Chris, our ArtXphone engineer @ In Ya Ear Studios in Long Island City

Here’s what I want to tell you about today.

I have worked with a great group of people all year on a project called the Queens Art Express.  Now in its second year,  you can check out fabulous performances, exhibitions, art events and great places to eat in the unique cultural communities along the route of the No. 7 train  in this upcoming spring festival (Thursday, June 10th-Sunday, June 13th).

“(Queens Art Express)…showcases the coming of age of Queens as a hotbed of art – especially along the No. 7 line.” New York Times

Can you tell that I’m just a little excited about this?  Actually, what I want to tell you about are the really cool communities of artists along the # 7 line and throughout Queens.

Creative Community

I have lived in Rockaway Beach for a very long time but people still call me “the new girl”.  My goal is to become just another body surfing local in this beach town.  I am proud to be from Rockaway.  I am proud to be from Queens.

There’s a bunch of artists out here that call themselves the Rockaway Artists Alliance.

They have made their home in some former army buildings tucked away in an urban national park that spills out onto the ocean shoreline.  There is also a local theater company, soccer and little league fields, and if you’re like me and you like running on the beach, you can go barefoot for miles into Breezy Point surrounded by the sound of the ocean.

sunrise on Rockaway Beach

All of this has subtly infused the community with art on the beach.

Today, someone told me that Sunnyside was rated as one of the top neighborhoods to live in.  After living outside of New York for several years, she and her husband are thrilled to moving back  where they can catch some great performances at the Thalia Spanish Theatre.

“I love Queens.”  she said with a smile.  “It’s so great to be back!”

I spend a lot of time in Long Island City where there is endless creative activity.  This energetic artist community  sprawls into Hunters Point, Astoria and winks across the bridge to Brooklyn.  Here  you will find the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Green Space, Dorsky Gallery and so many others that consider themselves very much Long Island City artists.

So what happens is, every time I ask the question, “Are you from Queens?” the answer will be,

“I’m from Corona.”

“I’m from Jackson Heights.”

“I’m from Maspeth.”

This is what I want to happen:  People riding the #7 train as commuters transform into cultural visitors.  Artists from one end of the line ride the train to see what is going on in creative communities on the other end of the line.  Everyone, the artists, the 30 arts venues, the 80 businesses, the nexus of neighborhoods clustered throughout the path of the train and beyond, smiles and says, “Hi, welcome to Queens!”

And you know what?  I’m practicing my best nonchalant surfer girl pose so when someone asks me where I’m from, I can say,  “I’m a Queens girl and I live in Rockaway Beach. “

Locals rule.

In Queens, we get even more local than anywhere else.  So come out and see us.  Hop on the Queens Art Express for great art, great food and great deals – just like a local.

I love shaking the sand out of my shoes everyday, just like any new girl.

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