Podcast Summary

Podcast: All Of It

Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
Episode: After the Fire, Red Hook Opens Its Studios
Date: October 9, 2025
Theme: Resilience of the Red Hook arts community following a devastating warehouse fire, continued commitment to Red Hook Open Studios, and ways the public can support local artists and businesses.

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode centers on the aftermath of a massive warehouse fire at 481 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn, which led to the loss of the work and studios of over 500 artists and numerous small businesses. Despite this calamity, the Red Hook Open Studios—an annual community art event celebrating its 10th anniversary—will continue as planned. Guests discuss the impact of the fire, the tight-knit support among the Red Hook community, and the logistics and highlights of this year’s Open Studios, including special exhibitions and ways listeners can help those affected.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fire’s Impact on Artists and Businesses

• Scope of Loss: The fire lasted three days and involved over 200 firefighters, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of studios, finished works, and tools.
• Immediate Aftermath: Many artists, including Megan Suttles, have been unable to access their spaces due to structural damage.
  • Quote: “We still have not been able to get in to see our space. And we're hearing that it could be up to another month because we are in one of the most compromised areas of the building.” — Megan Suttles (03:19)
• Emotional Toll: The magnitude of the loss is still sinking in for artists, many of whom witnessed the fire throughout the night.

2. Community Response and Mutual Support

• Empathy & Practical Support: The broader Red Hook community—including the Red Hook Business Alliance, private businesses, and neighbors—stepped up immediately for both financial help and materials.
  • Quote: “The neighborhood has been… overwhelmingly, the support is just so overwhelming… It's an incredible community.” — Megan Suttles (05:27)
• Business Impact: The fire affected not just artists but also other businesses. The community organized benefits and is planning ongoing fundraising and support efforts.

3. Decision to Continue Red Hook Open Studios

• Commitment to Traditions: Organizers never doubted carrying on with the event.
  • Quote: “Never. First of all, there are over 40 other studios that were not affected by the fire... So, no, I never, ever wanted to cancel.” — Deborah Ugarets (05:53)
• Resilience Theme: The event now doubles as a celebration of community spirit and artistic resilience.
  • Quote: “I think it's where Phoenix is rising from the fire here.” — Andrea Stanislav (07:14)

4. Ongoing Recovery and Ways to Help

• Material and Monetary Needs: With art and tools destroyed, donations of art supplies and money are urgently needed (numerous GoFundMe links hosted at redhookbiz.org).
• Volunteer Mobilization: Red Hook Business Alliance is organizing volunteers for ongoing recovery, including insurance and grant assistance.
  • Quote: “This is really a full scale emergency response that will be continuing for months… donating time and participating in recovery work will be another way that people can participate.” — Carly Baker Rice (10:00)

5. Red Hook Open Studios: Event Details

• History & Growth:
  • Started 10 years ago by a handful of artists; has grown from 30 to about 300 participating artists across 130 locations.
  • Quote: “It was very small. And now... about 300 artists. This year there was 130 locations. But it started out with about 30.” — Megan Suttles (12:41)
• Neighborhood Character:
  • Red Hook described as a unique, almost “lost” part of New York, with striking water views, historic warehouse spaces, and a personal, close-knit vibe.
  • Quote: “It has this feeling of this sort of this lost neighborhood of New York. It's like something is still real there... very personal.” — Andrea Stanislav (13:14)
  • Artists value the inspirational, collaborative environment created by converted industrial spaces.

6. Special Features of this Year's Event

• 10th Anniversary Sculpture Garden: Curated by Andrea Stanislav alongside Erie Basin Park with support from IKEA; features 12 large-scale outdoor pieces and performance art.
  • Quote: “We have 12 artists in the exhibition... Including Pavel Radetsky with Love Ego Love... Sarah Crofts will be creating an installation called Soft Sculpture that you can interact with, a kind of tent.” — Andrea Stanislav (19:24)
• Alternative Exhibit Spaces:
  • The Swan Club at 185 Van Dyke (above Steve’s Key Lime Pie), temporarily provided for artists without studios post-fire.
  • BWAC (Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition): Recovered works are being salvaged and conserved from water and mold damage, thanks to volunteer art conservators.
  • Quote: “We saved so much work from BWAC that day... another huge shout out to Lauren Fly, who is an art conservator that we're working with.” — Megan Suttles (24:34)
• Silent Auction: Red Hook Mutual Aid has organized a silent auction (at Andrew Logan Project, 352 Van Brunt St) with proceeds going to support artists.

7. Public Involvement and Information

• How to Support:
  • Attend Open Studios, donate via redhookbiz.org or individual GoFundMes, volunteer for recovery efforts.
  • Donate art supplies and tools.
  • Quote: “Our biggest fear with this fire is us having to be dispersed outside of Red Hook because the community is huge... we want to figure out a way to stay.” — Megan Suttles (27:57)
• Getting There & Planning:
  • Maps and full lineup at RedHookOpenStudios.com
  • Printed maps available at local businesses such as Food Bazaar.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Community Support (05:27):
  “The neighborhood has been… overwhelmingly, the support is just so overwhelming… It's an incredible community.” — Megan Suttles

• On Open Studios Persevering (05:53):
  “Never. First of all, there are over 40 other studios that were not affected by the fire... So, no, I never, ever wanted to cancel.” — Deborah Ugarets

• On Resilience (07:14): “I think it's where Phoenix is rising from the fire here.” — Andrea Stanislav

• On Red Hook’s Unique Feel (13:14):
  “It has this feeling of this sort of this lost neighborhood of New York. It's like something is still real there... very personal.” — Andrea Stanislav

• On Fears of Displacement (27:57): “Our biggest fear with this fire is us having to be dispersed outside of Red Hook because the community is huge... we want to figure out a way to stay.” — Megan Suttles

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00-02:38 – Intro to Open Studios, recap of the fire’s impact.
• 03:19-05:27 – Personal accounts of loss and initial reactions.
• 05:53-07:14 – Decision to continue Open Studios, resilience theme.
• 08:08-11:08 – Calls from affected artists/businesses; fundraising and volunteer info.
• 12:00-13:08 – History and growth of Open Studios.
• 13:14-15:23 – What makes Red Hook’s art scene and neighborhood special.
• 18:45-22:07 – 10th Anniversary Sculpture Garden details.
• 23:43-25:51 – Recovery of salvaged artworks and alternative exhibition spaces.
• 26:10-27:45 – Silent auction and attendee testimonial.
• 27:57-28:48 – Fears about community dispersal, how to access Open Studios info.

Useful Links & How to Help

• Red Hook Open Studios Info & Map
• Red Hook Business Alliance & Artist GoFundMes
• Attend the event in-person, donate supplies, or volunteer.

This episode offers a heartfelt insight into the Red Hook art community’s spirit, the profound losses suffered, and the remarkable efforts to rebuild and keep the creative heart of the neighborhood beating. It stands as a testament to the power of community resilience and the importance of showing up—whether through attending, donating, or simply spreading the word.