54 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • AUGUST 23, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
‘Discover Flushing’ during a walking tour
of the neighborhood during the U.S. Open
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
Explore local businesses and food spots
in Flushing during a free walking tour
during the U.S. Open.
Th e Greater Flushing Chamber of
Commerce is inviting those attending
the U.S. Open to explore the neighborhood’s
File photo/QNS
A new exhibit in Long Island City explores climate change through art
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Th e “fever” art exhibit in Long Island
City is tackling the subjects of climate
change and global warming.
From Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, Long Island
City Artists and Th e Plaxall Gallery (5-46
46th Ave.) will host to the free exhibit,
which showcases thought-provoking
and poetic interpretations of these issues
plaguing our world.
“Th e show incorporates painting, sculpture,
photography, video and installation.
It will be installed alongside informative
quotes from world leaders, challenging
and bringing awareness to a serious issue
that aff ects the planet,” said “fever” coordinator
Cristian Pietrapiana.
Approximately 22 artists from the Long
Island City Artists (LiC-A) group are slated
to show their works in the monthlong
exhibition. LiC-A is a local nonprofit
arts organization whose mission is to
increase the development and visibility of
professional and emerging artists in LIC.
Th e nonprofi t is based out of Th e Plaxall
Gallery. A full list of participating “fever”
artists is included below.
• J.F. Bautista
• Violet Baxter
• Patricia Bouley
• José Carlos Casado
• Carol Crawford
• Joseph De Leo
• Everything Is Collective
• Jean Foos
• Orestes González
• Jean-Marie Guyaux
• Ivana Larrosa
• Jim Lee
• Guido Manuilo
• Nancy Miller
• Cristián Pietrapiana
• Mary Pinto
• James Seff ers
• Andrés Senra
• Ruth Somalo
• Sharon Taylor
• Marjorie Van Cura
• Zelda Zinn
Pietrapiana, along with curators Franco
Repetto and Ivana Larrosa, came up with
the idea for a show that had “the overriding
theme of climate change.” While conceptualizing
the exhibit, the group had
selected artists to show their works in a
smaller gallery, according to Pietrapiana.
But their intimate exhibit caught Plaxall’s
interest and their proposal was accepted
to show “fever” at the famed LIC gallery.
“When Plaxall showed interest and
accepted the proposal, it turned into an
open call for all artists whose work related
to the theme and thus a more inclusive
and expanded selection was created by
the curators,” Pietrapiana shared.
He explained that each artist who was
chosen for the show has diff erent paths
and reasons for creating their pieces, but
the curators put together the show with a
specifi c goal in mind.
“Th e curators have put together a cohesive
body of work hoping for viewers to
become aware and think independently
about climate change. If it provokes viewers
to take it further and talk about it at
home and express their concern with their
government representatives, then we have
achieved our purpose,” Pietrapiana said.
In addition to “fever,” Plaxall is showing
two concurrent exhibits dealing with current
social issues: “Unnatural Selection”
and “My White Dress.”
“Fever” is free and open to the public
and can be viewed on Tuesdays at 6 to 10
p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from
noon to 5 p.m. Th e opening reception for
the show is on Sept. 8 from 7 to 10 p.m.
For more information contact Cristian
Pietrapiana at pietrapiana@hotmail.com
or Norma Homberg at artlover1974@
gmail.com. Updates are also available on
the Long Island City Artists Facebook and
Twitter (@LICartists).
“Arctic Trash I” by Jose Carlos Casado
business and food culture during
the free “Discover Flushing” walking tour
program. “Discover Flushing” is a part of
the Chamber’s Flushing Fantastic district
marketing campaign that seeks to promote
local businesses and connect visitors
to Flushing’s unique attractions and
experiences.
Th e tours will take place throughout
the duration of the U.S. Open, which
takes place from Aug. 27 through Sept.
7 this year.
“Too many tennis fans come to the U.S.
Open and never discover the world-class
restaurants, shopping or history right
next door,” said John Choe, executive
director of the Greater Flushing Chamber
of Commerce.
Tours will meet at St. George’s Church
and focus on the commercial corridors
on Main Street, Roosevelt Avenue, Union
Street and Northern Boulevard. Th ey will
take place from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday
through Friday, with extended tours starting
at 4 p.m. on Fridays that also highlight
the neighborhood’s food culture, which
will be led by Joe DiStefano, food guide
and author of “111 Places in Queens Th at
You Must Not Miss.”
“Th e U.S. Open draws thousands of
sports fans and tourists from all over
the world to Flushing Meadows Corona
Park every summer to enjoy world-class
tennis,” DiStefano said. “Unfortunately,
many of them never set foot in downtown
Flushing and miss out on the hidden
gems — historic, cultural and culinary—
of this vibrant neighborhood, which is
why I’m so very pleased to participate in
this year’s Discover Flushing pilot program.”
In addition to giving visitors a glimpse
at the neighborhood’s diversity during
the U.S. Open, the pilot is expected to lead
to a regular program of walks that will
give young people in Flushing the chance
to gain exposure and experience in the
hospitality and tourism fi eld.
“Th e U.S. Open brings visitors from
across the world right next door to the
wide variety of attractions in downtown
Flushing. Th is walking tour will help
build the bridge between the Open and
our community so that we can both share
in the economic prosperity of this world
renown sporting event,” Councilman
Peter Koo said. “Th ank you to the Greater
Flushing Chamber of Commerce for
working to ensure the Flushing community
is not overlooked.”
Tours are free, but advance registration
is required. Visit fl ushingfantastic.nyc/
tours to reserve a spot.
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