“I begin by thinking… Looking into an artist’s studio is a bit like looking into an artist’s brain —
Artists Alliance Inc. and The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center and present the 24th edition of The Clemente Open Studios from January 28 through January 31, 2021. Despite unprecedented individual and institutional challenges, which forced the cancellation of our community’s annual Open Studios in 2020, The Clemente, together with the Artists Alliance, will host an opportunity to view more than 30 artists’ work through virtual programming, hosted on The Clemente’s YouTube Channel.
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to mount, audiences will be able to view photographed works from resident artists and organizations safely along The Clemente’s facade on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, located on Suffolk and Rivington streets. The initiative, Public Space Open Art was conceived by Flavia Souza and designed by Laura Nova and Brian Buckley. Moreover, the residents will offer a calendar of virtual events, including artist talks with Nicole Parcher, Elisabeth Condon, and Kylie Heidenheimer, studio tours from Lisa Lebofsky, Melanie Vote, Linda Griggs, Jen Mazza, Steve Ellis, and Flavia Souza, a live workshop from Mark Araujo, and performances from Teatro SEA, Arts for Art, and FELT.
The Clemente’s Abrazo Interno Gallery will have on view: eMeLe-K 2021 Social Reckoning curated by Anderson Pilgrim and Alexis Mendoza, honoring MLK Day and featuring work from Carla Armour, Diogenes Ballester, Tanda Francis, Michael Kelly Williams, Ademola Olugebefola, TAFA, Nelson Álvarez, Ed Andrade, Diego Anaya, Pablo Caviedes, Wildriana de Jesús Paulino, Franck de las Mercedes, Darwin Erazo, Alex “Fdez” Fernández, Julia Justo, Rafaela Luna, Yani Monzón, Naivy Pérez, Moses Ros, Luis Stephenberg, and José Luis Tejada. The public is invited to view the exhibition in compliance with our social distancing guidelines, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm, through February 26th.
The Clemente stands as a complement and bridge to the current development of the Lower East Side, housed in the beautiful, former PS 160 designed in 1897 by Charles B. J. Snyder in the Dutch neo-Gothic style. The public is invited to explore this culturally diverse representation of the community which houses 11 visual and performing arts organizations and over 46 visual artists’ studios.
A complete schedule of virtual programming is available on the website at theclementecenter.org.