36 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • NOVEMBER 25, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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LIC Partnership debuts fall public art series
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Seeking to add more color to the
Court Square area, the Long Island City
Partnership unveiled its latest art series, LIC
(Re)Connects at “Th e Ribbon,” an interactive
dual-site installation featuring ”LIC
Love Notes” submitted by neighborhood
enthusiasts.
Commissioned projects from the series
include a construction-site mural by graffi ti
artist Queen Andrea, a 760-foot, multi-panel
mural along the Th omson Avenue Bridge,
and a collection of Instagram fi lters that correspond
with “Th e Ribbon.”
Th e projects were created to enliven the
local streetscape and encourage excitement
as residents, offi ce workers and visitors
return to the community.
“LIC (Re)Connects is our own love letter
to the people of LIC. Conceived by Queens
artists, fabricated by a LIC manufacturer,
and showcasing the people that have kept
our neighborhood strong during unprecedented
times,” Long Island City Partnership
President Elizabeth Lusskin said. “Th e projects
are a testament to the spirit, ingenuity
and cross-pollination uniquely found in
LIC. As neighbors return to their homes,
kids return to school, visitors rediscover
our museums and workers head back to
the offi ce, we encourage everyone to take a
moment to enjoy this public art that brightens
our streetscape.”
“Th e Ribbon” was erected across two public
spaces in the central Court Square area to
engage everyone from curious children to
workers on their lunch break. Each location
features two magenta structures with rotating
iridescent panels inscribed with “LIC
Love Notes” submitted by local residents,
visitors and workers that will be continually
added through December or until the 100
panels are fi lled.
Five smaller LIC sidewalk signs embodying
the design and color scheme of “Th e
Ribbon” were also produced and are placed
in nearby tree pits. LIC-based placemaking
and design fi rm Hive Public Space created
“Th e Ribbon” in collaboration with Urban
Conga, a New York-based design studio.
“Th e power of public spaces during this
pandemic has crystallized the importance
of our work,” Hive Public Space President
Alexandra Gonzalez said. “With ‘Th e
Ribbon,’ we wanted to combine play with
storytelling for this place, and do it in a way
that felt inclusive to the diverse inhabitants
of LIC.”
“Th e Ribbon” was fabricated and installed
by LIC-based manufacturing fi rm Boyce
Technologies, further highlighting the collaboration
within the neighborhood’s
uniquely mixed-use community.
“Winding through central meeting spaces
in Long Island City, ‘Th e Ribbon’ greets us
with personal messages that inspire community,
congregation and conversation,” Boyce
Technologies President Charles Boyce said.
“Th e great appreciation of the neighborhood,
which underpins this project and is
evidenced by the ‘LIC Love Notes,’ is shared
by the team at Boyce. It is a wonderful feeling
we get as a design and engineering company
when we meander away from our regular
work and contribute to something that
impacts the personal lives of people in our
community.”
Another commissioned work includes,
“Dichroic Vessels,” a collection of Instagram
fi lters that correspond with “Th e Ribbon.”
“Dichroic Vessels,” by Hive Public Space
and digital artist Alexis Zerafa, is a virtual
extension of “Th e Ribbon.” Th e fi lter features
fl oating vessels and whimsical iridescent
colors that create a mirage-like eff ect,
inspired by the constant transformation and
fl ow of the neighborhood. Th e selfi e version
of the fi lter features a similar iridescent color
scheme. “Dichroic Vessels” also links the
project to social media and AR technology,
both of which play an increasing role in the
planning and development of cities.
Graffi ti artist and graphic designer Andrea
Von Budjoss, known as Queen Andrea, created
“Floral Festivity” on a large construction
fence located at 27-01 Jackson Ave., converting
an eyesore into an energizing background.
“I love neighborhoods like LIC that are
true cross-sections of the vibrant diversity
and endless possibilities that make New
York City the best city in the world,” she said.
LICP commissioned the large-scale mural
to cover the overpass of the Th omson
Avenue Bridge over the 180-acre Sunnyside
Yards near the LaGuardia Community
College campus.
Additional reporting by Gabriele
Holtermann. Read more on QNS.com.
Two minority-owned, Queens-based businesses chosen to sell products at Winter Village
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e Bank of America Small Business
Spotlight selected two Queens minorityowned
businesses to sell their products at
one of New York City’s top winter destinations:
Winter Village at Bryant Park.
Woodside residents Tenzin Tseyang and
Kalsang Chomphel opened their business
Kalsang Pottery this year. Chomphel
always loved pottery and, aft er losing his
job during the pandemic, decided to seize
the opportunity to turn his hobby into a
business.
“Chomphel always wanted to dive full
time in pottery and start a business by
selling products and was on the precipice
of taking that leap of faith,” said
Chomphel’s wife, Tenzen. “Th e personal
silver lining of the pandemic was that it
pushed Kalsang into starting his business.
With all the free time at home aft er getting
laid off the regular job, Chomphel’s
full focus was aimed at improving his craft
of pottery and handcraft ing.”
Th e couple sells handmade pottery and
ceramics for everyday use. All products
are hand thrown by Chomphel alone on
the potter’s wheel in their small studio
in Queens. Products range from kitchenware
to vases and pots. All the materials
are bought in New York and certifi ed
food, microwavable and dishwasher safe.
Chomphel emigrated from India at a
young age and found his passion for pottery
aft er working in the service industry
for many years. All of the pieces he
makes are inspired by Japanese, Korean
and British cultures.
“Each Kalsang Pottery product is a work
of art, and as an artist, there is no greater
pleasure for Chomphel than creating
art and sharing it with the world,” Tenzen
said.
Kalsang Pottery does not have a storefront
yet but has been operating out of
craft shows and street fairs around New
York City since June. Th e business also
sells products online.
Tenzin said the two are so grateful for
the opportunity that Bank of America has
given them.
“Bryant Park is one
of our favorite
parks in the city,”
Tenzen said.
“Not only are we getting to sell here as a
vendor without any charge for two weeks,
but more importantly, we are getting lots
of exposure as a new business and making
connections with clients, other businesses
and other artists. Our experience here has
been wonderful so far. We have successful
sales, and it is only boosting our confi
dence in terms of going higher and further
up in business.”
Th is is the second year that the Small
Business Spotlight has given entrepreneurs
the chance to sell their products at
a rent-free booth during the holiday season.
Kalsang Pottery will be at Bryant
Park through Nov. 26.
B l u e Paws Art will also
h a v e a booth at Bryant
Park during the
holiday season.
Entrepreneur and
Woodside resident
Alvaro Mejia moved
to New York from
Colombia seven
years ago. He
started the business
just a year
aft er moving to
Queens.
“I was an
architect there
but I moved here
trying to make a better life,” Mejia said.
Mejia and his partner Andres Isaquita
started their business, Blue Paws Art, initially
geared toward the LGBTQ community
selling custom pet portraits and art.
Th e duo sells coff ee mugs, tote bags and
apparel inspired by their white miniature
schnauzer, Blue.
“We’ve had a good reaction from people,”
Mejia said. “People like what we do,
they like what I’m drawing, and that’s how
we keep moving. Th e growth has been
slow, but a positive reaction from the customers.”
Mejia mentioned that he had a more
challenging time growing his business
as an immigrant, especially during the
pandemic when many immigrant families
were left out of much-needed relief
eff orts.
“As immigrants, we didn’t have resources
or economic help when the pandemic
hit,” Mejia said. “We didn’t get any unemployment
or any grants that the city was
off ering.”
Blue Paws Art will have its booth
at Bryant Park from Dec. 13 to Jan. 2.
Mejia said this opportunity is enormous
and will help their business grow
tremendously.
“We are expecting to showcase what we
do with larger foot traffi c, which Winter
Village off ers,” Mejia said.
Photo credit:
KalsangPottery.com
Founder Kalsang
Chomphel developed
his passion for
pottery after working in
numerous service industries.
Photo courtesy of LIC Partnership
LIC Partnership has unveiled new public art installations at various locations in Court
Square.
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