Feature
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.
Back in July 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 nontraditional
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 uber-talented NYC-based
creatives.
Take a break from life’s harsh realities
and enjoy this fun, quirky show – now on
30 AUGUST 2019 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
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 largescale
installations, like Olivera’s striking
pixel masterpiece made of neon-colored
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
Sustainable
Art
MFTA ARTISTS ROCK OFFBEAT WORKS IN A NEW
REUSE EXHIBIT IN LONG ISLAND CITY
John Cloud Kaiser, “Back in Time”
“Illuminated Connective
Device” by Jairo Toro
Omar Olivera, “Red Cross, Yellow Fire, Blue Wing”
Pamela Issac, “I See the Light”
/www.qns.com
/www.qns.com
