South End Artists Open Their Studios This Weekend

This weekend, the artist community of the South End opens its doors to the public, giving art enthusiasts and South End residents a chance to see inside the working studios of more than 200 established and emerging artists.

The weekend-long South End Open Studios, put on by the United South End Artists, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in virtually every neighborhood in the South End. 

"It's a chance for people to really see the artists in their workspaces and explore the roots of the South End," said Jenn Sherr, a board member at the USEA. "Artists actually moved into this neighborhood long before it was developed. It's an opportunity to see these old warehouse buildings and lofts where the artists actually work."

Sherr, of Jennifer Sherr Designs on Wareham Street, is an accomplished artist herself, whose handbags and accessories are featured in 25 galleries and stores around the country. 

"People can see the workspace, see my work, and they can come and see where everything is made," she said.  

Other accomplished South End artists who will have their doors open include Edie Bowers, a painter at the Boston Center for the Arts at 551 Tremont Street, and Marie Galvin, an accomplished hat designer at 450 Harrison Ave. 

A Long History
South End Open Studios is celebrating its 26th anniversary this year.  The event, begun by a small group of artists, has grown to encompass 12 major buildings and numerous smaller spaces throughout the South End. Over the last few years, some of Boston’s most noted galleries have also made the South End their home.

This year, a number of artists will also be doing In-Studio demonstrations throughout the event including photography, paper quilts, and letterpress printing. 

While some of the studios in the South End are open to the public at other times during the year, South End Open Studios is the only time when all of the major art buildings in the South End are open to the public. It is also the only time of year that the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont opens its doors to house 20 or so artists without their own studios.

More than 10,000 people are expected to make their way around the South End this weekend visiting the various studios. 

Printed guides featuring details on the artists and a map with all studio locations included will be available at the two South End Open Studios Information Tables located at the Boston Center For The Arts, 539 Tremont Street and at the corner of Wareham and Harrison. You can also preview the artists and their work (and create your own route) at the United South End Artists website. 

Which artists do you intend to visit, and why? Let us know in the comments.