The Downtown Jamaica Partnership launched three free new interactive street art installations in the heart of downtown Jamaica.
The temporary installment dubbed the ‘‘Light Lane ” features colorful lights and music that emits from the three stationary bikes that make up the installments.
When pedaled, different graphics appear on the spokes of the bikes. The music featured plays homage to Queens-based globally recognized musicians including Salt-N-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest and RUN DMC.
The installation was funded through a grant provided by the NYC’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and designed and engineered by LeMonde Studio, a Montreal-based design and production firm. This is the first time the Light Lane installation has been revealed in North America, and the exhibit will continue to tour across the United States.
Whitney Barat, president of the Downtown Jamaica partnership, explained how the installation came to fruition. “ We responded to a grant opportunity and we applied to receive a public art lighting grant through the Department of Small Business Services.
The intent is to bring public art and light especially in spaces that are under lit or unlit. Typically the goal is to bring joy to the community to bring something new, something ephemeral and exciting you wouldn’t normally encounter,” Barat said.
Barat emphasized the importance of choosing an interactive installation that would engage the local community. “ We really were excited by the bikes because they are interactive. We wanted to bring some playfulness and joy and something new and exciting for the community to enjoy. An unexpected moment in their day, that’s really what public art is about.”
Interested in taking a ride? The installations can be found at the 165th street mall on Jamaica Avenue and Union Hall street outside of the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, and also at the Parsons Boulevard Plaza located between Jamaica and Archer Avenues. The exhibit runs until Mid-March.
