Annual Open Studio Weekend

HARTFORD — The 18th Annual Open Studio Weekend in Hartford will take place the first weekend in November at locations throughout the greater Hartford region. This year’s event has grown to include over 100 artists, 14 locations, and 23 performers. The event is a celebration of the arts and incorporates a wide range of artists including painters, poets, jewelers, dancers, sculptors, and spoken word.

“This is a wonderful art event that is suitable for everyone at all ages,” said Tom Nieman, Chair of Artists in Real Time, the organization that oversees the event.  

The kick-off reception and gala award ceremony for Open Studio Weekend will be held Thursday, November 1, from 6 to 8 pm, at ArtSpace Gallery, 555 Asylum Street, Hartford. The gallery will house one piece from each artist and location that will be open during the weekend. This year Mayor Eddie A. Perez of Hartford will present the event with a proclamation, declaring November 1 to be Hartford’s Open Studio Weekend Day. There will be live jazz music from The Noise From The Box, a modern dance performance by Fuller Movement Studio, and West Hartford artist Rick Bach will perform spoken word. The gallery show is themed “Word Play” and each piece will depict this theme.

Open Studio Weekend will take place Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4, from 11 am to 5 pm at the following locations: ArtSpace, 555 Asylum Avenue, Hartford; Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford; 130 Washington Street, Hartford; 8 Fern Street, Hartford; Gallery 11,11 Whitney Street, Hartford; 84 Barker Street, Hartford; 69 Myrtle Street, C2, Hartford; Ellen Traut Collection, 635 Farmington Avenue, Hartford; Institute for Community Research, 12 Hartford Square West, Hartford; 30 Arbor Street, Hartford; and 56 Arbor Street, Hartford. There are also three locations in West Hartford that will be open: Rick Bach Art, 17 Oakwood Avenue; Stone Fish Gallery, 74-A LaSalle Road; and Just Looking Gallery, 16 Lasalle Road.

Live musicians and dancers will perform throughout the weekend at ArtSpace Gallery. The first floor of ArtSpace will showcase artwork from Hartford public school children.

For more information on Open Studio Weekend in Hartford visit www.open-studio.com or call the event coordinator, Chi LaBossiere at 860-295-0433.