Jackson Heights Life

BABEL Exhibition

Wed, June 16 2010, 6pm – Thu, July 1 2010, 7pm
Space 37, 86-08 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, NY

Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 16, 6 – 9 pm
Artist Talk & Closing Reception: Sunday, June 30, 6 pm.



(Queens, NY- June 1st, 2009) -QMAD, Queens Media Arts Development, in collaboration with the Office of Jackson Heights Council Member, Daniel Dromm, invites the community of Queens, and NYC at large, to the exhibition BABEL, the first official exhibition of June in Jackson Heights 2010.

This exhibition explores the relationship of language and the visual arts. Through paintings, illustrations, photography, sculpture, installations, video, performance and new-media, BABEL will establish connections between the written word and the recent explosion of immigrant conclaves in and around New York City. Selected works treat the diversity and plurality of the written language as reflected, incorporated, and/or appropriated in visual arts, performance, and the moving image. The exhibition will be held at Space37 from June 16 to July 1, 2010, during the month long program, June in Jackson Heights, a multicultural event celebrating the World’s Diversity in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Taking as departure the ancient name for the city of Babylon whose earliest mention was written on a Cuneiform tablet dating back to the 24th Century BC, and whose multicultural population is also referenced in ancient religious texts, the exhibition BABEL challenges artists to think about the written word in relation to their work and if possible, but not limited, to community and the immigrant experience. Unlike the ancient story where people unable to communicate failed to meet their goal, this exhibition uses the written word as catalyst for visual representations and inspirations of a greater and diverse society.  BABEL will prompt artistic dialogue around selected works, and among artists as well as audiences.

QMAD, Queens Media Arts Development, is a non-for profit cultural organization co-founded, and presently under the direction of New Media Artist, Hector Canonge. QMAD produces and implements programs in the arts communications media to encourage Queen’s multicultural communities to actively participate in the forging of an artistic identity for the borough.  Based on one of the city’s most diverse areas, QMAD acknowledges the artistic potential of residents in Queens, and facilitates access to educational activities, cultural events and resources so people participating in the various programs can gain agency in their creative and artistic goals. All QMAD’s programs are FREE OF CHARGE and of benefit to underserved populations of the borough.

Contact:
Hector Canonge
Director, QMAD, Queens Media Arts Development.
hectorcanonge@qmad.org

Co-Sponsored by the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee.

The use of the premises has been made possible by the efforts of Diane Macari and Louis J. Macari, principals of EXIT Realty Lewis and Murphy. Lewis & Murphy Realty, a family run business, has been serving the needs of the Jackson Heights Community since 1946 and shall continue to do so.

The closing celebration will be on Wednesday June 30th. There will be some pieces on display on July 1st. And then, sadly, it is gone. Hopefully to return next year.