‘Project Diversity’ brings gallery to you

It is not often that residents of most of Queens find a trendy art gallery in their midst, but that’s exactly what they have at Koreavillage in Flushing.
The Queens Council on the Arts has mounted an ambitious series of exhibitions, collectively called “Project Diversity Queens” through this November.
“Melting Pot, an exhibition which “represents the coming together of 10 talented artists whose work relates to the multiculturalism and pluralism of the various ethnic and cultural enclaves in the borough of Queens” according to the Council, runs at the Flushing venue at 150-24 Northern Boulevard, through Sunday, October 7.
“Koreavillage is one of a network of World Culture OpenCenters that serve the New York City cultural community,” according to Grace Chung Lee, secretary-general of the World Culture Open. “We’re honored to take part in the first ever Project Diversity (in Queens).”
The art covers a broad spectrum from Ren/ Smith’s photorealistic painting of a woman and child, to “One Night … One Hour … One Chance to … Slow Your Roll” by Ivan Monforte.
This work was billed as “A 60 minute social sculpture presented in accordance to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws, as interpreted by participants attending the venue.”
“I think this is wonderful,” said State Senator Frank Padavan, at the reception for the artists and the show. “Not only do the people of eastern Queens get to discover this beautiful center in Flushing, but the artists get their work out here where there’s an audience which isn’t likely to venture into the desolate industrial areas that struggling artists usually find themselves in.”
Even after the Koreavillage show closes, Project Diversity offerings will be running in various art-starved locales, such as:
“Shades of Gray” will be at the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center located in Corona from October 5 to November 15.
“In Technicolor” moves viewers at the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery until October 23.
“The Natural World” blossoms at the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing through October 26.
For information about these and the other presentations of Project Diversity, call the Queens Council on the Arts at 718-647-3377 or the individual venues, or visit www.queenscouncilarts.org.