Whether you believe the music industry to be thriving or dying, everyone can probably agree that there is no shortage of musicians in New York City. In Brooklyn alone, any night of the week offers a countless variety of live performances in all styles. Regardless of how many years these performers have been playing, their level of raw talent, or “who they know”, a single factor determines how they are received by an audience: rehearsal.
Think of the last show you saw. Did it blow your face off in awe? Put tears into your eyes? Or did it put a huge smile on your face? You feel such emotions because the musicians have practiced diligently, and are invested in their own perfection. These artists have been booking rehearsal spaces all over NYC, often traveling across hell’s half acre, hoping to find a room that sounds good. Or, with less idealism, just the most affordable option to practice regularly.
Greenpoint Open Studios (GOS) kicks off tonight and goes all weekend (April 29-May 1), celebrating Greenpoint’s rich pool of artistic talent. From paintings to sculptures, video to photography, weaving and textiles to ceramics and more, there are seasoned artists to honor and emerging artists to be discovered among more than 350 who will open up their studio spaces to the public.
It’s an uncurated free event that allows visitors to get a glimpse of the process and space where artwork is created while engaging directly with its creators. Brooklyn has a long-standing reputation for being a hotbed of creativity and GOS is going to represent its northernmost tip in true Greenpoint fashion—by keepin’ it real—providing an open platform for showcasing the various expressions of our creative community’s imagination and skills.
These doors may be shut–but there are plenty that are wide open! Photo courtesy of 3rdward.com.
3rd Ward may have had its faults (more of them than we imagined, it seems), but there was something deeply inspiring about a huge workspace and resource center designed especially for Brooklyn’s many talented creators, and we’d be lying if we told you its presence won’t be missed. However, in the wake of the spot’s closure, we’ve found ourselves reminded time and again that 3rd Ward wasn’t the only game in town–so many of our friends and neighbors have other studios, class centers, coworking quarters and event spaces with their own amazing offerings. Bushwick Daily and Greenpointers reached out to some of our favorite such institutions, and it’s with great pride that we present our readers with our official guide to ten of this borough’s greatest places to take your creativity when making is your job. Take a look through–you can thank us when you get settled in at a place that hooks it up and makes it happen!
Whether you believe the music industry to be thriving or dying, everyone can probably agree that there is no shortage of musicians in New York City. In Brooklyn alone, any night of the week offers a countless variety of live performances in all styles. Regardless of how many years these performers have been playing, their level of raw talent, or “who they know”, a single factor determines how they are received by an audience: rehearsal.
Greenpoint Open Studios (GOS)
It’s an uncurated free event that allows visitors to get a glimpse of the process and space where artwork is created while engaging directly with its creators. Brooklyn has a long-standing reputation for being a hotbed of creativity and GOS is going to represent its northernmost tip in true Greenpoint fashion—by keepin’ it real—providing an open platform for showcasing the various expressions of our creative community’s imagination and skills.
