Queens International 2018

By It's in Queens | rmackay@queensny.org | Wednesday, November 7, 2018 |12:00 PM

Three related art shows will come to life during one coordinated, 11-hour effort on Saturday, Nov. 10.

“Queens International 2018: Volumes” will open at the Queens Library branches in Flushing, Jamaica (aka Central), and Corona’s LeFrak City. The fun will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with free shuttle bus service between the sites and a post-launch reception in Jackson Heights.

Queens International highlights borough-based artists, and Queens Museum has presented the series every other year since 2002 with varying themes. This year, participants explored the museum and the three library branches before creating their work. They also pondered the following questions: what aspects of the past were constructed because of libraries and museums? and what limits and possibilities do they present in the ways humans relate to space, time, and the virtual world?

Now it’s time to see the results.

Queens Library President & CEO Dennis Walcott will break the ice with remarks at the Jamaica branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., on Saturday at 11 a.m. Then, artist Patrick Killoran will unveil “Passage” and participate in a Q+A with the library’s director, Nelson Lu.

Killoran, a Jackson Heights resident, observed activity at the Jamaica branch for a few months before creating this site-specific piece that comments on how technology — especially the internet — has changed the way humans do research. It features viewing portals within book stacks, encouraging visitors to uncover and connect the library’s different systems. “Passage” will be on display until Feb. 24, 2019.

The activation of “Fel Santos: I of Newton” will follow at the LeFrak City branch, 98-30 57th Ave., at 1:30 p.m.

Paolo Javier (an immigrant from the Philippines who was the borough’s official Poet Laureate from 2010 to 2014) and David Mason (a musician from Ireland who also goes by the moniker “Listening Center”) united to create this multimedia installation, which is also on display until Feb. 24, 2019. With seven sound displays to demonstrate how multi-lingual humans communicate, “Fel Santos: I of Newton” explores the poetry and elusive identity of Santos, an immigrant from the Philippines who currently lives in Woodside.

Beforehand at 1 p.m., Brian Droitcour and Christine Wong Yap will lead a writing workshop, “The People’s Guide to the Queens International,” that aims to encourage the public to write reviews of the show.

Meanwhile over at the Flushing branch, 41-17 Main St., at 3:30 p.m., Mo Kong will introduce “Black Cloud, Thin Ice,” followed by a Q+A.

Kong, who was born in China, studied the migration patterns of bees and the importation and branding of Chinese honey before creating his installation, which draws parallels to migration and its influence on communities around Queens.

He’ll begin with an art workshop at 2 p.m.

“Black Cloud, Thin Ice” will be on view at the Flushing library until Dec. 8. Plus, a related piece will be at Queens Museum through Feb. 24, 2019.

The day’s final leg will be a reception with live music and the introduction of a new catalog on “Queens International 2018: Volumes” at Terraza 7, 40-19 Gleane St. in Jackson Heights, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

All events are free, but bus riders must reserve seats via email to Lberfond@queensmuseum.org. The bus will make its first pick up at the 74th Street/Roosevelt subway station in Jackson Heights at 10:30 a.m. The final drop off is set for the Flushing library branch at 3:30 p.m.