City-Wide Open Studios begins this Friday in New Haven!

Artspace
City-Wide Open Studios
50 Orange St, New Haven, (203) 772-2709
City-Wide Open Studios 2013
Opening Reception: Fri., Oct. 4, 5—9 p.m.
Erector Square Weekend: Sat. and Sun., Oct. 12–13, Noon—5 p.m.
Passport Weekend: Sat. and Sun., Oct. 19–20, Noon—5 p.m.
Alternative Space Weekend: Sat. and Sun., Oct. 26–27, Noon—5 p.m.

Press release from Artspace/CWOS

For art aficianados in the greater New Haven area, October is the highlight of the year. That's when Artspace sponsors City-Wide Open Studios (CWOS), a sprawling month-long festival that affords local artists the opportunity to not only exhibit their works in their studios or the alternative space but also to talk with the public about their art—what it means to them and how they go about creating it.

The festival kicks off this Friday with the opening of the Main Exhibition at Artspace in the Ninth Square. The opening coincides with the annual Ninth Square L.A.M.P. Festival (Light Artists Making Places), New England's premier light event.

• Opening Reception: Oct. 4, 5—9 p.m.

Celebrate the festival kickoff at Artspace (50 Orange Street) with all the artists! The central hub exhibition features one work by each of the CWOS participating artists. Pick up the Official Map & Guide. Bar will be open until 8 p.m.

• Erector Square Weekend: Oct. 12–13, Noon—5 p.m.

Erector Square (315 Peck Street) acts as a hub of artistic activity in Fair Haven. A high concentration of artist studios—housed in a former Erector Set factory—make it an especially exciting place to be during Open Studios. Explore the personal studios of hundreds of local artists on your own or through a guided tour. Artspace volunteers will be on hand with maps, schedules of demonstrations and directions for visitors. A curator-led preview tour and cocktail party will be held on Oct. 11. Further information about purchasing tickets will be available in September.

• Passport Weekend: Oct. 19–20, Noon—5 p.m.

Visit artists in their private studios throughout New Haven, West Haven, North Haven, and Hamden. Take this opportunity to see the spaces in which artists work all across the Greater New Haven area. Maps, signage, and guided tours will be provided. Special bike tours, led by Matt Feiner of the Devil's Gear Bike Shop, will be held on Saturday or Sunday. Check back for 2013 details soon. A series of curator-led preview tours and a reception at Artspace will be held on Oct. 17. Further information about purchasing tickets will be available in September.

• Alternative Space Weekend: Oct. 26–27, Noon—5 p.m.

The Alternative Space weekend sets New Haven’s CWOS apart from other open studio weekends by offering artists from across Connecticut, and those who are interested in creating site-specific works, a unique backdrop to showcase their talents. Each year the Alternative Space provides artists with the chance to show work in vacant historic properties throughout the city, connecting artists and visitors with different areas of New Haven. This year’s exhibition will take place in the Goffe Street Armory (290 Goffe Street, New Haven), a colonial armory full of rich New Haven history. At an area of 155,000 square feet, the Goffe Street Armory presents a unique backdrop for visual artists to showcase their ideas and for visitors to enjoy the art. Stop by between noon and 5 p.m.