together keep the communal gas kiln running.
Roots in a longtime local tradition
Open Studios grew out of the City‑Wide Open Studios (CWOS) festival run by the now‑defunct Artspace New Haven from 2005 to 2020. After Artspace’s closure in early 2023, a group of Erector Square artists rallied to preserve the tradition. Long‑time studio owner Martha Lewis recalls buying old CWOS banners at a closing sale and repurposing them with “paper guillotines and color‑coded duct tape.” The first revived Open Studios event in October 2023 attracted roughly 1,500 visitors.
Family‑friendly activities and community building
This year’s program adds a scavenger‑hunt passport that leads participants up and down the complex’s eight buildings, searching for hidden artworks such as a painted fox chasing a bumblebee. The festival also features a “Wellness Concert,” an instrument petting zoo organized by the youth‑run Music Haven, and family art‑making stations.
Design firm Atelier Cue’s Ioana Barac created a color‑coded map to help visitors navigate the maze of studios, while glass artist Karen Hibbs arranged a welcome dinner for participating creators. Liese Klein of New Haven Aikikai Aikido coordinated the scavenger hunt, and artist‑curator Maxim Schmidt serves as volunteer coordinator.
Funding and volunteer spirit
The festival operates on a modest $8,000 budget, sourced from artist participation fees ($25 for members, $60 for guest artists), individual donations and small fundraisers such as raffles and tag sales. Those funds cover vendor payments and modest compensation for collaborators.
Long‑time resident artist Leila Daw, who has worked in Erector Square for two decades, praised the event’s ability to connect creators who previously “didn’t know each other.” She recalled the early days of CWOS and the disruption caused by the pandemic, noting that the renewed Open Studios effort has restored a sense of community.
Cross‑disciplinary collaboration
Among the participants are scientists‑turned‑artists Laura Vasu, Shaily Menon and Mark Kidd, who call themselves Beautiful Social Art Mechanics (BSAM). By day they work in biotech, academia and laboratory research, but they gather twice weekly in the studio to keep their artistic practice alive. Kidd likens the routine to exercise, warning that without it “the art muscles will atrophy.”
Open Studios demonstrates how a grassroots, artist‑led initiative can enrich a city’s cultural life while fostering connections across generations, professions and neighborhoods. As the festival unfolds, New Haven residents are invited to step inside studios, meet creators and experience the joy of making art together.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
