A Journey Through Open Studios, Where Creativity Ignites Community and Transcends Boundaries | AmFab Studios | Open Studios | 11-12 Nov 2023

In this past weekend's cool crisp November air, the doors of American Fabrics Arts Building in Bridgeport, Connecticut—a little over an hour outside of New York City—were wide open, inviting visitors to partake in its creations during AmFab Studios two-day open studios event. Within its halls, visitors found a nurturing abode to over 30 local artists for their innovative enterprises. A sensory tapestry awaited, weaving together a kaleidoscope of artistic endeavors, painting, photography and alternative photography, sculptures, woodworking, quilt making, textile arts, typography, mixed media, and ceramics.

Wandering through the corridors, visitors encountered the studios of creators like local artists like Emily Larned, Kelly Rosetti, Thomas Mezzanotte, Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong, Richard Killeaney, and Joanie Landau. Visitors quickly realized that the historic American Fabrics Arts Building wasn’t just a physical space with interesting creations throughout; it was a living testament to a vibrant community housed within it — a community thriving on creativity, individuality, collaboration, and an understanding that there, within it, inspiration had found fertile grounds. I thought how in creating similar spaces around the world, and by fostering an environment where artists and professionals from varied disciplines work and explore ideas in tandem, a fertile ground could be cultivated for innovative thinking and holistic problem-solving.

Regardless of what the future holds, spending time in the open studios housed within American Fabrics Arts Building was inspiring, an immersion into the local heart of artistic innovation and community spirit. As visitors exited the building, purchases in hand, the remnants of creativity lingered, leaving a mark on the perception of what's possible when creative minds and community converge. AmFab Studios' open studio weekend not only showcased the incredible talent nestled just outside of New York City, in the heart of Fairfield County, Connecticut, but also ignited a contemplation within me on the transformative power of collaborative creativity in shaping our future, legacy of creativity that can transcend the boundaries.