Water Balloon Fight Fundraiser

There was a water balloon fight this past Saturday at the India Street Mural, but not a kid under twenty-three was in sight. This water balloon fight-slash-dodgeball game was a fundraiser for the second ever Greenpoint Open Studios, a weekend long event celebrating a burgeoning art scene in Greenpoint from October 1-3, very much inspired by Bushwick Open Studios. Co-organized by Joann Kim of Greenpoint Food Market fame and Jennifer Galatioto, the game cost $10 to participate. Along with entry into a dodgeball game, $10 bought you a raffle ticket, which afforded you a chance to win half the pot per game. The other half of the pot went to Greepoint Open Studios.

Assemblyman Joseph Lentol—who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Fort Greene—posted on his Facebook page about the event, and also stopped by to show his support. Sporting a festive Hawaiian shirt, Lentol arrived with his family, participated in the game and was a good sport when he got pelted twice with water balloons. Two thousand bursted balloons later, the fun and games came to an end and the players retired to TBD for drinks, to add up the money they made and to announce the raffle winner.

The proceeds earned on Saturday will go towards basic operational costs and promotional material. As an additional way to raise money, Kim enlisted GOS on IndieGoGo (another form of Kickstarter); the goal is to raise $2,000 by the end of September. The GOS team will also be planning additional fundraisers in September. Think pie bake-off, live music and raffle tickets.

Last year, GOS had a great turnout—a hundred artists opened their studios throughout the weekend-long event, however it was difficult for Kim to organize because she didn’t have a team like she does now. This year, Kim planned the event with the help of Galatioto, Web site aficionado Leia Doran, graphic designer Stephanie Wenzel, curator Elaine Matthias and arts administrator and curator Sarah Burkhart. “[Last year] was an amazing bringing-together of the creative community, and I want to do that again this year except bigger and better. [I want to] . . . get all the local businesses involved and just create an overall community outreach building event.”

Kim started Greenpoint Open Studios after living in Greenpoint for two years, and realizing that although the arts community was bustling, it was somewhat disjointed. GOS is, first and foremost, designed to provide neighborhood artists and art-enthusiasts an opportunity to meet one another, form creative collaborations and cohesive communities, and simply open their doors and say hi. “You can’t even imagine the kind of different things that can happen afterwards. It can be creative collaborations, making friendships, making contacts with somebody else and coming together to [organize] a show or be included into a show.”

The result of all that enthusiasm and planning is a jam-packed schedule for the upcoming GOS weekend: Opening night is October 1 (location tbd), and on October 2 and 3 from noon to 6:00 p.m. artists will be opening their studios for the public. Studio locations are sprinkled throughout Greenpoint, but there are a handful of buildings comprised specifically and exclusively of artist’s studios. In addition, some artists will open their apartments.

In the evenings, there will be special programming. Some of the highlights are GOS’ collaboration with Bring to Light (Nuit Blanche), an all night public arts festival of installations and performances on Oak Street on October 2; and on October 3, a round table at the Church of the Messiah planned by Burkhart, during which numerous community-oriented arts collectives within Brooklyn will discuss their projects. Greenpoint Gallery, Yes Gallery and Paulie Gee’s, the pizza restaurant where Galatioto is a partner, will be hosting exhibitions throughout the weekend as well.

The planning fervor is not going to stop there. Once this Open Studios is over, Kim would like to expand the event to twice a year now that she has the manpower and support to do so. She would like to organize smaller events, curate shows and convert the Web site into an active forum where artists can announce events they’re part of. “[I would like to] just kind of continue the conversation beyond this weekend,” Kim said. “That’s what I’m hoping for—but let’s not think too ahead of ourselves!”

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