Darren Goins is taking his art to the street.
In a joint project with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Astoria and Sunnyside, Long Island City artist Goins will present his work underneath the No. 7 train at a pedestrian plaza. The project, located at 46th Street and Queens Boulevard, is part of DOT’s Urban Art program.
“It feels great and it’s great working with kids because they are incredibly creative,” said Goins.
The Urban Art program is a DOT partnership with community groups and artists to transform landscapes in all five boroughs. Projects transform public plazas, fences, barriers, footbridges and sidewalks into temporary canvases.
The idea for Goins’ project, entitled “Flexible,” came from an initiative to create a design both “physically and mentally interactive.” He was particularly inspired by the kind of workout equipment you would find at the gym.
“Working with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club, I put together workshops that included collage exercises, drawing and model building,” said Goins. “We found various ways to represent common forms into physically imagined interactive puzzles.”
Among the three sculptures being installed at the site, one is from those workshops.
“It was a learning experience,” said Goins. The children “learned a lot in the process, and I learned a lot from them.”
The completed project will feature three free-standing sculptures made of steel, paint and lumber. Working with the NYC Parks Department, the project will also feature rubber mats to keep participants safe.
Goins hopes to have the sculptures installed by mid-June. The project is scheduled to stay up for a full year.
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