FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 17, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 35
buzz
Downtown Flushing community celebrates
public outdoor Christmas art installation
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Members of the Flushing community
on Friday, Dec. 4, ushered in the holiday
season with the annual unveiling
of a new outdoor art installation that
is serving as a symbol of hope for the
community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the 13th consecutive year, real
estate firm F&T Group partnered with
Crossing Art Gallery to bring artwork
to downtown Flushing.
This year’s lively sculptural piece,
“Hearts as One” is created by Asian-
American artist Jaena Kwon, who has
lived in Queens for five years.
Kwon’s artwork will be on display
until Jan. 31 at the Queens Crossing
Outdoor Plaza (Outside of Paris
Baguette bakery) at 136-17 39th Ave.
“Flushing is one of my favorite places
in Queens. I am glad to have my artwork
speak to the hearts of many in
the community,” Kwon said. “There is
nothing more that the Queens community
needs than positivity and something
to look forward to.”
Although the global COVID-19 pandemic
may impact the holidays this year,
Kwon’s sculpture is sure to uplift the community
spirit and remind people to be
strong and positive and to look to the
future.
Th e sculpture looks as if it’s been folded
from paper into a heart shape, with
its creased lines and rough edges. While
most of Kwon’s pieces are painted one
bold color, the new sculpture has a dark
blue interior, while the exterior is painted
a traditional deep red.
Th e opposing colors connect to the idea
of co-existence and unity rather than division,
and the belief that even with diff erent
opinions, groups of people can exist
harmoniously together.
As one of the most ethnically diverse
urban areas in the United States, Flushing
is unique with its own distinct identity
– an enclave of immigrants and dreamers
who came in search of the American
dream.
Kwon’s sculpture, and ideas of peace,
unity, warmth and aspiration, comes from
a deep appreciation for the Flushing community
at large.
Michael Lee, chairman and CEO of
F&T Group, said their goal with every
project and initiative is to bring the
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
community together and to celebrate
the immigrant roots Flushing was built
upon.
“Th is inspiring installation is a display
of creative passion and a reminder of the
importance of visual arts, especially during
the holidays and a challenging year,”
Lee said. “Whether it be the development
of real estate projects that promote
jobs, waterfront access and more, to cultural
events that spotlight our diversity
and contribution, F&T Group celebrates
Flushing and its continued evolution as a
New York City destination.”
As a long-term builder of innovative
mixed-use projects in the Flushing
community including Tangram and the
proposed Special Flushing Waterfront
District (SFWD), F&T Group urges people
to work together as a unifi ed community
to move Flushing forward and recover
even stronger from the pandemic.
To achieve this goal, Tangram hopes to
open to the public in 2021, and become
the epicenter of Flushing. Additionally,
the SFWD seeks to activate 29 acres of
inactive and underutilized land along
Flushing Creek, fi nally bringing a vibrant,
free and public waterfront park for the
entire community to use.
For more information, visit
QueensCrossing.com or on Instagram (@
QueensCrossing).
Photo by Fai Chen
Asian-American artist Jaena Kwon.
/QueensCrossing.com
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