By ELEANOR TRAUBMAN | news@queensledger.com

Eleanor Traubman is the founder of My Local Heroes, which lives on both Facebook and Instagram. Now in its fifth year, MLH is a celebration of activists, artists, athletes and entrepreneurs from Brooklyn and beyond who are working to make their communities better places to live.

Launched during the pandemic, the project was featured in News12 and The Patch, and received a Covid-19 Heroes Award from the former Brooklyn Borough President.

This week, we’re featuring her conversation with Michael Sorgatz, a Brooklyn-based artist whose colorfully abstracted paintings are “inspired by the energy of the urban environment.”

My Local Heroes: Why is it important for artists to be part of a local artist community?

Michael Sorgatz: I find it inspiring to be around creative people. Engaging with other artists can open up your work and reveal new possibilities you couldn’t imagine on your own. It’s also helpful on a practical level to have a group of experts to consult if you have questions or need resources. It’s been useful for me to have people to ask questions about techniques or where to get supplies or if there’s opportunities to exhibit.

It’s also just great to have a group of friends with the same interests who are passionate, knowledgeable, and invested in the same pursuits.

MLH: What can artists do to create community on the local level?

MS: You can create a community by reaching out to other artists. Find people who are receptive to connecting and sharing experiences and foster those relationships.

Some places already have established artist groups and it can be as easy as just attending those events and meeting people.

I’d also suggest giving yourself and others some grace. It takes time to develop relationships and everyone works on their own timeline. Start small and build from there.

MLH:  What are some ways that you’ve helped to build community amongst other Brooklyn artists?

MS: I’ve enjoyed curating group shows at various community spots around Brooklyn, including a bar in DUMBO.

I love organizing potluck cookouts on the roof deck of Treasure Island Studios in Red Hook, where I paint.

I’ve organized art walks for artist friends and participated in neighborhood-based open studio events, including the Gowanus Open Studios weekend.

I donate paintings to artist-organized events like the annual Arts Gowanus Patterns Gala fundraiser.

For the past 17 years, I’ve been posting about the work of other visual artists on the site artinbrooklyn.com

During COVID, I led a weekly Zoom group which met consistently for a year. The group provided support and comradery, a place for people to check in and land.

The Zoom group resulted in an 18-person group show and artist book, both called “202021.”