A painting from Clare Stokolosa’s “NYC Faces” series.
Courtesy of Clare Stokolosa
Bayside-based artist
introduces new exhibit
BY ANGELICA ACEVEDO
“NYC Faces,” a series of paintings depicting New Yorkers
in transit by artist Clare Stokolosa, is returning to La Galeria
at Boricua College on Friday.
The Bayside-based artist began sketching people while
on the LIRR one morning in 2016, when she noticed what she
called a “phenomenon.”
“Everyone was on the phone, so I pulled out my sketchpad,”
Stokolosa said. “I wanted to document people and the
way we interact, and how it’s changed over time.”
Stokolosa first showcased her work in 2017 at Boricua College,
where she also served as an art history professor for a
semester. She has since expanded the collection and added
new pieces, which
she said come in
small, apartmentfriendly
sizes and
“bigger-than-life”
sizes that are up
to 64 inches in
height.
Some of her
pieces were even
showcased on
more than 1,700 of
the city’s LinkNYC
kiosks this summer,
as part of the
#ArtOnLink program.
To celebrate the
opening of “NYC
Face,” a reception
will be held on
Nov. 8 at Boricua
College’s La Galeria,
located at
3755 Broadway in
Manhattan. Visitors
will be able
to meet Stokolosa,
and enjoy refreshments.
Courtesy of Suretta Wooten
The exhibit will run until Nov. 22 by appointment.
Stokolosa, who recently received the Italian Heritage and
Culture award from Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz, hopes that this project starts a conversation.
“We do live in harmony, and the pieces are a very good
example of that” she said. “I want it to start a conversation
about how we can live peacefully.”
For more information and to schedule your visit, contact
Stokolosa at info@clarestokolosa.com.
$5.4M project complete
Visitors now have waterfront access to MacNeil Park
MacNeil Park in College Point. Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
BY JENNA BAGCAL
College Point residents can
now enjoy a newly renovated
park following an extensive
$5.4 million renovation project
that restored waterfront
access for visitors.
Elected officials and representatives
from NYC Parks
and Community Board 7
unveiled improvements to
MacNeil Park on Oct. 24. The
project reconstructed over a
quarter of a mile of the esplanade
to give visitors a new
shoreline walkway,
The park also features a
stronger concrete retaining
wall, an aluminum sea rail, a
fishing overlook, and a kayak
launch.
Borough President Melinda
Katz allocated $2.3
million for the project, while
Councilman Paul Vallone
and Mayor de Blasio provided
$1.7 million and $1.3 million,
respectively.
“The revitalized MacNeil
Park Esplanade will provide
the College Point community
and visitors with an
accessible waterfront park
and green oasis,” said NYC
Parks Queens Borough Commissioner
Michael Dockett.
“We are grateful to Mayor
de Blasio, Borough President
Katz, and Council Member
Vallone for their support and
commitment to preserving
this incredible recreational
asset.”
In addition to the $5.4
million renovation, Parks is
also working on a separated
project to reconstruct the
existing concrete stairs and
construct new granite stairs
at the jetty. This project
will feature the installation
of new benches at the new
granite stairs to provide new
space to sit and relax.
“In northeast Queens, our
waterfronts have always been
an important part of daily
life and the overall character
of our great neighborhoods,”
said Vallone. “With the
dream of a vibrant MacNeil
Park with waterfront accessibility
now realized, I know
that these great new amenities
will be enjoyed by local
families and park visitors for
generations to come.”
In 1930, the city acquired
the land where MacNeil Park
is currently located. Prior to
that time, there had been a
failed plan to open an Episcopal
seminary on the 134-
acre land. In 1839, St. Paul’s
College — for which College
Point is named — opened
but closed approximately 10
years later.
When Parks acquired the
land, the agency put in a new
playground, football field,
roller skating rink, baseball
diamond and picnic grounds.
Back then, residents knew
the waterfront property as
Chisholm Park and College
Point Shore Front Park.
“The long-awaited restoration
of the MacNeil Park
Esplanade project truly illustrates
all of the natural beauty
Queens has to offer,” said
Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal.
“Now College Point
residents of all ages will be
able to take advantage of this
open-air amenity that helps
make our borough unique.”
“The repairs to the Mac-
Neil Park esplanade have
restored access to the park’s
waterfront and have made
MacNeil Park an even more
enjoyable place to visit for
the families of College Point
and all of Queens,” added
Katz. “The funds allocated
for these repairs are an important
investment in College
Point and in our Queens
waterfront.”
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.
com or by phone at (718) 260-
2583.
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