Will Sunset Park Be the Next Artist Community?
The artists are coming, the artists are coming! That’s the headline on the Sunset Park waterfront these days, as the massive 16-building complex known as Industry City slowly remakes itself in the image of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and, once upon a time, Williamsburg or Dumbo (though there are no plans for a residential component)….
The artists are coming, the artists are coming! That’s the headline on the Sunset Park waterfront these days, as the massive 16-building complex known as Industry City slowly remakes itself in the image of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and, once upon a time, Williamsburg or Dumbo (though there are no plans for a residential component). So far, according to New York Magazine, less than sixty loft spaces have been set aside for artists to use as studios, but already a “scene” is beginning to coalesce, with film makers, painters and the like throwing weekly “experimental” parties. It’s really affirming about why we’re in New York and what it means to be an artist in New York, says Travis Boyer, who shares one of the $422-a-month, light-filled studios. For more information on renting studio space at Industry City check out Industry City Art Project and for creative workspace see ICCWS.com.
In Brooklyn, an Industrial Artists’ Colony [NY Magazine]
Photo by Thomas Rupolo
Wine lover is clearly blinded by naive enthusiasm. Of course there are rehearsal spaces in Wmsbrg. Of course there are artist studios in Wmsbrg. But the wine-man seems to be taking it a bit over the top. I think most of what used to be in Wmsbrg has now moved along down the L train or to cheaper areas of city. Any creative people still working in Wmsbrg proper either have lucky leases or don’t have to worry about saving money much.
theres way too many people in Williamsburg and Brooklyn for that matter for any place to be a 100% artist area.
70% / 30% seems like a pretty good ratio. If it wasnt for the hype who would know about it?
also I have to completely disagree with Park Slope’s soul sucking. Just as with Williamsburg no one “creative” without a fucking awesome high paying job lives anywhere in the “prime” areas. I have a friend who has known the Nada Surf guys for years and those guys wouldn’t be living in williamsburg where they live now if it wasn’t for they’re successful music career. People who you’ve never heard of live no where near bedford unless they work during the day at a bank (also know someone who does this in a semi – successful band).
Park Slope is huge and I am friends with a number of people who are teachers, film makers, painters, photographers, writers, musicians and enjoy living in park slope and the surrounding areas. Remember living on 3rd street and PPW is not the same as living on 14th and 4th ave. If anything the area around bedford ave is just as soul sucking as 7th ave is. Just in completely different ways.
Gowanus is loaded with practice spaces (which my band uses) and huge areas for artists to do their art. Just check out AGAST next year.
more galleries in the area would be nice tho.
Winelover–you know Lisa Kereszi?
Methinks winelover needs to escape his Billyburg bubble a little more often.
The more you tout Williamsburg as the best of everything, wine lover, the more you turn me off.
You are ridiculous in your assertions about the neighborhood. Totally biased and over the top.
Keep telling everyone how cool and hip it is. It’s exactly whey people have soured on it.
But you know more about music than someone with a PhD in music, someone who teaches courses regularly on the Music Business at major universities around the country, a performer for almost 30 years and someone who has dated many a “band” member from Williamsburg.
where is better for a music scene in terms of number of musicians and venues??
1. Nashville
2. Los Angeles
3. Portland, Oregon
winelover–who was the photographer who went from Pierogi to Yancey Richardson?
11217 – i listed facts. yes, there are more musicians in williamsburg than anywhere else maybe anywhere. and, where are there more venues? where is better for a music scene in terms of number of musicians and venues?? there are also now a lot of record company/pr/record industry businesses in the area. and, damn the fans are in williamsburg.
and nada surf isn’t successful? and they don’t live in williamsburg?
crap if you are in the music biz why in god’s name are you in park slope? park slope is what happens to you if you lose a bet. it’s not for vibrant artistic people. it just isn’t. it’s soul sucking.
what, do you work in classical music?
in any case, the galleries in williamsburg are real. the artists are real. and certainly their successes are real.
i watched a photographer (williamsburg based) go from showing work at pierogi in williamsburg to yancey richardson (considered one of the top photography galleries in the worl). remarkable! the galleries are still relevant.
oh whatever, either you care about living in a community full of creative and entrepreneurial people or you don’t.
Work space is also available for creative professionals.