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Winter Break
WPIX Behind the Mask Opening

We're Back! Culture Lab LIC has opened its doors on another exciting year of art, music & theater! 

 

Coming up in March, we have great new art exhibits and live performances for you to experience, including Behind the Mask, Year of the Dragon, Sounds From the Gallery, Nice One Comedy, and coming up in April, Reynaldo Piniella's No History, and Third Law. 

 

We have an amazing March in store for you, and an amazing year ahead! 

Legendary NY reporter Magee Hickey visits Culture Lab LIC to report on the opening of Behind the Mask for PIX11 News.

By the way... If you love what we do here at Culture Lab and you want to be a part of it,  here are three great ways to help...

Donate so we can continue to present the  art & events you love.

Join our family by becoming a member! 

Help us keep our doors open by becoming an Official Sponsor!

Calendar of Current & Upcoming Events

Browse Events by Month

Behind the Mask
The Art of Women Who Weld

Curated by Karen Dimit and Janet Rutkowski

Exhibition on view: March 7 - April 28, during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm. Free Admission.

Culture Lab LIC is excited to present Behind the Mask, an exhibition showcasing the art of women artists who weld and work in metal.  It is a misconception that there are few women working in metal in the arts. Throughout our history there have been many now-famous women who have made great strides in metalwork including: Barbara Hepworth, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Louise Bourgeois, Deborah Butterfield, Alice Aycock , etc.

The Behind the Mask exhibition features Wappen Field, an installation by Michelle Jaffé. Wappen Field is a sculpture and sound installation comprised of 12 chrome-plated steel helmets resembling face guards. Each helmet is a resonant chamber, where their dedicated speakers transform the sculptural installation into an immersive audio environment.

 

Vocal recordings created for Wappen Field by Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, culled from seven diverse performers, are composed by Michelle Jaffé and spatialized algorithmically by David Reeder in SuperCollider.

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Special Event:

Meet the Artists

of Behind the Mask

Saturday, March 23, 2-4pm

Come by and meet the artists of BEHIND THE MASK: THE ART OF WOMEN WHO WELD!

There will be coffee, mimosas, and light snacks served while you enjoy this amazing exhibit and chat with the artists and curators who created it!

Culture Lab LIC

5-25 46th Avenue, Long Island City,

New York, NY 11101 ( Map )

Legendary NY reporter Magee Hickey visits Culture Lab LIC to report on the opening of Behind the Mask for PIX11 News.

WPIX Behind the Mask Opening
Behind the Mask
Meet the Artists
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Year of the Dragon
An Asian Art Exhibition

at Culture Lab LIC

Curated by Xiangdong Shi

in association with the Chinese Overseas Artists Association. 

 

On view: February 1 - March 24 during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm

Special Event: Artist Talk - March 17, 6pm 

Culture Lab LIC and the Chinese Overseas Artists Association are excited to present Year of the Dragon, an exhibition featuring works by Asian Artists.

Free Admission.

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Culture Lab LIC After Dark presents

Sounds From the Gallery

A Live Indoor Concert Series

Saturdays at 8pm. No Cover.

Set against the backdrop of our esteemed gallery, "Sounds from the Gallery" invites music enthusiasts and art aficionados alike to indulge in an extraordinary fusion of sonic and visual aesthetics. With each concert carefully curated to complement the current exhibitions, attendees can expect a harmonious blend of artistic expressions.

The concert series promises a diverse lineup featuring local and international musical talents spanning various genres. From soulful jazz melodies to electrifying indie performances, each show promises to elevate the ambiance of our gallery space, transforming it into an enchanting musical haven.

Sounds From the Gallery
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Culture Lab After Dark presents

Noir Nights

An evening of burlesque and vintage vibes!

Saturday, March 30, 9pm

Noir Nights is an evening of seduction and allure, drawing inspiration from the mysterious and sophisticated ambiance of film noir. This event transports attendees into a bygone era, where the stage is set for an unforgettable journey through the art of burlesque with a vintage noir twist.

Attendees are encouraged to embrace the dress code of the era, donning their most stylish noir-inspired attire.

"Noir Nights" is more than a performance; it's an immersive experience that invites the audience to step into the shadows of a glamorous past and an enchanting evening of vintage-inspired burlesque.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/noir-nights-tickets-852534412377

Noir Nights
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Culture Lab After Dark presents

Nice One! Comedy

Join us for a night filled with laughs in the unique setting of our front gallery! See NYC's best comics, as featured on HBO, Comedy Central, Netflix, The Tonight Show & The Late Show with Stephen Colbert! 

Thursday, April 4, 8pm

Ticket includes one selected beverage.

 

Special thanks to our sponsors: TF Cornerstone, Steve Madden, Wells Fargo Advisors, Cosmopolitan Houses, M&T Bank, Gotham, Plaxall Inc., Volume Industries, Con Edison, IndieSpace,  MetLife

Nice One Comedy

ARISE

Spring Dance Festival 2024

An exhilarating event that brings together dancers, choreographers, and enthusiasts from all corners of NYC!

Saturday, April 6, 7pm
Sunday, April 7, 3pm
Saturday, April 13, 1pm
Sunday, April 14, 3pm

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arise-spring-dance-festival-2024-tickets-864630863187

Culture Lab LIC presents… ARISE: A Spring Dance Festival. ARISE is a spring dance festival with the mission to showcase a selection of curated work from a range of local dance artists.

As part of the ARISE Spring Dance Festival, witness an epic Youth & Adult hip-hop and breaking dance battles presented by the Queens-based entities Queensboro Dance Festival, Dynasty Breaking NYC, NY Collective, Moedga Dance Studio, and Zeehan Wazed.

 

Join us for an ARISE closing night toast/after party for an evening of networking among dance artists, enthusiasts, and community members, + celebrate our first official ARISE Dance Festival with us!

This event will also help support Culture Lab LIC in hosting these series and arts-focused events.The event will begin at 5pm after our last ARISE performance on Sunday, 4/14.Mix and match tickets for a show, the dance battle, and the after party! Or just the after party only!

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Festival Schedule: Saturday, April 6 - Dance Series Doors at 7pm; Show at 7:30pm Featuring: House of Chow Jon Lehrer Dance Lost Kids Collective ObremskiWorks Valerie Green/Dance Entropy Sunday, April 7 - Dance Series Doors at 3PM; Show at 3:30PM Featuring: House of Chow Jon Lehrer Dance Lost Kids Collective ObremskiWorks Valerie Green/Dance Entropy Saturday, April 13 - Queens Konquest Dance Battle 2024 1:00pm DOORS OPEN 2:00pm Youth Breaking 1v1 Prelims ages 6-9 2:45pm Youth Breaking 2v2 Prelims ages 10-16 4:45pm Finals both age groups 5:00pm Adult Breaking 2v2 Prelims 6:20pm Adult All-styles 1v1 Prelims 8:40pm Adult Breaking Finals 8:45pm Adult All-styles Finals 9:00-11:00pm Afterparty Sunday, April 14 - Dance Series Doors at 3pm; Show at 3:30pm AFTER PARTY to follow! Featuring: House of Chow Jon Lehrer Dance Lost Kids Collective ObremskiWorks Valerie Green/Dance Entropy -------- Queens Konquest Dance Battle 2024 (April 13, 2pm) details: Youth ages 6-9 Breaking 1v1, cash prize $100 Youth ages 10-16 Breaking 2v2, cash prize $250 Adult Breaking 2v2, cash prize $1200 Adult All-styles 1v1, cash prize $800 Your DJ: SC-One Breaking Judges: Bongo, Whorah, Kom3All-Styles Judges: Huu Rock, Stephy Styles, Hurrikane Your MCs: Rampage, Jiggz plus: Queens exhibition battle Kid Glide vs Whorah Kids activity area & vendors! Event filmed by Stance Tickets are all day access: $15 advance, $20 at door (No refunds) Food and drink (alc and non) available for purchase Queens Konquest is a non-profit event!

Arise Dance
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Culture Lab LIC presents

No History by Reynaldo Piniella

 

One night only: April 26, 7pm

No History is a solo theater piece about Arturo Schomburg, a man who crossed oceans in a quest to preserve our history. This diasporic journey will fill us up with cornbread before transporting us to the frontlines of the fight for Cuban and Puerto Rican independence, the streets of New York City during the Harlem Renaissance, and back to the kitchen where it all began.

 

We will experience the music of the Caribbean, the joy of eating soul food for the first time, the poetry of Harlem and rediscover San Juan Hill, the community that was uprooted to build Lincoln Center. With guest appearances from Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes and W. E. B. DuBois, this coming of age story will make us celebrate our shared history and inspire us to save our grandmother's recipes.

Free Admission.

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Third Law

Third Law is an interactive theatrical experience, working to maximize audience agency and bring them into the heart of art making using technology.

 

Through a digital game board, the audience has the unique opportunity to shape the world of the play and the characters in it, collaborating with the artists and each other to co-create a performance that can only happen live and in person. Combining high-concept art installation design with performance and gameplay, Third Law brings us together in space in a visceral and dynamic way - and it’s never the same twice.

Performed by:

Shani Matoaka Bekt

Sam Hood Adrain

Megan Mariko Boggs

Pablo Calderón-Santiago

James Clements

Melannie Vásquez Lara

Directed by Coral Cohen

Stage Managed by Skye Pallo Ross

Lighting Design by Jacqueline Scaletta

Sound & Video Design by Cosette Pin

Set Consulting by Jessica Cancino

Press by Emily Owens PR

Produced in partnership with What Will the Neighbors Say?

Third Law was developed in part during a BRIClab Residency at BRIC (Brooklyn, NY). This work was made in part with the help of Theater Mitu’s Artists-At-Home program and is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council as well as with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.

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Performances:

Thursday, May 9, 7pm & 8:30pm
Friday, May 10, 7pm & 8:30pm
Saturday, May 11, 2pm, 4pm & 7pm
Sunday, May 12, 2pm & 4pm

Thursday, May 16, 7pm & 8:30pm
Friday, May 17, 7pm & 8:30pm
Saturday, May 18, 2pm, 4pm & 7pm
Sunday, May 19, 2pm & 4pm

Thursday, May 23, 7pm & 8:30pm
Friday, May 24, 7pm & 8:30pm
Saturday, May 25, 2pm, 4pm & 7pm
Sunday, May 26, 2pm & 4pm

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Open Call for Art

Shattered

A Visual Journey Through the Mind

Submission Deadline:

Extended to April 1, 11:59pm EST


Exhibition on view: May 2 - June 2
Opening reception: May 2, 6-9pm

Culture Lab LIC is excited to announce an open call for our upcoming art exhibition, “Shattered: A Visual Journey Through the Mind.”

Step into a realm where emotions are painted, thoughts are sculpted, and the canvas becomes a sanctuary for the mind...

Shattered is an exploration of the human experience, shedding light on the complexities of mental health through the lens of artistic expression. Each stroke of the brush, every carefully crafted sculpture, and the vibrant hues on display tell stories of resilience, vulnerability, and the triumph of the human spirit. This exhibition is not merely a collection of artworks; it's a visual journey through the labyrinth of the mind. As you navigate the gallery, you'll encounter pieces that challenge stigmas, celebrate victories, and offer a profound insight into the diverse spectrum of mental health experiences. Shattered is a collective effort to destigmatize mental health, fostering understanding and empathy. Join us in this immersive experience, where creativity becomes a powerful tool for connection, fostering a community that values and nurtures the well-being of every individual. Together, we illuminate the path toward compassion, breaking down barriers and fostering a world where mental health is not just understood but embraced with open hearts and open minds.

Shattered
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Open Call for Art:
Culture Lab LIC Event Space Display

Calling all artists! We want to see your work shine under the moonlight! 

Culture Lab LIC is thrilled to announce an open call for art for our new vibrant back event space! We're seeking bold statement pieces that captivate our audiences.

We are looking for flat works that will remain on display thru October, 2024. These pieces will also be for sale, if desired.

Submission Deadline: March 20 at 11:59pm

Submit Your Art:
https://form.jotform.com/240706596758167

Open Call - Event Space
Open Call Say It Loud
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Open Call for Art: 
Say It Loud:

Unsung Heroes


Submission Deadline: 11:59pm EST, April 10, 2024

Exhibition on view: June 6 - July 6, 2024
Opening reception: June 6, 6pm-9pm 

Queens Rising & Culture Lab LIC are thrilled to announce an open call for artists to participate in our upcoming exhibition, Say it Loud: Unsung Heroes.

 

This show aims to celebrate and honor the diverse array of LGBTQ+ individuals who have made significant contributions to history, culture, society and your imagination. Who inspires you?

Throughout the ages, LGBTQ+ individuals have played pivotal roles in shaping our world, often in the face of adversity and discrimination. From activists and artists to scientists and leaders, to the mythological and fanciful heroes whose stories deserve to be told and celebrated.

We invite artists of all backgrounds and identities to submit artwork that pays tribute to these queer heroes, both past and present. Whether through painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, or other mediums, we encourage you to explore the lives, achievements, and legacies of these remarkable individuals.

Artworks submitted to this exhibition may explore a wide range of themes and topics, including but not limited to:

Portraits of influential LGBTQ+ figures... Moments of triumph, resilience, and activism... Representation and visibility in art and media... Personal reflections on identity, history, and community... Fictional scenes or themes.

This exhibition aims to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and celebrate the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Through art, we hope to honor the courage, strength, and contributions of queer heroes across generations.

Queer Heros across the ages: Familial, Mythological, Historical. What defines a hero? Who are your heroes? What's a new take on a historical hero or one you want to see celebrated. Courage, bravery, Iconic moments, historic moments (stonewall rights). New works encouraged.
 
Read More & Submit Your Art: 

https://form.jotform.com/240506407717151

 

Culture Lab LIC is a 501(c)(3) formed to bring accessible high quality art of all genres to our community, and to support local artists by providing rehearsal, performance, exhibition space, as well as a robust residency program. Culture Lab LIC is dedicated to upholding, equity, diversity and inclusion across all our platforms. Operating out of a 12,000 square foot art center, Culture Lab LIC hosts two fine art galleries, a 90 seat theatre, classroom space, and an 18,000 square foot outdoor venue, made possible by the generous donation of space from Plaxall Inc.

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Meet the People

  behind Culture Lab LIC...

 

Without our team, none of our programming would be possible. Catch a glimpse into the lives of the people who make up the Culture Lab team, and all of the beautiful qualities and characteristics they posses to "make art happen!"

And be sure to check out all the ways you can help make 2024 Culture Lab's best year ever! 

Culture Lab because...

As Spring Approaches...

 

We find ourselves reflecting on the extraordinary journey we've had at Culture Lab LIC. Thanks to you, our mission to bring impactful art to Western Queens has flourished beyond our wildest dreams. Your contributions--whether through donations, volunteer efforts, or simply by spreading the word about our initiatives--have helped us to make a profound difference in the lives of artists and art lovers in our community. 

Your generous support not only fueled our programs but also directly impacted the artists we serve, providing them with invaluable opportunities and resources, and a platform to share their stories, visions, and inspirations with the world.

A Look Back at 2023

With your continued support in 2024, we aim to expand our reach, continue to present local and international artists, and further enrich our community through art.

 

Here are 3 ways you can help... 

Donate so we can continue to present the great art & events you love.

Join the Culture Lab LIC Family by Becoming a Member! 

Help us keep our doors open by becoming an Official Sponsor!

SEND OFF
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Tess Howsam talks to the artists, performers & curators behind the events & exhibitions at Culture Lab LIC 

View the full playlist on Culture Lab LIC's YouTube Channel

tess talks
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You voted and we won!

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the following titles:

 • Best Place for Live Music
• Best Local Organization
• Best Performing Arts Venue
• Best Stand-up Comedy Venue


We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who voted for us and to Boast NYC. We are committed to being a space where the community can enjoy arts and culture in all its forms.

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We're Hiring...

Culture Lab LIC is seeking a dynamic Events Manager to join our growing team and organization for our 2024 Spring/Summer/Fall outdoor season!

The main focus for the Events Manager will be primarily LIVE at Culture Lab LIC, a May through October free outdoor concert series. The Events Manager is a critical team member owning and maintaining our bars, concession stands, and all the details of our events. Applicants with hospitality experience and a passion for the arts are strongly encouraged to apply!

To apply, please send your Resume and Cover Letter to
sabrina@culturelablic.org with the Subject Line “Events Manager Application.”

Hours/Salary: 28-30 hrs/week on average, $20/hr + CC Tips. Employment Terms: Seasonal, Mid-April through October, 2024 (with potential for permanent employment.)

We're Hiring

Our ART GALLERY is open Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-10pm. Keep your eye on our social media for updates on our upcoming theatre, dance and comedy performances!

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As a member of Culture Lab LIC, you directly support dozens of arts, cultural and neighborhood organizations enjoyed by the entire community. As a Thank You for your awesomeness, each of our membership levels offer something for everyone: $2 off drinks, early viewings to monthly exhibitions, artists talks, Culture Lab LIC swag, and discounts to theater, dance, music concerts, and special events. We have an exciting 2022 season ahead of us and we cannot wait to share it with you! 

Our Supporters

Special thanks to the following organizations and

individuals for their continuing support:

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