ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Carla Forte-Orr, left, watches her teacher Kirsten Bassion shape clay at The Clay School in the Lydia Pinkham Building in Lynn where they will open their studios to the public on Nov. 19 and 20.
By BILL BROTHERTON
LYNN — In 2006, Kirsten Bassion came up with a particularly inspired idea: The artists renting space at the Lydia Pinkham Building on Western Avenue would all open their studios to the public on the same day.
More than 100 art lovers walked into the Pinkham for that first Lydia Pinkham Open Studios and Holiday Sale.
Last year, some 750 visitors checked out the wares of 45 artists.
The 11th annual Lydia Pinkham Open Studios and Holiday Sale takes place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19 and 20, and Bassion said as many as 70 artisans will participate. The group won a grant from the Lynn Cultural Council and, for the first time, artists from downtown Lynn will join the fun, but only on Saturday.
We’re sitting in The Clay School, Bassion’s business on the third floor, and the spacious studio is a beehive of activity. Nearly two dozen students and instructors are in three rooms, making pottery, glazing ceramics and mixing paint. Most of her instructors have been on staff for several years, some all the way back to 2005 when Bassion found the space on Craigslist and opened the school. And students travel from all over; on this day one woman is visiting from Argentina.
“We have a diverse group of participants this year,” said Bassion, who grew up in Marblehead and today is raising her family there. “Potters, painters, sculptors, illustrators, filmmakers, glass blowers, those in mixed media … there’s a lot of talent here, and we’re all excited to show off our work on the 19th and 20th.”
Bassion has ordered a huge box of blue painters tape, which she said will help guide visitors from one studio to the next.
“It’s like following the yellow brick road, only it’s blue,” she said with a smile. “There are quirky alleys and corridors in this building, and it can be difficult to navigate. The tape will hopefully stop anyone from getting lost or confused.”
There will be greeters at the front door, ready to answer questions and give directions. White Christmas lights will adorn the doors of studios that are open, and all artists will be in their studios. Hot cider and refreshments will be served.
Bassion has a dream that every artisan and arts organization in Lynn will eventually get involved. She envisions a whole weekend of events, where trolleys will transport arts lovers to restaurants and galleries throughout the city.
“The reason is selfish. We want to show our work. Every year open studios has grown, more people come and more people buy items that are made in Lynn. I am proud of this community; it’s a talented group of creative people,” she said.
Participating artists at this years Open Studios include Kimberly Allison, Kyle Day, Kathleen Speranza, Anyes Borden, Jay Borden, Couture Planet (Kathy Cormier), Jackie Diehl, digs (Kate Luchini & Tim Hansen), Vicente Disla, Alice Drew Ceramics, Family Stories Through Art (Sharon Santillo), Robert H. Farris, Rolf Flor, Lara Goodman, Ryan Hood, Christine Johnson, John Maciejowski, Freda Nemirovsky, Wayne Nickerson, SugarMatty’s (Matt Jacobs), Mary Spitzer, Annette Sykes, Laura Wilhelm, Arlene Zubris and others.
Lydia Pinkham Open Studios, 271 Western Ave., Lynn, Nov. 19 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Nov. 20 (11 a.m.-4 p.m.). Admission is free. For more information on the artists, go to www.theclayschool.com.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
Bill Brotherton can be reached at bbrotherton@itemlive.com.