The first Open Studios was actually a Holiday Seconds Sale and only five craftspeople displayed their wares in a single open area in the old textile mill building at One Cottage Street.
It was 1986 and the event was organized on a shoestring with the craftspeople creating 100 fliers that they hung up around Easthampton, and taking out a small ad in the Gazette. But this was no ordinary group of artisans; each had national reputations and sold their works at galleries.
The original five Holiday Seconds Sale artisans were Denise Herzog, a sculptor; fine lighting designer Janna Ugone; glass artist Lynn Latimer; White Dog Pottery; and Kaleidoscope Pottery.
“We sold our work wholesale,” Herzog said. “We offered great bargains to people in the area.”
By the early 1990’s the Holiday Seconds Sale was attracting thousands of people. More
craftspeople become involved and lines of customers looking for good bargains would form outside the building and around the block. The event became so successful, the artists and craftspeople felt they needed to open their studios to accommodate the crowds.
“There wasn’t enough open space,” Herzog said.
Latimer said opening the studios was a huge benefit to customers who got to see where the artists worked.
“People got to see the equipment artists used; there might be pictures out on the walls,” she said. “It’s a nice way to educate people on how things are made. Many people may not have seen an artist’s studio before. It’s fun.”
This year, the 25th Anniversary Cottage Street Studios Open Studios and Sales will have 50 artists and craftspeople participating. The event will be held December 2, 3 and 4.
For a few years, many people in Easthampton knew very little about Cottage Street Studios; some didn’t know it existed. The Open Studios was a terrific opportunity to invite the community into see and purchase the works of outstanding artists and craftspeople who literally lived next door.
“It’s a rare and wonderful thing for this building to be a cohesive base for this group of artists who came together when they were young and are now all established,” Herzog said. “It’s amazing to live in a community like Easthampton with people who love and support art. It’s a rare thing and we’re all very appreciative of it.”
After each show, the artisans would discuss what went right and how they could improve the following year. With the help of Easthampton Savings Bank, Florence Savings Bank and the Gazette, Cottage Street Studios designed a graphics package, made billboards and signs, bought newspaper and radio advertising to publicize the show, and hired greeters to help customers navigate the massive old factory building.
These days, Cottage Street Open Studios is known far and wide and attracts people from as far away as New York and Pennsylvania, as well as from all over New England.
One Cottage Street is owned by Riverside Industries, Inc., the agency that empowers people with developmental disabilities to pursue meaningful employment and fulfilling lives. The building was a perfect spot for artists looking for studio space. Each room had large windows to let in an abundance of light, high ceilings, a loading dock, working elevator, heat, and reasonable rent.
“It’s an artist’s dream,” Latimer said. “Being a craftsperson or artist can be isolating. We have a nice social and working environment here.”
In all, One Cottage Street has 84 tenants; 80 of them are artists and craftspeople. | 
