By Bill Parry
When developer Gerry Wolkoff banished the 5Pointz artists in November and had the world-famous graffiti mecca whitewashed to prepare it for demolition, many thought the LIC art community had suffered a mortal wound.
The fourth annual LIC Arts Open proved the community is very much alive. Thousands of visitors were drawn to 160 studios and 54 venues that hosted the works of nearly 300 artists from May 14-18.
“It’s a way to focus attention on one of the city’s largest art communities,” founder Richard Mazda said. “There’s more art made here in one square mile than anywhere else. There are more studios here than in Dumbo. Our community doesn’t get the attention the ones in Brooklyn do because our artists are older and more established — there’s less self-promotion.”
Mazda believes that artists put Long Island City on its path to success decades ago.
“It was very bleak here 30 years ago, nothing but wise guys and ladies of the evening,” he said. “The artists started to move in because they don’t see desolation, they see promise and it didn’t hurt that the rents were cheap.”
Mazda said the 5Pointz incident serves as a warning.
“We have to mitigate against the real estate boom and gentrification. All of our artist space becomes attractive to commercial real estate of use as office space,” he said.
The founders of the Queens World Film Festival believe the exposure the LIC Arts Open provides helps the community.
“It’s immeasurably important for the artists,” Don Cato said. “People take notice of your work, some buy it, but it’s good for the general population to see what’s happening here in Queens.”
His wife, Katha Cato added, “And it’s huge for the economy: People come and buy, then they go and eat at a restaurant or go for drinks in a bar.”
Four of Long Island City’s cultural institutions got a boost last month when a free shuttle began operating on weekends. The mini-bus that seats 25, was funded by philanthropists Shelley and Donald Rubin, and will operate on a loop between Socrates Sculpture Park, the Noguchi Museum, the SculptureCenter and MoMA PS1.
“LIC is a neighborhood that everyone wants to live in and the arts and culture are two of the main reasons,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said. “I know how important it is to invest in the arts because it makes for better communities.”
Van Bramer, who serves as the chairman of the city Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, scoffs at comparisons to the borough to the south.
“Some say we’re the new Brooklyn, but the truth is we don’t compare ourselves to other boroughs,” he said. “We are not in their shadows and we stand on our own two feet.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
