Three Years, One Window: A Studio Tour

Circling HomeWork #31

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I’m moving to North Carolina in a few weeks, and have just begun disassembling my apartment. So, in the spirit of our artist features, I wanted to commemorate my time in this home by sharing a photo tour of my studio space. My hope is to get my new space set up and do a follow-up tour there in a few months when I’m settled. We have lived in this apartment for three years, and it’s the most dedicated space for making things I’ve ever had. I have spent many, many hours in this room, and I have made a LOT of garbage here. Also, a few useful and beautiful things! I gripe about this room constantly, but it has given me so much. Thank you, weird dark room.

View From Door

My partner and I live in a two bedroom apartment, and this second bedroom does triple duty as an office, a guest room, and my studio. This is the view when you stand in the doorway. Out of frame are a desk and some office supplies, and a set of IKEA bookshelves full of books. This room poses a puzzle to me. It is quite large, approximately 11 by 16 feet, but the flow of energy is very weird and it gets very little natural light. The one window opens onto a covered balcony which itself opens northward onto a courtyard. Nary a true sunbeam has ever hit this room since the day it was built. It is too dark to work without lights turned on. Then, the layout is strange! The door and the window are catty-corner to each other and make the room feel lopsided with three giant blank walls surrounding. It also has no integrated closet (though we have ample storage elsewhere). I have rearranged this space so many times in the years we have lived here, and it never ever feels right. It is a hardworking room that it serves so many different purposes for us, but it does lack a certain je ne sais quoi that would make you actually want to spend time in it.