Tranquil ground floor gallery at Noguchi Museum, Long Island City

As we round out the end of 2009, we decided to bump around the neighborhood and check out the current exhibitions of three of Long Island City’s legendary – and very different – art institutions: the zen/industrial aesthetic of the Noguchi Museum, the spacious waterfront warehouse that is Deitch Studios, and, of course, the school turned modern art repository, PS 1 Contemporary Art Center. Here’s what’s going on »

• Review of Vanessa Beecroft’s VB64 performance at Deitch Studios [ArtForum]

• Vanessa Beecroft at Deitch photos [Supreme Management]

• Manufacturing value with Vanessa Beecroft [Art Fag City]

• Armory Arts Week branches out to Queens [Art Info]

• More on the Armory Arts Show [Flavorwire]

• LIC Boathouse Fundraiser this Thursday [Frogma]

• LIC Boathouse Fundraiser this Thursday, take 2 [JoeyInAstoria]

• Waterfront Crabhouse rebuilding after fire [NY Daily]

• LIC Performing Arts High School gets fancy new digs [NY Daily]

• Great video of LIC Centurian Rose Fazio by Art-O-Mat [video]

• Longtime resident Frank Corrado on the past & future of LIC [video]

The facade of the L Haus Condos, Pulaski Bridge, Long Island City

A lot of condo buildings in Long Island City are in the home stretch of completion, including the L Haus condos with its rather distinct facade.

On the LIC wire »

New Development Long Island City/Astoria, near Vernon Blvd

Some quick LIC linkage coming at you right now »

The view from SHI, new Asian fusion restaurant at Queens West, LIC

The long awaited SHI restaurant opens tonight in QueensWest, featuring a full bar & lounge, sushi bar, dining room, and outdoor terrace seating with LIC’s famous Manhattan skyline view. With of course, LIC’s signature signage, the soon to be migrating again Pepsi Cola sign.

Anyway, it’s a good week to be in this particular hood, because there are many ways to get your drink, art, and theatre on in LIC, and some of it for FREE. Check it out »

Pigs Fly on 5th St, between 49th & 50th Aves, Hunters Point, LIC

Well, if Pigs were going to Fly anywhere in NYC it would be here »

August 08 Cover, Ins & Outs Magazine, Long Island City

LIC residents are quite lucky (we think) to have such a rich offering of community media. On top of the handful of blogs, forums, and misc sites, we have a glossy quarterly print magazine called Ins&Outs, which hits the streets today with their 12th volume. Founded by a longtime LIC resident closely connected with local artists, I&O covers news and events about the LIC community (kind of like liQcity, but not at all) as well as the Outside World. In their own words »

If you’ve never been to a PS1 Warm Up party, here’s a little taste of the vibe, shot straight from the dance floor on Saturday. The people shown in the video -dancing in costume- are actually on an LIC neighbor’s rooftop terrace overlooking the courtyard. More evidence that LIC has a heartbeat. And one you can shake your booty to.

• PS1 Warm Up Parties return under PF1 [liQcity]

Legal streetart coordinated by Chashama, Vernon & Borden Ave, LIC

5pointz may have been the first legal walls for streetart in Long Island City, but now they’re not the only ones. Simone Development, the developers behind the Hunters Point Condos double whammy, have collaborated with Chashama, an non-profit arts group, to beautify their construction site walls with streetart created by local artists.

“The creators described the idea »

Queens is Green tomorrow

The Queens is Green Fashion Show hits Dutch Kills this weekend, offering a “free fashion competition that highlights clothing and accessories from local designers that not only look good, but are good for the planet.

The catwalk begins at 4:00PM.

Location: Greenspace, 37-24 24th St

Subway: NW train to 36th Ave.

“Green Fashion isn’t just clothing made with sustainable fabrics like hemp or bamboo silk, but also includes items that are handmade or refashioned from recycled or reusable products.”

Flux Factory, April 4 – 27, 2008

Well, we’ve arrived at the end of this yellow brick road: the Flux Factory is singing the fat lady’s song this weekend. And the swan’s. Will definitely be an interesting tune for sure. You can check it out the EVERYTHING MUST GO installation and the final party this Saturday, April 26th, 8pm.

• EVERYTHING MUST GO info [Flux Factory website]

Lady Pink aka Pinksmith on 5pointz, Court Sq, Long Island City

I was walking around 5pointz this weekend, and saw some incredible work. The piece in the photo by Lady Pink is a smaller part of the whole.

It’s nice and chill over there on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Since it’s getting warm out, we can only assume they’ll be more to come.

If you don’t know what 5pointz is, let’s remedy that right away. It’s the gigantic yellow building covered in graffiti at the corner of 23rd St & Jackson Ave, that you’ve probably seen on the elevated 7 train. It’s very hard to miss. It’s one of the few places (the only?) in NYC where graffiti is a legal expression of creativity, instead of a punishable crime against material property. So it produces an infinitely rotating supply of art pieces created by some of the most celebrated graffiti and street artists in the world.

If you’re into it, here’s more »

Subdivsion – 48-41 Vernon Blvd

Subdivision is not new to Vernon, but it’s high time I blogged about them. Brought to us by the owners of City Dog Lounge (the pet store on Vernon) Subdivision is essentially a local designers collective where artists sell their pieces. And people like me buy them.

This is not Kmart. You will not find basic shirts in S,M,L. What you will find, however, is an eclectic collection of unique clothing (gents, ladies and kids), handmade jewelery, supercool bags, and a gallery featuring local artists. Subdivision was really the first place that sold actual clothing on the block, though I’m sure someone will argue with me about that. Maybe other places have come and gone… actually we know they have.

LIC’s been ‘up & coming’ for a lot longer than it actually was. Now people really have arrived, and the chorus of who’s asking ‘Where’s the grocery store?’ is much louder. I would say now we’re up & coming. We haven’t quite arrived yet, but we are graced with a strong community spirit, and the desire to keep our artist colony alive and eating. Thanks in part, to Subdivision.

Currently on exhibit at Subdivision »

Well. The links really tell it all, but looks like LIC’s Flux Factory is getting the boot thanks to the MTA and some Long Islanders that really need to get to Grand Central in a hurry. In a ‘take it or leave it’ deal, the building owner must give up his property for the East Side Access Project linking the LIRR to Grand Central Station. According to the storyline, Flux Factory already fled rising rents in Williamsburg for refuge in LIC/Sunnyside with a 15 year lease. And now, they’re homeless again.

Hopefully they’ll find another home in LIC. If anyone has any updates on where they’re going next, pass along the info. It’s not very surprising that the MTA would callously knock out a beloved artists collective, but it does make one want to wear black all day.

• Flux Factory forced out [curbed.com]
• Flux Factory Website
• East Side Access Project [Wired NY Forum]