Art has finally come to Astoria.
The Astoria Art Center held its grand opening on July 17 and is the first of its kind, offering affordable classes and demonstrations on perspective, color, light, life drawing and painting, murals, sculpture and cartooning for adults and children.
“There’s nothing like this in Astoria. Every class starts with a demonstration, and students are given a 14×17 drawing pad, tons of art supplies and original lessons like nothing else,” said founder Andy Levine, who has been living in Astoria for 30 years and runs the Center out of his home.
Levine has been an artist for more than 30 years and is an illustrator by trade. He’s taught art at The School of Visual Arts and The Fashion Institute of Technology while tutoring artists in his studio for the last 20 years. He is the recipient of an Excellence in Magazine Illustration award from the New York Art Director’s Club and a Gold medal for work exhibited at Los Angeles Art Association.
Artist Mary Power will be teaching kids’ classes. A cartoonist for the past 30 years who used to work with The New York Daily News, she believes the cozy setting will attract the up-and-coming Astoria art community.
“I hope Astoria Art Center brings creativity and fun to the neighborhood,” Power said.
The Astoria Art Center doubles as a gallery with lots of original art and sculpture. Classes will also feature guest lecturers and professional artists to assist with classes in their areas of expertise.
Astoria Art Center will also offer theatre classes taught by instructor Heidi Lauren Duke; singer, actress, director and choreographer who has worked for theatre and opera companies in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and in the UK and France. Duke has studied improv comedy and acting for over 15 years and has been teaching for the last 10 years. Theatre Classes will be taught in six-week sessions where students will learn improv comedy, actioning, compositioning and the Stanislavski Method.
The biggest draw may be the price, which is just $30 for each two-and-a-half-hour long class.
“I don’t need a lot of money. I just wanted to open an art school. This is something I’ve envisioned since I was a child,” Levine said.
For more information about classes, call 718-956-8539 or visit https://astoriaartcenter.com. – Catherine M. Lozada
