Many visitors attended and enjoyed last weekend’s open studios event at Brickbottom.

By Manna Parker

Brickbottom Art Association (BAA) was masterminded in the mid 80’s by “a group of artists seeking a stable and affordable space” to set up shop according to statement released by Brickbottom. From their humble beginnings, one of the biggest live-work artists’ building and community in America has been built. This historic moment in art history took place right in Somerville’s backyard.

This theme came alive in Brickbottom’s open studios this past weekend, which have been held every year before Thanksgiving since 1987. Over sixty artists opened up their studios and homes to the common passerby in order to show off their many styles of artistry. Every medium from sculpture, to photography, painting, performance art, and textiles was represented by the multitude of artists who call the Brickbottom studio building home.

A real sense of community could be felt, with artists greeting each other in the hallways and inside their apartments. Even a child living in the building set up shop outside of his parents’ residence selling some of his drawings done in marker and crayon.

Brickbottom, which used to be the cannery and bakery of A&P Stores in the 1920’s, is now a live-work space for Artists in Somerville.

Being an artist is not a requirement of living in the building however. President of Brickbottom Pier Gustafson says, “Although there is no review process to decide if we like someone’s work or something like that, we encourage artists to live here in order to foster that sense of community.”

The open studios are a way to illustrate the way Brickbottom connects people through their craft. It’s not just the artist who live there either who are members of BAA. All local artists are invited to participate as well, applying to display their work during open studios with no fee to exhibit.

Although Brickbottom is no longer the same artists’ cooperate it once was, with condo conversions that are now more expensive than was originally planned, the intent is still the same. Brickbottom has created a model artists’ community that many others in the country follow. Open studios high popularity shows that Brickbottom isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.