MFTA artists rock offbeat works in new reuse exhibit
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
With all the crazy stuff
going on in the world, thank
goodness for art, and the
artists who remind us of
our humanity…
Last Thursday, Materials
for the Arts (MFTA) in Long
Island City – NYC’s largest
reuse center – hosted the
opening of its newest free
exhibition. “The Artists of
Materials for the Arts” features
non-traditional creations by
MFTA Teaching Artists and
staff, showcasing MFTA’s
commitment to the practice
of sustainable art-making.
MFTA Teaching Artist and
Curator Omar Olivera, as well
as Executive Director Harriet
Taub, were among the ubertalented
NYC-based creatives.
Take a break from life’s
harsh realities and enjoy this
fun, quirky show – now on
view in the MFTA Gallery
until Friday, Sept. 6 (at 33-00
Northern Blvd., 3rd floor).
There’s so much to take in:
paintings, sculptures, collages,
and large-scale installations,
like Olivera’s striking pixel
masterpiece made of neoncolored
Post-it notes, along
with MFTA Teaching Artist
Julia Clauss’ whimsical and
colorful coffee cup sleeves.
And don’t miss MFTA Spring
2019 Artist-in-Residence
Roberto Visani’s eye-catching
laser-cut cardboard geometric
sculptures … plus much more.
“Many of us who work at
arts organizations and creative
spaces are artists ourselves.
So, when an opportunity
comes to show our own work,
it’s interesting to see how what
we do outside of our personal
practice influences our
artwork,” said Olivera.
He added: “We are
aware of the many different
communities that come to
MFTA, whether they are from
the art world, educational
communities, or the broader
NYC community, and we are
showing a wide audience
works that are very personal.”
Get inspired, think
sustainably and explore
the creative potential in
commonly found objects, just
as MFTA’s artists have done.
A few weighed in about their
submissions.
Brooklynite Avani Patel
Photo courtesy of the Materials for the Arts
has been a teaching artist for
MFTA for three years.
“It has been a wonderful
experience teaching the
community about recycled art
projects and reusing materials
to create different art crafts,
etcetra,” said Patel, who works
through MFTA in a Brooklyn
pre-school program, teaching
budding artists.
“Music evokes the body
to respond to a rhythm and
become an embodiment of
exuberance, expression and
movement. My idea of painting
is a rhythmic performance
with music that creates
a whole new language of
abstract harmony, as a means
of expressing music in visual
form,” she added.
Her paintings invite the
viewer to wander through
a universe of color and
pattern in motion and she
creates an environment of
“joy and passion, conveying
a feeling of organic nature
and festivity, while using the
psyche’s imagination.”
Art has been an integral
part of Patel’s life since she
was a young girl.
“I used to go to the theater
with my sister for rehearsals
and her dance shows. Looking
at all the colorful costumes,
flowing dresses and festivity
around, I felt that the colors
are speaking to me. It made me
joyful, and painting became
entertainment for me,” she
recalled. “I have always
admired different art forms
and techniques but my culture
and the experiences I have lived
through have a great influence
on what I present through my
drawings/paintings.”
Another imaginative
art form is meant to mirror
the ones and zeroes of data.
Julia Ladds Clauss used
coffee cup sleeves, MFTA
finds, paint and oil pastel to
create her “Thinking about
data…” piece.
Read more at QNS.com.
CATERING MENU
Buffet Menu Sit Down Dinner
Minimum 40 Guests 3 Hour Function
(Mon.-Sat. 12-3pm or 1-4pm)
Assorted Breads & Rolls
All Unlimited
Large Tossed Salad
Fresh Cooked Turkey and Roast Beef Platter
Potato & Macaroni Salad
Choice of Five Main Dishes
Baked Ziti �� Penne a la Vodka �� Chicken Marsala
Sausage & Peppers �� Eggplant Rollatini
Meatballs �� Chicken Francese �� Shepherd’s Pie
Minimum 25 Guests 3 Hour Function
(Mon.-Sun. 5-10pm)
Assorted Breads & Rolls
House Salad
Choice of Three Main Dishes
Served with Potato & Vegetables
Broiled Filet of Sole �� Chicken Marsala
Penne a la Vodka �� Shrimp Scampi
Chicken Francese �� Spinach Ravioli
Shepherd’s Pie �� 16 oz. Black Angus Certifi ed
Shell Steak $4 extra / per person
�� Buff et Only...........................................................$18.95/pp
�� Dinner with Soft Drinks...................................$21.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Domestic Tap Beer, Wine & Soda...$23.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Mixed Drinks, Domestic Beer
(Bottle & Tap) Wine & Soda..............................$26.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Top Shelf Liquors, Imported &
Domestic Beer (Bottle & Tap), Wine & Soda...$37.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Domestic Tap Beer, Wine & Soda..$24.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Mixed Drinks, Domestic Beer
(Bottle & Tap) Wine & Soda................................$27.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Top Shelf Liquors, Imported &
Domestic Beer (Bottle & Tap), Wine & Soda...$37.95/pp
FRESH COFFEE, BREWED DECAF & TEAS
DESSERT
Chocolate Truffl e Cake
214-22 41st Ave., Bayside, NY 11361 �� 718-224-9898 �� maggiemaysbayside.com
TIMESLEDGER,30 JULY 26-AUG. 1, 2019 TIMESLEDGER.COM
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