Art Buffet

Want to explore a new part of Boston? Enjoy fine art while eating and drinking free wine and cheese?

Tucked away in the South End on the corner of South Washington Street is a hidden gem in a rut: SOWA. An acronym for South Washington Street, this art district is hailed as the "200 miles north SoHo," the famed New York City art district. The buildings in the district were former mill buildings, where canned goods, shoes, pianos and other merchandise were manufactured during the 19th century and have been transformed into artists' studios for the last 50 years. One artist said, "I bought this loft 10 years ago for a very cheap price because there were only a few artists. Now it is the 'spot' to have an art gallery." The artist gallery boom has only happened in the past two years; many years before, it was considered ramshackle and rundown.

The SOWA Artist Guild's mission is to give visitors access to artists in their element, making a connection between the artist and viewer, helping to provide an avenue for viewing contemporary art. The Artist Guild also came up with "First Fridays," during which all art galleries and artists' studios are open to the public. Many galleries also offer food and wine to create a complete atmosphere for the evening. "I think it's important for people to smell the paint," says artist and Guild founder Stephen Silver. "Allowing people to visit the studio exposes them to the creative process; invites them to get inside it. They see more than just a picture on a wall. We founded the Guild because we wanted to offer a more personal way for visitors to view art and connect with it in a way that's often difficult in a carefully curated gallery environment."

The artwork ranges from paintings and sculptures to photography and installations. Andy Howarth has a studio in SOWA where he displays his works of bowls, pots, and other whimsical ceramics. Another artist, Debby Krim, is a photographer that has a unique gallery consisting of entirely flowers installed onto blocks and placed into a symmetrical pattern on the wall that can be rearranged at viewers' discretion. She said, "The pictures I've taken throughout my life fall into three categories. The first is to document time and events such as the growth of my daughter. The second is studio work for business, and the third is for my own creative expression, capturing a moment on film because it tells a story, or because of it's stunning beauty, or because it moves me. My intentions were never to sell these photos." Unexpectedly to her, her photography collection of flowers has been very successful. Krim studied at the Rhode Island School for a summer and then graduated from Boston University's School of Fine Arts.

Harrison Avenue presents a greater mix and higher concentration of work than on Newbury Street. In the aspect of cost, it is also much cheaper to have art space here, despite the recent climb in rent that might eventually drive out artists. If you can't make it to "First Fridays," SOWA is open each day from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. But "First Fridays" is something you have to experience before you leave Boston College and is a must for a financially-strapped college student. Eating cheese, drinking wine, and looking at remarkable art for FREE is not a bad combination for a Friday night, right?