Artisan's Asylum Winter Open Studios

Artisan’s Asylum is holding its first Winter Open Studios this December 1st. The event is free and open to the public, and families are welcome. More than twenty makers, engineers, jewelers, crafters, and artists will participate. Visitors will be able to view studios, observe demonstrations, purchase unique artwork, tour facilities and sign up for classes. They’ll be able to enjoy dragons, robots, collages, and interactive computer-generated music installations. They can take a peek at welding and robotics shops in action, and watch jewelry being made on a 3D printer. Artisan’s Asylum, founded only two and a half years ago, has burgeoned to 40,000 square feet of warehouse today, making it one of the largest collaborative maker space in the USA. The young non-profit is cited regularly in the press for its innovative business development model and vibrant creative community. It hosts robust facilities for woodworking, welding and metal fabrication, a jewelry nexus, glassworking, electronics, robotics, screen-printing and sewing facilities. A variety of membership types are available, as well as storage and studio rental. The Asylum offers a wide range of classes every month, which were honored this summer by both The Improper Bostonian and Boston Magazine in their "Best of Boston 2012" Awards. 2013 promises the roll-out of a new education program to engage local youth in design and fabrication technologies. The Asylum acts as the umbrella for several smaller collectives—including SCUL, the ‘nerd art bicycle gang;’ CEMI, which promotes digitally based creativity; and New American Public Art, a group developing interactive sculpture for public spaces. There a six-month-long waiting list for its 140 studio spaces.