Watch artists at work this weekend at Crown Heights Open Studios

November 14, 2019 Alex Williamson

Mike Perry’s studio in the Monti Building at 925 Bergen. Photo courtesy of Mike Perry

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More than 100 Brooklyn artists will give visitors a behind-the-scenes view of their creative processes at the Crown Heights Open Studios this Saturday. The free event will feature dozens of open-to-the-public workspaces of painters, photographers, designers, architects and filmmakers, both emerging and well known.

Since its inception in 2008, the event has never taken fees from the artists, or from visitors, who organizer Sarah J. Hall says should feel welcome milling around, taking in the art and mingling with the working artists, without pressure to buy.

“People say all the time, ‘Oh, I’m intimidated to come into an artist’s studio,’” Hall said. “It’s a very relaxed, down-to-earth kind of situation.”

The event began as the Monti Open Studios, based out of the Monti building on Bergen Street, which houses more than 30 artist studios. The industrial building is home to artists and creative firms including Optical Animal, a video design studio, Mike Perry, whose pseudo-psychedelic animations have been featured on several TV shows, including Broad City, sculptor and performance artist Eve Bailey and painter and woodworker Kit Warren, to name just a few.

Sarah J. Hall’s Crown Heights studio. Photo courtesy of Sarah J. Hall

An increasing number of artists in buildings surrounding the Monti have signed on to participate in the open studios over the past decade, expanding the event’s footprint until its map encompasses most of Crown Heights. This Saturday, 20 other studio buildings between Washington Avenue and Rochester Avenue will open their doors to visitors.

Galleries in Crown Heights, including Gridspace and Five Myles Gallery, will also take part this year.

“Now we’re getting so many calls from people wanting to be involved,” said Hall. “As the ball starts going down the hill, it gets bigger and bigger.”

Crown Heights Open Studios begins at noon on Saturday, Nov. 16 and ends at 6 p.m. For a map and a full list of participants, visit here. Paper maps will also be available at the Monti Building at 925 Bergen St.