Gowanus Open Studios celebrates 30 years with more than 500 artists, Oct. 17+18

In 1996, a small group of Gowanus artists decided to invite the public into their studios for a weekend. At the time, the nabe was heavily-industrial and sparsely-populated, but filled with artists who needed affordable space to work. “I remember when that started, and it was just a few artists very close to the canal opening their studios and having a few people in the neighborhood and from beyond the neighborhood stop by,” said JoAnne McFarland, an artist who has been particip