Anything But Bland: Creative ‘Arsenal’ Opens in Williamsburg

Standing outside 153 Roebling Street in Williamsburg, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on inside. The enormous building that still bears resemblance to its original purpose as an armory, circa 1850, could now be home to anything. As it turns out, it is.

Tucked into the fourth floor of the edifice is The Arsenal, a multipurpose loft run by fashion designer Bob Bland, who has turned the ancient space into one her clients may customize to fit their modern creative and professional needs.

“I see this place as not just an incubator for fashion, but also for photography, fine arts, anyone who’s down on their luck right now,” said Ms. Bland.

On Wednesday, July 1, The Arsenal celebrated its grand opening by hosting a wide variety of local paintings and photographs up for auction, as well as a performance by local artist Jeff Taylor and several members of the Semi Precious Weapons. Ms. Bland, newlywed of two and a half weeks, twirled around the party in a baby blue dress she made herself.

After a stint in the world of corporate fashion at brands like Rugby Ralph Lauren and Triple Five Soul, Ms. Bland founded her own company, Brooklyn Royalty, in 2006.  Intent on producing her wares locally, she found a studio on Williamsburg’s southside and got to work.

“I wanted to know the faces of the people who are making the clothing, I wanted to ensure that they were getting fair wages,” said Ms. Bland, of her break from the corporate world.

Forced to look for a new studio after a flood last April took an expensive toll on her wares, Ms. Bland started looking for a new space, and from crisis, emerged with opportunity.  The Arsenal now provides a solution for Ms. Bland and her clients in creating a headquarters for Brooklyn Royalty and a collective space for artists.

“After I got over my initial shock, I realized that this was actually an incredible opportunity for me to take a step back and rethink my entire brand,” she said.

“I wanted a space where I could bring creative people together in the middle of this recession, so that we could become stronger together instead of going back to our corporate jobs.”

Ms. Bland’s experiences, from running her own label to being homeless for three months prior to finding the Arsenal, “helped me clarify my vision for a space that Brooklynites who are creative, but might be having a hard time, truly feel is their home,” she said. “I definitely know what people are going through first-hand. I did that to save my brand.”

Soon, she was enlisting the help of friends and family to renovate the space that the Arsenal now inhabits, and contribute to the range of services that would be offered.

“I wanted a space where I could bring creative people together in the middle of this recession, so that we could become stronger together instead of going back to our corporate jobs,” she said.

The idea of a multifaceted event space is not new to Brooklyn, or Williamsburg for that matter, which is home to places like 3rd Ward and The Change You Want to See.

“This space came about from a variety of really great influences,” said Ms. Bland. “All of the collective spaces have their own purpose, and a different animal. That’s why none of us collide, it’s because we’re all doing something for a specific customer.”

What’s unique about the space, and perhaps within the neighborhood, is its affordability – something artists working during the recession can appreciate.  Rates are project-based and discounts are offered to non-profit organizations.  According to Ms. Bland, “an average runway show or gallery presentation at our space will be around one third of the price of absolute cheapest venues in the city.”

Jesi Bender, the Arsenal’s Operational Manager and curator, admires the gallery’s openness, in both senses of the word. “You go into galleries or you go into event spaces and they’re just like little, narrow lines,” she said. “This is such a beautiful space and it can accommodate so many things.”

Ms. Bender also stressed inclusivity, saying, “I’ve encountered so many snobby, cliquey people here, and we’re not about that.”

Bob Bland interrupts the band

The Arsenal’s 2,000-square feet, which filled up with guests early on in the evening, is typical of the neighborhood’s modern vintage gallery setting with almost limitless wall space and dramatic lighting.  According to the Arsenal’s Events Coordinator and bartender Julia Fraden, “There’s nothing like it in Williamsburg. It’s a bar, it’s a venue, it’s a gallery, it’s a yoga studio, it’s everything you could ever think of.”

Ms. Fraden, who wore a black minidress and feathers woven into her equally black hair, plans to use the space for a monthly underground supper club, where members pay $30 for a five-course meal put together by chefs and bartenders from around Brooklyn. “There’s a lot of really good ideas here,” she said. “We’re open to everything.”

Jackson Vandeberg, a graphic designer who showed three of his embellished skateboards at Wednesday’s opening, will soon offer a skateboard-painting seminar.

“Wow,” said Ms. Bland. “I’ve never heard of that, have you?”

(Photos by Julia Fraden)

tags: Artists, At Night, Babylon Brooklyn, Boho Brooklynites, Brooklyn Royalty, Bushwick, Cheap Rent, Creative Underclass, DIY, Emerging Artists, Galleries, Greenpoint, Hipsters, Recession Depression, The Arsenal, The Art, Williamsburg