Studio Artists Exhibition
07/09/2009 - 08/01/2009
www.school33.org
This building-wide group exhibition highlights the work of current Studio Artists during their tenor at School 33 Art Center. Since 1979, the Studio Artist Program has provided exceptional studio space at subsidized rates to more than 120 professional artists. In 2008, School 33 established the Studio Mentoring Program, which facilitates studio critiques and professional development for our resident artists. By inviting prominent artists and arts professionals from the mid-Atlantic region to conduct one-on-one studio visits, our goal is to provide support and constructive feedback in helping artists fulfill their creative path. The 2009 Studio Artists Exhibition is the culmination of the Mentoring Program’s inaugural year. Guest Mentors have included Jayme McLellan, founding director of the Civilian Art Projects in Washington, D.C.; Tony Shore, artist and 2007 Sondheim Artscape Prize recipient; and Doreen Bolger, executive director of The Baltimore Museum of Art. Ms. Bolger has also written a catalogue essay in conjunction with the Studio Artists Exhibition.
Public Programs
Opening Reception in conjunction with city-wide Artscape events
Friday, July 10 5-8pm
Closing Reception and Gallery Talk with School 33 Studio Artists
Saturday, July 25 6-9pm
Location:
School 33 Art Center
1427 Light Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Gallery Hours: Wed-Sat 12-6pm
Phone: 410.396.4641
Fax: 410.625.2634
p.s.
School 33 Art Center was established in 1979 as a neighborhood art center for contemporary art in the South Baltimore area of Baltimore City. Formally known as P.S. 33, the architecturally engaging brick and brownstone building built in 1980, was utilized as an elementary school until 1975 when a new facility was built for neighborhood children a few blocks away. The vacant and vandalized building bought action from the South Baltimore Community Committee which requested that Mayor William Donald Schaefer revitalize this unused facility. Based on the success of Long Island City’s P.S. 1 in New York and the strong national presence of alternative space programs in the late seventies, Mayor Schaefer proposed a similar program for Baltimore, thus creating School 33 Art Center.
As this building represented a significant component of Baltimore’s architectural heritage, its renovation exemplified the City’s belief in the revitalization of unused urban resources. The renovations were made possible with federal funds from the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration and through the City’s Public Works Improvement Program.
After an extensive two-year restoration to allow for the creation of adequate gallery, studio and classroom space, School 33 opened its doors in July 1979, becoming Baltimore’s original alternative space for contemporary art. Its program offerings included one gallery exhibition space, studio facilities for professional artists, and classrooms for ceramics and printmaking workshops.
Since that time, in addition its studio program and services for artists, School 33 has expanded its exhibition, educational and special events programming. Highlights over the past 21 years include eighteen annual exhibitions in three gallery spaces; an extensive outreach program to South Baltimore neighborhood city schools; and the creation of the annual Open Studio Tour. These augmented programs were developed as a direct response to needs expressed by the public and art community.
