For the seventh year in a row, talented artists who create their work in Long Island City are inviting you to witness where the magic happens.
LIC Arts Open, a five-day festival where artists will occupy local spaces and open their studio doors to visitors, will take place from May 17 through May 21. Started by Richard Mazda, the owner of The Secret Theatre, this year’s event will occupy about 80,000 square feet of exhibition space and more than 150 studios.
The artists participating in the event work with a number of mediums including paint, wood, photography, collage and more. On May 20 and May 21, attendees will be able to see the artists in their natural habitats. From May 17 through May 19, pop-up galleries will showcase everything from sculptures to video.
This year, Mazda decreased the amount of pop-up shows in restaurants and cafes to focus on exhibiting works in larger galleries like the ones installed at semi-permanent galleries at The Factory at 30-30 47th Ave. and a Plaxall building at 5-25 46th Ave.
Long Island City artists will also work with Plaxall, a plastics manufacturing company, to create works using thermoforming, a process created by the company’s founder Louis Pfohl. The pieces will be displayed as part of a show titled “Plastique Deux,” curated by artist William Garrett, which opens on May 19.
“These two things are great examples of a how community that includes small artists studios and giant corporations can come together for the mutual benefit of promoting this wonderful area and improving the public perception of a district that not so long ago, people thought was in Long Island,” Mazda said.
Installations will also be presented at The Falchi building at 31-00 47th Ave., SculptureCenter, Aloft Hotel and smaller galleries in the area like Dorsky Gallery, Local Project and Next Generation Gallery.
On May 21, the Turn Off The Lights When You Leave closing party will take place at 43-01 21st St. between 6 and 10 p.m. It will include music, food, drinks and performance art.
For a full list of gallery and open studio locations and participating artists, visit the LIC Arts Open website.
