Guilds/Fairs – Brooklyn Artisan

By Hand Made

February 10, 2017 by Bruce Campbell Leave a Comment

Brooklyn Artisan slipped out of the borough last weekend to attend the massive NY Now wholesale market held at Javits. Our mission: to locate designs and artisans that exemplified the best in handmade creativity. Result: a selection of beautiful products with a Brooklyn origin.

Above, a Brooklyn-themed card hand-printed by letterpress in the Bushwick studio of Lovewild Design. Lovewild characterizes itself as “family-owned, women-run” and has developed a range of handmade products that are highly sustainable. The greeting cards encourage reuse—seeds are embedded in the paper and will actually germinate into tiny wildflower patches when planted in soil. The cards provide charming and sometimes pointed sentiments—a favorite is “I’m so relieved you found someone to marry you. Really.” Lovewild founder Sierra Zamarripa insists that was what her grandmother actually said to her. It could qualify as Most New York Congratulations ever.

Wilcoxson Brooklyn Ceramics displayed a wide range of bold, modern tableware in elegant forms and colors created in its Greenpoint studio. The style of ceramic is characterized by designer Kevin Wilcoxson as “New Modern,” a derivation of a traditional Japanese Mingei style and highly valued in museum gift shops. Another interesting activity of the studio is the schedule of workshops where participants get hands-on experience in the craft. Other craftspersons might want to consider how to incorporate similar real-world interactions into their businesses.

Jewelry definitely appears to be a growth industry in Brooklyn (viz. our piece from October). Swooping curls of sterling silver and gold are the creative product of designer Lucia Perluck, shown above in the Emerging Makers area at NY Now. Her minimalist designs under the label Lucia Pearl are available IRL in Crown Heights at Marché Rue Dix and online at Etsy. Especially notable is her collaboration with a Moroccan master engraver: Maalem and Maalema.

Williamsburg-based designer Tracey Tanner showed an impressive array of leather products—wallets, clutches, pouches—in an astonishing variety of leather finishes. (And here I was thinking leather essentially came in brown and black. Anyone for sparkling magenta?)

As a footnote, all the designers featured in this piece in all their diversity work within a one mile radius in the Williamsburg/Greenpoint/Bushwick nexus. It is becoming difficult to grasp the volume of creative energy across the whole of Brooklyn.

Filed Under: Craft/Design, Guilds/Fairs, Handmade, Method/Materials, museums Tagged With: brooklyn artisan, craft fair, design, Handmade, Innovation, Kevin Wilcoxson, Lovewild Design, Lucia Pearl, NYNow, Sierra Zamarripa, Tracey Tanner, Wilcoxson Brooklyn Ceramics

Open Studios: Plan A Happy Post-Election Weekend

November 10, 2016 by Anne Mollegen Smith Leave a Comment

Windsor Terrace artist Susan Greenstein’s watercolor view from New York’s High Line (not for sale).

THIS WEEKEND (NOVEMBER 12-13) THIRTY-FIVE ARTISTS in Windsor Terrace and Park Slope will open their homes and studios and invite us in on Saturday and Sunday to have a look, talk about art or not, and maybe buy something, maybe not. The hours are 12 to 5 pm both days. Brooklyn Artisan is quick to attest on the basis of previous years that it’s a lot of fun to do and certainly should give you a good rest from politics.

To make a plan over brunch, check the map at parkslopewindsorterraceartists.com. (The map is downloadable. Most of the studios offer map printouts that you can pick up and carry with you.)

The site also has a Directory of Artists that’s set up to be fun to browse. Use it as a planning tool to choose studios most likely to interest you. In past years, Brooklyn Artisan has started our meanderings at the southeastern edge, 41 Fuller Place, with the dazzling watercolors of Joy Makon. Many of her subjects are local scenes, beautifully composed (and hard to resist. Ask Joy about giclée prints, too). One year we worked north and west to Park Slope, ending up with interesting conversation on technique in Simon Dinnerstein‘s impressive top-floor home studio (his Fulbright Triptych is world famous), and another year, we circled around Windsor Terrace, buying a charming Christmas book with illustrations by Dara Oshin and a watercolor by Susan Greenstein for Christmas gifts.

Warning: It may be hard to part with your gift purchases! (Susan’s watercolor view from the High Line hangs handsomely in this writer’s home even as she types. See homey photo above.)

Filed Under: Brain Candy, Community, The Arts Tagged With: Art gallery, brooklyn artisan, open studios, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace

Visiting Maker Faire 2016

October 2, 2016 by Bruce Campbell 2 Comments

Emiko Shinozaki showing her elegant, chemistry-inspired jewelry at this year’s World Maker Faire 2016 (October 1 and 2 at the New York Hall of Science grounds in Flushing). Shinozaki, seen here wearing one of her signature pieces, lives in Carroll Gardens and works in her Dumbo studio (yes, artists still work in Dumbo). Trained in classical music, she chose jewelry design over medical school, yet keeps a link to her roots by often incorporating imagery that references organic chemistry, “especially caffeine.”

Filed Under: Craft/Design, Guilds/Fairs, Handmade Tagged With: craft fair, crafts, design, jewelry, maker, Maker Faire

Art in the Slope: Hear Six Artists Speak About Their Work

February 26, 2016 by Joy Makon Leave a Comment

440 Gallery artist Richard Barnet at his foundry.

This Sunday, February 29 at 4:40 p.m., the six members of artist-run 440 Gallery in Park Slope will speak about their work in a Q&A session. Gallery curator and fellow-artist Karen Gibbons will moderate this panel discussion about the current exhibition: New Members Show 2016.

Celebrating a 10-year anniversary this year, 440 Gallery is a neighborhood and family-centered storefront where one can explore art on all levels. One or two member artists are always on site during open hours (Thursday through Sunday) to talk about current exhibitions and upcoming events.

Painter Amy Weil works with encaustic media.

Upcoming events
(free, start at 4:40pm)
• Sunday Feb. 29: New Members Show Artist Talk
• Sunday March 6: Me, Myself and Eye: Andrew Drury Percussion—part of a monthly series of musical afternoons

Joy Makon will speak about her watercolor process.

Updated events as well as current and upcoming exhibitions are listed on the gallery’s website.

Location
440 Gallery is at 440 Sixth Avenue (9th Street and 6th Avenue) in Park Slope, Brooklyn. F, G, R trains.

Filed Under: Community, Uncategorized Tagged With: 440 Gallery, affordable art, art, local, Park Slope

This Weekend Discover Art & Artist studios in Park Slope & Windsor Terrace

November 5, 2015 by Guest Blogger 1 Comment

Facing East at Pemaquid Point, watercolor by Brooklyn Artisan executive editor Joy Makon. At letter R on the weekend open studio tour.

Weather reports forecast a beautiful late-fall weekend, November 7 & 8—a perfect time to wander about Park Slope and Windsor Terrace and pop in and out of the 34 artist studios that will be open for viewing this weekend.

The third annual Park Slope Windsor Terrace Artists Open Studio Tour features a mix of cutting-edge, classic and experimental work from established and emerging artists who make Brownstone Brooklyn their home. Many of the artists on the tour recently participated in Gowanus Open Studios and if you had a chance to discover art there, you’ll be pleased to find a lot more this weekend.

Information: Tour website, downloadable map & suggested itinerary, Facebook
Look for the green balloons outside of each open studio location. FREE.

Some highlights from the 34 artists on this year’s tour:

NORTH SLOPE studios: painters Gregory Frux and Janet Morgan, letter I on the map; distinguished classical artist Simon Dinnerstein, letter F on the map, mixed-media painter Jerry Friedman, letter H on the map.

SOUTH SLOPE studios: metal-sculptor Janet Goldner, letter Y, will be doing welding demos over the weekend; David Weiner, also at letter Y, will create event-based sculpture in real time; abstract painter Joy Walker, letter X; printmaker, illustrator, painter Nancy Doniger and kinetic metal sculptor Eric Jacobson, showing at letter G; digital/photo/social commentary artist Bob Hagan, letter M; plus 9 additional open studios—check the map.

WINDSOR TERRACE studios: sculptor Lisa Lincoln, letter P, will be creating with clay on Sunday; functional potter Caryn Kreitzer, letter O; at letter E: monoprints, watercolors by Susan Greenstein plus watercolors, photography by Phil DeSantis, plus 4 additional open studios—check the map.

Plenty of great places to stop and refuel along the route…but you knew that already…

Filed Under: Community, Galleries, Handmade, Look Tagged With: #2015PSWT, Brooklyn artist, Gowanus Open Studios, open studios, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace

This Saturday, Visit Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Show

May 6, 2015 by Anne Mollegen Smith 2 Comments

Joy Makon watercolor detail from “Christmas at the Lake”

THIS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 9, BROOKLYN ARTISTS will begin showing their work in a juried show at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition’s Red Hook waterfront location near the Fairway grocery store. The reception Saturday is 1-6pm, and the show continues until June 14. (www.facebook.com/BWAC.ART or bwac.org) Brooklyn Artisan proudly notes that executive Editor Joy Makon (https://joymakon.wordpress.com/) will be there, for she has a watercolor in the show. (Image above is a detail from an earlier painting.)

Filed Under: Brain Candy, Community, Galleries, Look

Our Library Is Hanging with the Elite

May 1, 2015 by Anne Mollegen Smith Leave a Comment

SO SAYS INFORMATIONWEEK. In the 2015 InformationWeek “Elite 100” listings of top business-technology innovators, the Brooklyn Public Library not only makes the list – the only library to do so – but it’s no. 25, rubbing shoulders in the top quarter with UPS and FedEx, NASA, Boeing, Biogen, PayPal, TIAA-CREF and Merck. Why? “As a result of our partnership with Tableau,” says the library’s President and CEO Linda Johnson, “BPL’s 60 branches are more responsive than ever to the needs of the communities they serve.” The library’s eResources – meaning eBooks and eVideos, catalog info, even homework help – serve Brooklyn’s 2.5 million residents 24/7 at www.bklynlibrary.org. See ya’ at the libe — online.

Filed Under: best practices, Brain Candy, Community Tagged With: Brooklyn Pubic Library, Brooklyn Public Library, InformationWeek Elite 100, innovative organization, Prospect Heights

Want To Start Your Own Artisanal Business?

April 2, 2015 by Anne Mollegen Smith Leave a Comment

READ INVESTOPEDIA’S SPECIAL REPORT on starting a business in New York City, filled with stories of Brooklyn business startups. You’ll see why Brooklyn and Queens are magnets for innovation and small-batch production as well as get important leads to New York City services that can untangle regulations and smooth your way. (Full disclosure: The Investopedia story is brought to you by founding folks at Brooklyn Artisan.)

Filed Under: Craft/Design, Guilds/Fairs, Method/Materials, Outer Brooklyn, The Business Side Tagged With: Ample Hills, chocolate factories, entrepreneur, Etsy, MakerBot, microbrewery

April Is Poetry Month (Not the Cruelest After All)

April 2, 2015 by Anne Mollegen Smith Leave a Comment

BROOKLYN-RESIDENT PATRICK PHILLIPS, who teaches at Drew University, is also a working poet with several titles published. The most recent, Elegy for a Broken Machine, is just out from Knopf and in bookstores now ($20) or in a Kindle edition from Amazon ($12). He is reading tonight (April 2, 2015) at Drew University (with Tiphanie Yanick) and later this month at a Poetry Society gig in the Fulton Street Subway Station. Keep up with his readings schedule at www.patrickthemighty.com. (The following poem is reprinted with the poet’s permission.)