Notes from the Spire

“The Usual Suspects” opening at Spire Studios.

A Visual Diary

Words and pictures by Will Walker

Saturday night’s opening at Spire Studios brought the usual mix of artists, curators and the like to the informal studio/gallery in droves. New faces made their debut (artist Alexis Elton ran a bar from her lovely corner studio while showing a collection of made and readymade sculptures) while Spire’s veterans were invited to place their work in the informal central gallery.

The theme of the show, “The Usual Suspects”, gave alumni from the waterfront studio the chance to come together and display the diversity of their processes and ideas. A quick glance around the room indicated that Spire is a painter’s studio, reflecting the history of the Hudson Valley as a refuge for painters from the city. Curiously, most of the work present seemed to eschew the traditional subject of the area, the landscape, in favor of abstracted figuration or pure paint pushing.

However, an opening is no place to seriously view art. What makes Spire’s opening’s so special is the way that they segue seamlessly from gallery opening to party, featuring bands and late night dancing. For the stream of fresh New York emigrants arriving from the city, Spire provides the attraction of a late night party scene, with hardcore dancers often hanging out until 3 in the morning. Below, check out some moments from the party.

Brooklyn’s M. Shanghai String Band rocks the crowd through two sets.