East Side Dreams
For various reasons, I have been spending a lot of time on the East Side. The East Side, from the Congress Street “bridge” to Boston Ave has some of the more stellar architecture anywhere in Bridgeport. Washington Park is surrounded by grand ladies of the Victorian era, many lovingly restored, some with a more…shall we say, faded glory. lots of residential homes of several eras line the surrounding streets.
Character and history are words that come to mind when speaking of the East Side. Another word that comes to mind is potential. Seeing one building restored, one can imagine if the whole neighborhood was so lucky. It would be a breathtaking place to see.
The other part of the east side I cant help but see potential in is the waterfront, Knowlton Street area. The deserted manufacturing buildings nearly scream out to become art space. The buildings were built at a time when even factories and corporate space were built with an eye for the aesthetics.
A garage with personality
The empty space, and personality filled buildings give the area a drama that would work well with arts venues.
Knowlton Street at Congress st. "Bridge"
The East Side or The Old West?
Lots of room for sculpture, installations, video,film, events etc. in there!
Others have already caught on tho the idea.
- John and Mark Derosa
The Derosa Brothers offered up their space to house Keith Rodgerson and Greg Iwaskiewicz’s Avant Garden. Both invest time in the East Side John with his development company restoring distressed properties. Mark teaching art at Bridgeport Academy. Their space, formerly a boxing gym, is ideal for an art space, Plenty of wall space, perfectly distressed wood floors, high ceilings. It took a fair amount of work getting it in shape.
raw space.
It cleaned up nice.
Mark is also an artist who has a really unique and modern style.
Mark Derosa
The 305 Knowlton street Artist Studios are pioneering art use for the buildings.
305 Knowlton Street, Artist Studios
Th Knowlton Street studios have incredible light and are very affordable for artists who are struggling.
Dana Scinto works out of Knowlton st.
Dana is doing some very cool things with polymers. This is her egg series.
Nice big windows bring light.
Allen Wittert works there too. some of his colorful work below.
Wittert in his studio
Some Chick by Allen Wittert I LOVE it!
My dream is to see this stuff multiply by 5 before 2011. Can we do it?
Is this YOUR gallery spot?
Avant Garden/Camelot Development
The opening of Avant Garden had at least seventy people at it. People will come if there is something to come to.
To see this dream come true is going to take some old fashioned elbow grease and some suspension of disbelief, but its already starting. What it needs is Brains, hard work, and a little money. do you have any of these things?
Some pics of the art and good times on the East Side this weekend:
Karen, Israel,Liz,Sean at Avant Garden
Stunning photo of the Congress street "bridge" by Rachael Haymann
Greg Iwaskiewicz, Lighted shadow box.
My photo of Greg’s work is not really doing it justice it is one of the best works in the show.
Brilliant re purposing of a treadmill
Karen Sokalow and friend.
Dana Scinto Polymer Work
Frank Post, Hand Puppet installation
Iyaba Mandingo, Man of many talents.
Iyaba Sculpture with east Side Backdrop
A taste of what can be? Maybe this can be your inspiration to do something great.
January 19, 2010 at 3:27 pm
BRAVO! this is spectacular! We are so excited — we just launched our website, Our Bridgeport, and we would LOVE to feature any events that you can share with us. So exciting and so wonderful to see. Is there an email list we can subscribe to as well? Thanks!