QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 16, 2023 Page 12
45th Anniversary Edition
Bayside small gallery has big vision Garage Art Center is about community by Mark Lord
which closes for the winter months, is already fully booked until 2028, Lee said. “Our goal,” she added, “is to continue this journey. We want to create strong community through art together.” It would be difficult to find a better example of the old provThe Garage Art Center is a nonprofit organization. Lee said erb, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” than the case of Stephanie Lee, a Korean folk artist and founding director of the she has applied for various grants to help keep it going. In addition, Flushing Town Hall and the Queens College Art Center Garage Art Center in Bayside. donate space for group exhibitions sponsored by the center. The garage in the venue’s name is literally just that. In fact, it’s Lee said the center offers art experiences that benefit the comLee’s own garage at her Corporal Kennedy Street residence. munity and supports artists and arts organizations, “I convinced my husband to remove all his bicyboth locally and internationally. cles and gadgets from the garage, then converted it EXHIBITS She endeavors to “celebrate the rich diversity of into a gallery space,” said Lee, who received her BFA our community and create a space where art can and MS degrees from Pratt Institute. AND TALKS connect, communicate and create solidarity among Use of the space for exhibitions is free for artists, us all.” as is admission for visitors to the gallery. The center’s solo exhibitions “highlight the inLee, a native of South Korea and a resident of the depth philosophy of an individual artist,” according borough since 2000, explained that “as an artist to its website, while the occasional group exhibitions myself, I’ve always thought the art world treats artists “explore compelling things.” unfairly. Most artists, unless they are famous, have to pay gallery Its education program offers hands-on workshops and art lecrental fees to exhibit.” tures, as well as panel discussions, while its community program Another problem facing emerging artists, according to Lee, is makes available guided gallery group visits and onsite group that “there are limited public spaces and it is very difficult to do workshops at community centers in Queens and beyond. solo shows in those venues. So, I decided to open one myself.” The center’s next offering will take place in March 2024, an The garage opened as a gallery in 2020, she said. “We did exhibition by female artists celebrating Women’s History Month. numerous high-quality solo shows, art workshops and art talks, It will take place at the Queens College Art Center. That will be all free and open to the public,” she said. People seem to love the arrangement, as the exhibition space, followed by monthly exhibitions at the Garage, including: “FlowChronicle Contributor
Celebrating a solo show of works by Jeong Min Park, second from left, are John Fekner, Frances Hynes and Stephanie Lee, PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE LEE founder of the Garage Art Center. er Talk” by Eunju Kang, April 6 to 28; “Vermicular Calligraphy” by Cui Fei, May 4 to 26; and “Little Red” by Tony Gonzalez, June 1 to 30. Each exhibit at the Garage comes with a coinciding workshop led by the particular artist. The Garage Art Center is located at 26-01 Corporal Kennedy St., Bayside. The Queens College Art Center is located in the Benjamin Rosenthal Library, 6th floor, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Q Flushing. For further information, visit garageartcenter.org.
873 TEANECK ROAD, TEANECK, NJ 07666
(201) 837-8800 | (800) 447-8776
BUY, SELL, RENT, INVEST RUSSO REAL ESTATE
For the latest news EDITION visit qchron.com 45TH ANNIVERSARY • 2023
Can help with all of your REAL ESTATE needs.
Teaneck, NJ $660’s 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths
Congratulations Queens Chronicle on 45 Years of Publication
ROBERT A. RUSSO
RHODA RUSSO
Broker of Record
Broker-Associate Cell: (201) 321-5691
Cell: (201) 803-3585
robert@russorealestate.com
rhoda@russorealestate.com
THE HOME TOWN BROKER
serving Teaneck and the surrounding northern NJ & Bergen County area for over 52 years. 15 minutes from GW Bridge. Commute by Bus / Train / Car
www.russorealestate.com
