Over the past few years, a diverse group of artists has been moving into Fall River mills in search of safe, affordable studio space. One group has colonized the whole third floor of 1 West Street, one of the three buildings that were the Border City Mills, off North Main Street at Weaver’s Cove. Another group has just opened a high-end woodworking studio in the old mill building at 18 Pocasset Street. More artists are scattered around the city. These artists opened their studios to the public on November 8, 2008, for an event sponsored by Arts United/Fall River. Trolleys ran in a continuous loop among the various locations, and the Hills Mills Clown Band serenaded the riders. Oil painting, drawing, woodworking, metalsmithing, jewelry making, ceramics, sculpture, basketwork and textile art were all displayed. The audience was also invited behind the scenes to witness dance in rehearsal and theatre in pre-production at the Spindle City Ballet and Little Theatre of Fall River. For a list of all the artists and organizations in Open Studios, please go to www.artsexpressfallriver.com/openstudio. Click here and here to read the Herald News articles about the event. Click to see photos of a meeting to expand the arts in the downtown area. Click to see the Courhouse Art Wrap project. For more information about arts in Fall River, contact Arts United President Jeff Carpenter.
 

(Top row, left) Ten-year-old Nick Viveiros hops off the trolley at the Border City Mills as he is serenaded by members of the Hills Mills Clown Band. (Top row, center) Artist Chuck Bucher talks with Arts United/Fall River president and local artist Jeff Carpenter at his Border City studio. (Top row, right) Visiting artist Ed Simard samples some refreshments while Lauren Falabella talks with Lea Rubinstein and a friend. (Middle row, left) Derek and Tricia Lachowiec Harding, jeweler, talks with Kara Tomlinson of Pennsylvania. (Middle row, center) Fashion designer Patrice Cloutier ties a bundle of balloons to the railing outside the Border City Mills. (Middle row, right) Jennifer Fallon and Rick Koch of Fall River look over the work of painter Joan Briand and photographer Sheila Oliveira at the Narrows Center for the Arts. (Bottom row, left and center) Watercolorist Vernon Graham of West Kingston, RI, visits the Storefront Artists Project location at 25 North Main St. while outside Eric Durrant of the Visual Arts Clubx at Bristol Community College stands behind the Hills Mills Clown Band. (Bottom row, right) Annie and Frank Prescott of Annie's Artifax studio at the Narrows Center welcome visitors.