Studios open at the Monroe Center

Members of the public mingled with local artists and musicians at the Open Studio Day on all five floors of the Monroe Center for the Arts over the weekend. Several schools and nonprofits were also available to provide information about upcoming programs.

Visitors said it was nice to see so much art and culture in Hoboken.

“It’s important to support all the local classes and talent as much as possible,” said Lyle Hysen, whose daughter participated in a drama presentation at the Hoboken Children’s Theater. He said he was glad to get his kids involved in the local arts scene. “They see that everything is at their fingertips,” he said.

Urban Arts, which offers painting and drawing classes for kids and adults, had its exhibit on the second floor. A wall of paintings of eggs, which were used to teach children about shading, drew quite a crowd.

“It’s fun to see everyone admiring the paintings,” said Eileen Eng, whose daughter Geneva helps out at the school.

Hoboken resident Michael Malizia, who takes Saturday classes at Urban Arts, was there with his wife Erin Bowden and their daughter. He said he liked wandering through the halls at the center and seeing others’ work. 

Diane Chanoch, who makes jewelry and other accessories using beads and vintage fabrics for her brand Pinky Schooner, showed her work at the center for the first time this weekend. Chanoch said the day was going well and that she’d be back in the future. “I will support any of the local functions,” she said.

Local barista Ashley Gravatte, who works at the Washington Street Starbucks, said she enjoyed the shopping opportunity as well as meeting some of the teachers at the Hoboken School of Music. “It’s been awesome,” she said. It might have been her first time at the event, but there were many others who had visited the center before Sunday.

“It’s picked up through the years,” said Rosario D’Rivera, who brought a collection of her treasure boxes to the show. She said she lived in Hoboken for 20 years and though she’s since moved to Ridgefield Park, she returns to the Mile Square for events like the Open Studio Day.

“There is no arts scene in the suburbs,” said D’Rivera. “Hoboken has always been the place to be.”