3rd Ward

Well they went out of business and evidently screwed a bunch of people out of their dues money and access along the way. Wamp wamp.

Here is some followup on the closing of 3^rd Ward. Teachers & community members, it’s time to get your money back:

3^rd Ward is a fantastic space, where you can take classes to quench what seems to be an endless amount of artistic curiosity. Wood working? Yes. Jewelry making? What step? Setting jewels? Making molds from wax? Metal working? Photography?
I was just there for a for-​fun photoshoot and we utilized their photography studio because my friend is a member of 3^rd Ward. The room is a blank canvas of white walls and we brought our own backgrounds, props, etc. On our breaks, we wandered through the space seeing room after room where you can learn so many different skills. I truly wish I had this at my disposal in Los Angeles.

Love the vibe and environment. Only ever took Drink and Draw here. Think its a great deal and fun. My only complaint is that they pack everyone in there and there is barely any room to draw, otherwise they’d get 5 stars. Open up another room guys with a 2^nd model!

I took an intro to metalsmithing class here 2 years ago. At the time, I thought it was fun and fine that I didnt learn too much or never felt comfortable with the jewelry torch. Now that I’m taking a gold alloy class elsewhere, I realize how little I learned and how poorly equipped (materials, instructor effectiveness, appropriate tools) 3^rd ward was. What I learned and was able to do in 1 – 2 classes at another facility outpaced what I learned at 3^rd ward by far. If you like the DIY hobby/​craft jewelry stuff with beads and leather, 3^rd ward is probably fine. If you actually want to make fine jewelry, you need to learn elsewhere.

Loved it!

A friend of mine best summed up the 3^rd Ward business model as Aspiration Profiteering. The marketing goes something like:
You can make stuff!
It”ll be great!
You can become an artist!
We will make you an artist!
3^rd Ward only has the capacity to facilitate one of those towards actually happening. You can make stuff. The details in an ascent to greatness, towards artistry, are more complicated than they’d like you to believe. But 3^rd Ward will take your money and assure you everything’s going to be just fine. You’ll be fine. You’ll be great. Have a green bike.
There’s no arguing the warm and fuzzy glow felt in the one-​off classes. In an afternoon you can easily walk away feeling accomplished having done something creative. You have a tangible thing in your hands! It’s not another spreadsheet at the office! It’s akin to pride you had making smiley face art with macaroni, glue, and a paper plate in kindergarten.
3^rd Ward specializes in creating that feeling in their classes. Now that you’re an adult, maybe you’d get that feeling when you’d make a vegetarian banh mih. Maybe you’d get it making some impractical blinky bike lights. Maybe you’d like to blacksmith. I bet you’d like to blacksmith. You know you’d like to blacksmith. I definitely blacksmithed. Blacksmithing is awesome. Five stars for blacksmithing.
I was an unlimited member for a year. My objective was to get access to the studio spaces for photography. I exploited the access to classes as best I could, used the photography studios when possible, and tried to get the most for the money. When they doubled the monthly membership fee it was time for me to leave.
While there were good moments, the overall experience was unfortunately negative for me. Never once did I feel as though I was part of a community so much as I was a profit margin in an institutional art education enterprise.
Booking studio time was a hassle. Studios were frequently booked, there was a fee (though nominal) for booking a week in advance, and sometimes the studios were used as classrooms. I’d booked studios that were later double booked and unavailable. I’d booked studios and never received confirmation emails to learn without getting those confirmation emails, you didn’t really book the studio. This effectively cancelled jobs.
Booking classes was complicated because they had restrictions on how many unlimited members could join. Unlimited members couldn’t sign up through the website. You had to call or visit in person.
There were positives. I made friends in the classes. Some of us formed a study group outside of our MaxMSP class. But we did this because our instructor was too busy working on his personal exhibition at 3^rd Ward during the class he was supposed to be teaching. The next week he just didn’t show up at all. Four of us took it upon ourselves to learn the software. There were no refunds for the students who paid for that class, only an apology an an opportunity to reschedule on another day and time. And rescheduling was an impossibility for some fellow students.
Other classes I took succumbed to technical difficulties. Hardware like projectors or computers wouldn’t be available or would arrive late. iMacs in the lab would have system changes that prevented students from following the instructor’s curriculum. Class would be held up while we all tech-​supported those on the problematic machines.
Some of my instructors were poorly suited for the classes they taught. Many were well-​intended and professional, with great advice to give, but hampered by the knowledge gaps of the students. Course descriptions targeted professionals but nothing stopped the general public from getting in. I was in more than one photography class with students who not only weren’t photographers, they didn’t own cameras. Those students had nothing to contribute and were a drain on already limited time and resources.
I had no intent to write a virtriolic review of 3^rd Ward on Unilocal after walking away a few months ago. But shortly after ending membership at 3^rd Ward, an instructor from my photo portfolio review class emailed a friend and client of mine to solicit work. I showed the work I shot for that client in class. My name is on that client’s website. The images I showed in class are next to my name on the client’s website and there’s no way you can email her through the website without noticing this. It’s either tacky, sneaky or stupid. I don’t know which.
And that is why I think 3^rd Ward is a failure as an institution. They’re focused on growth of their business rather than its refinement. I still get their promotional emails. They want to create cafes, sell you schemes and contests to show your work, and build branches in Philadelphia. But they lack a fundamental ability to choose good instructors. Without good instructors, how good can the instruction be?
They’ve replaced their director of education since I left. I hope things improve.

I don’t recommend taking jewelry classes here…
I took a jewelry class last year. The fee was expensive. It was not a good deal for the quality of the class and the space.
The teacher was nice but she was in her 20’s, & a little inexperienced as a teacher and sometimes her teaching style was bossy and she treated us like children. (I heard that she was also teaching kids crafts so maybe that’s why.) Compared to FIT or Fitzgerald Jewelry in Williamsburg, this jewelry class was about 3 stars out of 10.
Also, some of the tools in the studio were old so it was difficult to use.
And the studio was soo small and we were behind glass, while people looked in at us. so we felt like we were animals in zoo…
It’s better to go to other jewelry schools. Please be careful about.

Total fun and yes now I am way more bad-a@@ than i ever was. Come in with a great idea and there is tons of time to execute a nice size project.
People are great and classes really good.

I love 3^rd Ward I’ve taken quite a few classes here buy purchasing a class pass. Some of my favorites were the Fashion Illustration Class with Sarah Hein, Sarah is such a great teacher and really knowledgeable and helpful, she made the classes really fun and productive.
I also really enjoyed the DIY Printmaking Class with Kaitlin Shulman she was a great teacher as well and was really encouraging.
and lastly I really enjoyed the Intro into Embroidery class with Iviva Olenick she is really passionate about embroidery and which really inspired me with my embroidery.
I’d recommend 3^rd Ward to anyone wanting to try something new or to get their creative juices flowing! The staff are always super helpful and keen to help with any issues.

I took the basic bike mechanics class with Steven Ma. He’s pretty great. Obviously very knowledgeable and very flexible with the structure of the class so we could do things that we were most interested in learning about. They have so many other classes too! I also checked out a social type thing about crowd funding, which was pretty interesting. That place is crawling with interesting ppl.
As a side note, when we were there for class one Saturday, they were roasting a whole freakin pig behind the building. No joke. It was for their annual luau or something. Haha. I guess it’s that kind of place!

3^rd ward has so many classes and I have yet to take one I haven’t liked.
I’ve taken mostly web design classes in he computer lab and the facilities are great great. In addition to web design and computer classes they also have a huge studio for all different kinds of studio art (a metal shop, wood shop, jewelry and sewing studio).
The classes are pretty affordable compared to other classes in NY. Its definetly worth at least a basic membership if you find the classes are a good fit for you.
Highly recommend this to anyone looking to take a single class in something interesting and new or to develop and concentrate on a skill.

Some classes are dope while others seem like a over priced hipster workshop. The bread making workshop was helpful and the instructor was clearly an expert in her field. However, the location makes it difficult to get to especially during the weekends (ugh subways) and there’s absolutely NOTHING around that area. All warehouses. The closest deli you’d get to is about 4 blocks north.
Notable: their vending machine had some non-​traditional treats like wasabi peas, peppero, and others.

It’s amazing how a nude male model with a gut and a tremendous amount of confidence can start to look pretty damn hawt after a while.
We attended Drink n Draw here. For $ 10, you bring your own supplies and they provide a nude model (male or female) and unlimited Pabst beer. Get here a bit early to get a seat because people were left standing and crammed in.
You don’t need to be a real artist. I literally had two pieces of drawing paper, a pencil and a book to support the paper. We had a great time.
I think it was $ 10 each if you go as a pair. If you go alone, just pair up with someone in line.

A Haiku for 3^rd Ward:
Do it yourself home
Become wood and metal god
A pricey hobby

Last year was a great year for my husband and I, we decided to join 3^rd Ward! and a year later I look back at how are lives have positively changed since we made that decision.
We had always visualized the idea of being part of an environment that interrelated creativity with knowledge, and 3^rd Ward offered us exactly that concept.
I was lucky enough to take their complete photo program. amazing teachers and facilities to work hand on hand with professional equipment. We took advantage of the photo studios (free for members) and had many great photo and video shoots that are now used as part of our portfolio.
graphic design, video, color, printing, sewing, finding funds, business work plan and all the classes we took shaped us to become better.
The best part has been without a doubt, the amazing people we have met. We have exhibited our artworks and have found exciting jobs thanks to friends introduced at 3^rd Ward.
The staff is always involved. professional, helpful and friendly. Just plain cool! THANK YOU!!!
All the teachers working at 3^rd Ward are incredibly talented, I learned from each and everyone of them but I must say and point out the extraordinary work and experience of teachers like Allison Malletz (watercolor, installation) and Ken Collins (photography). Not to mention Elizabeth Waugh, Max Goodman, Luke Schantz, among others.
If you are thinking of investing in your education 3^rd Ward should be on your list of places to visit and join. I miss riding my bike there (given free when you join), I miss their super cool events, I miss staying late working on my projects in its badass installations…3^rd Ward was a life changer and I recommend it to everyone!!!

Overall I was pretty disappointed in my experiences at 3^rd Ward.
I’ve been to college for art/​photography and thought the idea of 3^rd Ward interesting as a way to use a studio space when not on my typical jobs.
I signed up for the «Unlimited Studio Useage» for just around 425.00 dollars.
Firstly the «Unlimited» only pertains to if all the studio spaces haven’t been booked out days and even weeks in advance. So much for that…
Additionally, booking a space over 7 days in advance requires an extra 25 dollar fee. Basically if you want to shoot on a weekend you need to book over a week in advance. This has also applied to me for weekdays/​weeknights. So the original four hundred dollars or so goes up to five hundred and more quickly. For example the last time I called with 6 days advance notice on a Thursday evening booking I was told there was a 2 hour slight available.
The walls and cycs are typically dirty so if you’d like them to be clean/​painted that’s another 25 dollars each time.
3^rd Ward carries no equipment. Their website mentioned a deal with CSI rentals which is out of date and not continued so you’re looking at courier fees in addition to eq rental.
Something as simple as V flats are there but in really poor condition and fall apart. This is really unfortunate since they’re the most difficult to transport/​expendables so you’re out more cash.
The website also mentions a Studio F which is doesn’t exist anymore.
In order to book a studio you need to call each time. 70% they answer the phone. I left a voicemail once for a studio asking for a call back that never occurred.
When I cancelled by email they also ignored that and planned on charging until I called
Honestly I just can’t get past the equipment thing. It seems so ridiculous to rent a studio space INTENDED FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND NOT HAVE STANDS, APPLE BOXES OR PACKS ON PREMISES.
I would recommend 3^rd ward if you have a car and don’t mind the schlepping but honestly they’re are better options in town that work out better, financially, in the end.
Oh, overall impression I got from the staff was mixed. Some people were very nice and helpful and other a bit oblivious and condescending anytime I asked for something… like an extension cord. :/

I just got finished taking a bag construction course and it was a complete waste of my time. its only 3 classes but it should have been longer considering we were suppose to construct 3 different bags. Many of the students barely completed one bag by the end of the course. The instructor was lovely but the class was unorganized and lacked supplies and space. The description given on the site was totally different from what the instructor wanted us to do.
The site tells us to bring several yards of fabric but once I got to the class the instructor informed us it was a leather only class. There was only one functioning sewing machine and most of my time was spent waiting. Also, dont let the photos fool you.

I guess this is a place for you to take art classes and such, however my review isn’t about their school, it’s about their space.
I came in here Friday night to see an art installation presented by Justin Beckman, by the name of «Rural Famous». His stuff was great, a lot of western and «Hillbilly» (by his own accord) stuff that utilized the space of 3^rd Ward rather well. On top of that, there was a bluegrass band playing some live tunes, and there was free Busch beer and Apple Cider & Whiskey! Truthfully speaking, it can’t get much better than that. If I have to comment on one thing about this place it would be its proximity to ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I walked from Montrose Ave. on the L train and it was kind of a gloomy walk down a dark street with just abandoned warehouses and such. Normally I would deduct a star for this, but this place made up for the lonely walk 20 fold, so I’m over it. Thanks for a great night 3^rd Ward.

Take
A class
Or a drink
At this nexis
For us living among the warehouses.