8 OCTOBER 14, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Queens company unveils statue honoring Claire Shulman
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
A 6-foot bronze statue honoring the
late Queens Borough President Claire
Shulman was unveiled by executives
of the Flushing-based national manufacturing
company Crystal Window
& Door Systems on Thursday, Oct. 7.
Thomas Chen, founder and chairman
of Crystal Window & Door
Systems, and his son, Steve Chen,
president of Crystal, held a press
conference with local elected offi cials
and members of the business and art
community at its production facility,
located at 31-10 Whitestone Expy.
The statue is a bronze 6-foot-tall lifelike
portrayal of Shulman depicted in
motion, which characterized the former
Queens borough president, who
died in October 2020 at the age of 94.
The statue will stand on an 18-footby
8-foot metal pathway base in the
shape of an infi nity sign, symbolizing
Shulman’s continuous drive forward
and her boundless energy.
It will be on temporary display at
Crystal’s headquarters and factory
in College Point for two weeks. Thereaft
er, it will be placed on permanent
exhibit at Chen’s 200-acre private art
and nature preserve, Crystal Park, in
Dutchess County.
“Her memories will always remain
with us forever and it’s fi tting that
Crystal Park will be the place for her
statue permanently,” said Thomas
Chen, who described Shulman as a
grandmother to him and said that
she showed interest in his personal
life as well.
According to Thomas Chen, when he
was starting his window manufacturing
company in Queens, Shulman had
helped him avoid many of the typical
setbacks immigrant entrepreneurs
faced.
“She encouraged me to take executive
business courses, engage reputable
service providers and suppliers,
and make Crystal Windows a good
corporate citizen,” Thomas Chen said.
When Crystal was ready to expand
in Queens, Shulman ensured New
York City agencies worked effectively
with Crystal as the company
constructed and opened a large new
factory. She continued to be a mentor,
motivator and friend to Thomas and
later to his son, Steve, as he stepped
into the leadership role at Crystal.
Even aft er Shulman left public offi ce
in 2001, she and the Chens continued
to be close friends. They shared a love
of the arts and supported many cultural
institutions throughout Queens.
Several years ago, Thomas was
inspired to commission sculptures
honoring notable friends who had
contributed to his personal and
business success.
The statue of Shulman is the
first he commissioned. In 2019,
Steve Chen (l.) and Thomas Chen pose for a photo with a newly unveiled statue of former Queens Borough
President Claire Shulman on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Photos by Paul Frangipane
internationally known Taiwanese
sculptor Yutien Chang was engaged to
create the bronze statue as a tribute to
Shulman’s leadership for the business
community of Queens and her counsel
and friendship to Crystal Windows.
A native of Taiwan, Yutien Chang
is an award-winning sculptor on the
international stage. Chang has exhibited
sculptures in Taiwan, New York,
Amsterdam, Germany and other locations
around the world, both as solo
exhibitions and as part of festivals
and shows.
Chang’s sculptures are oft en provocative,
examining the expectations
placed on both people by society when
making life and career choices, and
the impact and consequences of succumbing
to these expectations.
In the same year, Shulman met with
Chang and the Chens to discuss the
project and presented renderings of
his vision for the statue.
“I was thrilled Claire was able to visit
Crystal Park in October 2019 to see the
location selected for her statue along
a wooded path overlooking the lake,”
Thomas Chen said. “Sadly, Claire did
not get to see the completed work, but
we are here today to share it with her
many friends in Queens.”
Queens Deputy Borough President
Rhonda Binda described Shulman as
a “fi erce woman.”
“She was fair and she demanded so
much from her staff because we know
that’s what the families of Queens
deserve,” Binda said.
Queens Borough President Chief
of Staff Franck Joseph remembered
Shulman’s legacy as the fi rst woman
to become borough president of
Queens.
“Her legacy looks like the cultural
hub that Queens has become. You see
institutions that were built because
Claire Shulman had a vision and she
also worked with her team to execute
that vision,” Joseph said.
Congresswoman Grace Meng also
refl ected on Shulman’s legacy.
“There are few people who cared
more and made more of an impact
on the families of Queens that Claire
did and it really wasn’t just because
of her job title; she deeply cared from
the very beginning to the very end.
She would randomly and oft en summon
me for another new idea to help
the people of Queens,” Meng said.
“Every time Queens becomes more
accessible and helps more working
families here in the borough, it really
is a testament to Claire and the
incredible legacy she continues to
leave all of us today.”
The statue will remain on temporary
display at Crystal Windows &
Doors production facility through
noon of Oct. 22. Friends of Shulman
and members of the public are welcome
to visit.
Additional reporting by Paul
Frangipane.
A rendering of the statue in its permanent location.
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