N E W S
J U N E 15
L E H A V R E
Douglaston LCD to unveil
student-made murals at local
LIRR station
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
WWW.QNS.COM | JUNE 2019 | LEHAVRE COURIER 15
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Douglaston just got a little more
beautiful thanks to the work of some
talented student artists.
On Friday, May 31, the Douglaston
Local Development Corporation
(DLDC) will unveil six student-made
murals in partnership with Long Island
Rail Road (LIRR). LIRR recently
installed the community revitalization
art projects at the LIRR Underpass at
the Douglaston station.
“We asked LIRR about a year or so
ago and told them we’d be happy to do
a mural project,” said DLDC President
Rebecca Gellos.
Gellos and the DLDC asked P.S. 98,
M.S. 67 and Divine Wisdom Catholic
Academy to participate in the project.
The schools were asked to create
works using nature, history and transportation
as themes. Groups of students
from each school were given free rein
to create painted artworks on pieces of
plywood.
“The goal of public art is to promote
a diverse and stimulating cultural environment
to enrich the lives of residents,
visitors and the community. These
murals represent some of the many
hallmarks of Douglaston — nature
and history — while acknowledging
the local transportation setting of the
Douglaston Station Plaza,” according
to the LDC.
Gellos shared that other LIRR stations,
like the one in Forest Hills, have
similar public art projects by professional
artists. When the LDC asked
local students and their art teachers
to create the murals, she said she was
“hoping for the best, but wasn’t sure”
what the completed works would look
like.
But after seeing the finished products,
Gellos shared that everyone was
“really, really happy with how they
turned out. The students are so talented.”
Gellos added that local politicians,
including Councilman Paul Vallone,
Senator John Liu and Assemblyman
Ed Braunstein, supported the creation
of the murals. The three lawmakers,
along with Congressman Tom Suozzi
are slated to attend Friday’s event.
In conjunction with the community
art celebration, the DLDC is also celebrating
the reopening of the pedestrian
plaza near the LIRR station. After
18 months, Gellos is excited that the
shared space is ready for the community
to enjoy.
Upgrades and improvements include
a plaza resurfacing, new plantings and
outdoor tables and chairs. Gellos said
that the first movie night of the season
in the new plaza attracted over 200
people.
Next month, the LDC is hosting a
movie night on June 21, when they
also plan to launch their new Little
Free Library.
The event is on Friday, May 31, from
11 to 1 p.m. For more information
or to RSVP, contact Rebecca Gellos
at rebecca@dougldc.org or 347-946-
0017. Those interested can also visit
dougldc.org or find the Douglaston
LDC Facebook page.
/dougldc.org
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