Day: October 16, 2025

A person living in the suburbs of New York City has tested positive for chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus that is more often seen in South America and hasn’t been transmitted on the U.S. mainland in a decade. Health officials said the virus, which often causes fever and joint pain, was identified in a patient on Long […]

The post What is the chikungunya virus now transmitted in the US for the first time in years? appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

The artists of Gowanus will open their doors to the public this weekend, inviting Brooklynites to explore their studios, their work, and their community at Gowanus Open Studios.

Rapidly-changing Gowanus has long been an artists haven, but most paint, sketch and sculpt behind closed doors, tucked away in converted industrial buildings and studio collectives. Open Studios is an annual celebration of local creatives, and a chance for residents to get to know them — and even purchase some work to take home.

In recent years, it’s also become a symbol of resilience. Flooding ruined studios and artwork in 2021 and again in 2023, and locals have been bracing themselves for the impact of the 2021 rezoning, which many feared would price creatives out of the neighborhood altogether. 

“Gowanus is shifting, and all of our advocacy and everything we do is sort of centered around visibility for the artists, and keeping artists in the neighborhood,” said Johnny Thornton, executive director of Arts Gowanus. “Our whole tagline ‘Keep Gowanus Creative’ is to make sure Gowanus stays an arts and culture neighborhood.”

To that end, Thornton is particularly excited to show off the nabe’s first subsidized affordable artist studios at The Shop and Society Brooklyn.

Arts Gowanus helped to secure about 120 affordable studios as part of the 2021 Gowanus rezoning, an effort to make sure artists wouldn’t be priced out of the neighborhood. The first 22 opened this year, and about 18 will be open for Open Studios.

“That’s really exciting, because the public hasn’t had a chance to see them, because they just opened,” Thornton said.

The public also hasn’t had a chance to meet the newly moved-in artists, like Mayowa Nwadike, who will be welcoming visitors to his new studio at The Shop. 

Nwadike, a painter whose work pushes back on gender roles and toxic masculinity and tackles societal issues in both Nigeria and New York City, was overjoyed when he won the affordable studio lottery. He couldn’t afford his own space previously, he said, and did all his painting in his small Manhattan apartment. 

“I would wake up and knock into my easel,” he laughed. “I’ve always wanted to have a studio, but the cost has been a major deterrent.”

Taking part in Open Studios is exciting and nerve-wracking, Nwadike said. He loves to talk to people and get feedback on his work, but has only ever showed off his finished pieces in galleries. Showing off his works-in-progress is an entirely different experience, he said.

“It will be the first time I have that much people dissecting your projects, seeing your paint brushes, they’re seeing your setup,” he said. “They’ll be able to point at things and say, ‘Why do you use this? Why do you do that?’”

“It’s vulnerable, but I think it’s the best step in the right direction,” he said.

Nwadike is among hundreds of artists at dozens of locations who will take part in Open Studios this year, whether at their private studios or in gallery shows and special exhibitions. Almost 50 artists will exhibit their work at TI Art Studios on Lorraine Street, and the gallery will once again host the special late-night “Gowanus Open Studios After Hours” celebration on Oct. 18. 

At the Open Studios After Party at Gowanus Wharf on Oct. 19, a 15-foot puppet DJ will spin tunes through the night, with help from surprise guest performers. 

A full map of locations and list of participating artists is available online. 

Gowanus Open Studios runs from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 18. Admission is free, and locations vary — check gowanusarts.org for a full list of studio locations and events.