Open house a rousing success for Lynn art community

LYNN – An annual show now in its seventh year has become an institution in Greater Lynn’s art community, drawing hundreds of people to see the work dozens of artists have created in Lynn.On Saturday, 25 artists housed in the Lydia Pinkham Building on Western Avenue opened their studios for more than 500 people. It was the largest crowd ever in the seven years artists in the building have held an open house, said Arthur Defabio, whose wife, Lori Stirling, showcased her ceramics work.View a photo gallery”It’s a rather remarkable day. I’ve never seen this kind of energy,” he said as he greeted people at the front door.People bustled through four floors of the anachronistic, maze-like building around studios showcasing everything from paintings to pottery.On the third floor, Kirsten Bassion accepted a check from a customer in exchange for one of her large, colorful bowls she made as owner of The Clay School, which also holds pottery classes.Bassion started the original open studio at the Pinkham Building and said she’s been amazed by its growth: Not too long ago, only five or six artists participated, and now she and other artists count on the day to show off their goods.”It’s hands down the best show, as far as sales, I do in a year,” she said.Nearby, Lynn residents Hope Abramson and Karen Johnson were admiring dark blue and brown tribal-looking dishes and bowls made by one of Bassion’s students, South African native Lyn Black.Johnson, herself an artist, said the success of Pinkham’s open studios shows Lynn is transforming into a diverse, art-based community.”Lynn is trying to redefine itself, and shows like these, they bring in different people, different cultures,” she said as she sipped on complimentary coffee.And art is the perfect vehicle for that, Bassion said.”All these people have come from somewhere else to discover something in Lynn,” she said.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].