| . | 05/05/2009
Interview with Executive Director of Queens Council on the Arts about Queens Art Express
By: Staff Writer
The 7 train to Queens, “the International Express”, was created to deliver hard working immigrants from a gritty Manhattan work day to their pastoral lives in the outer borough. With the help of Queens Council on the Arts and MTA, the 7 train is now a modern thoroughfare for some of the hottest dance, artists, and musicians in the world. The Queens Art Express festival highlights the trailblazing artists who burn deep creative treads in the metropolitan community.
Queens Art Express spans 20 venues over 3 weekends this Spring; from Western Queens, and the once industrial quarter of Long Island City, to stops in Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Corona, and finally Flushing; the original 7 line symbolizing the melting pot origins of NYC, now stops to illuminate the culture, performers and musicians that make NYC famous: Queens Art Express finds art under the 7.
Executive Director of Queens Council on the Arts, Hoong Yee Krakauer explains her Queen-ish love of the “International Express” and subsequent tie-in with the Queens Art Express, “What better way to launch the newly reinvented and redesigned version of QCA's most popular publication, ‘the International Express’, than to surround it with weekends of exciting arts events along the route of this gothic subway line, the No.7! The focus of the brochure is to highlight the constantly emerging and evolving artist communities that cluster in communities that are linked by this train.”
The involvement of MTA contributing resources to increase cultural opportunities in NYC, at a time when they are facing dire financial times, is startling. “The mta rocks!" Krakauer says, "We are so appreciative of their commitment and enthusiasm for the artists involved with Queens Art Express and grateful to have such wonderful partners.” In addition, this project is receiving support from Bloomberg, O'Connor Capital partners, the New York State Council on the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
Admission to Queens Art Express is FREE and runs from May30th-June 14th. Venues include: Crossing Art in Flushing to Socrates Sculpture Park and LaGuardia Performing Art Center in Long Island City, even alternative spaces like neighborhood sidewalks, parks and train stations are prime spots for curated shows. To take a look at the diverse collection of offerings from QAE go to their web site at http://www.queensartexpress.com
Krakauer gives one last to pitch to those high minded urban dwellers short on cash, “The Queens Art Express illuminates a metaphor for the artistic communities of Queens. It is a journey through a world of art in one borough. No passport needed, just take your metrocard.”
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