By Brian M. Rafferty
The Long Island City Arts Weekend features many of the lesser-known exhibition and performance spaces, as well as open admission at the area's stalwart institutions – the American Museum of the Moving Image, the Fischer Landau Center for Art, the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, the Museum of African Art, the Museum of Modern Art, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Sculpture Center and the Socrates Sculpture Park.
The open studios will be held at “artists' hours,” starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 6 p.m. (See a complete list of participating organizations and a map on the opposite page.)
Artists from the area are excited to be a part of the weekend event.
“Our building (46-23 Crane St.) has been actively involved in most art happenings in Long Island City for the last few years,” said artist Anki King. “We usually get quite a large crowd to come out, and for us artists it is a great way of getting exposure. It is also a unique way of getting feedback on what you have done the last year. Painting is for me a solely personal and self-affirming action, so it is always a bit scary, but exciting to hear how people react to it.”
Not only can artists show their work to a larger audience than normal, but it can also be a foot in the door that helps spread awareness of the local artists.
“I have agreed to be part of the weekend to increase the community's awareness of my business, ” said Michael Davis of Michael Davis Stained Glass. “There is an amazing array of artists and businesses in Long Island City. If we were really, totally aware of what was here we could lead a self-sufficient life with no need to go to the other boroughs. Also, the more people that are aware of the many things we do in glass the better. Someone that visits my shop will see they could get custom-blown glass, stained glass, blown glass restoration, stained glass restoration, cast glass, fused glass, classes in blown glass and stained glass, and just about any glass need could be met.”
“The open studios are a great way to meet enthusiastic people who don't see that much art, and come because of someone they know,” said Ward Yoshimoto, an artist who works out of Crane Street Studios. “Also, a good cleaning is always in order before, so that is a great thing.”
Melissa Wolf, executive director of Women's Studio Center, is excited because of the timing of the open house weekend.
“We agreed to be involved in the LIC Arts Weekend because we felt it was a great opportunity for exposure,” she said. “We just moved to a beautiful 2,500-square-foot, brand new studio that's just gorgeous with windows almost ceiling-to-floor, and we thought it was a fantastic weekend to have a grand opening.”
She added that on Friday night from 5-8 p.m. Women's Studio Center will have a free preview reception open to the public.
The open house weekend is not just for the benefit of the public. It helps build a stronger arts community.
“I am always surprised at how strong and large the arts community is in LIC,” King said. “The open studios are a great way for artists to meet each other and help the community grow even larger. I think this open studio event will be our most successful yet as so many studios, galleries and single artists will be part of it.”
“There is an arts community in LIC, and its members – artists, gallery owners, patrons, etc. – are increasingly connecting with one another. There is a tremendous spirit of collaboration and support for the arts here,” said Francisco Collazo and Julie Schwietert of the Novo Arte Gallery on 48th Avenue.
Though the artists of Long Island City realize that they have become a cohesive unit, there are still problems that remain based on the area's geography.
“I fear that no matter how many artists or institutions locate in LIC it will never have the synergy of a Williamsburg or SoHo,” Davis said. “The same physical problem that hinders the creation of a scene also helps keep rents down. LIC and the many art institutions and artists are so spread out it resists the casual stroll. An important factor for those coming to visit, or for artist that wants to feel they are in some condensed beehive of activity.”
Regardless, the artists are ready to open themselves up to the rest of the world.
“The time is now,” said Yoshimoto. “LIC has all the reasons to explode and be the arts center in New York.”
Reach Assistant Managing Editor Brian M. Rafferty by e-mail at rafferty@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 139.
