Legendary NY reporter Magee Hickey visits Culture Lab LIC to report on the opening of Behind the Mask for PIX11 News.
We have an exciting month of art, music & theater at Culture Lab LIC...
We have great new art exhibits and live performances for you to experience, including Noir Nights, Behind the Mask, Sounds From the Gallery, Nice One Comedy,
Reynaldo Piniella's No History, Third Law, Head in the Clouds Night Market, Reefer Madness and The Selfish Giant. And coming up May 4, the opening day of our free live outdoor concert series, LIC LIVE!
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...
Our Spring Membership Drive has launched, with the goal of 100 New Members by the 100th Day of the Year! We also now have new monthly membership options available for more sustainable support levels for both us and you! Members not only receive awesome perks but are the backbone to making art happen here! Without our community’s support, our extensive art and cultural programming would not be possible. We can’t thank you all enough, and we hope you will join us as Family this year!
Donate so we can continue to present the art & events you love.
Help us keep our doors open by becoming an Official Sponsor!
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.
Legendary NY reporter Magee Hickey visits Culture Lab LIC to report on the opening of Behind the Mask for PIX11 News.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Plaxall Inc, TF Cornerstone, MetLife, IndieSpace, Con Edison, Volume Industries, Astound Broadband,
Steve Madden, Cushman & Wakefield, HRA, M&T Bank, IPG, Wells Fargo Advisors, Cosmopolitan Houses, Gotham, TV Boy, Eventscape, Forrest Sound & Vision, Taylor Creative Inc
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 art 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.
Upcoming:
April 20:
8pm: THEMME
April 27:
8pm: Uncle Brother
Special thanks to our sponsors: Plaxall Inc, TF Cornerstone, MetLife, IndieSpace, Con Edison, Volume Industries, Astound Broadband,
Steve Madden, Cushman & Wakefield, HRA, M&T Bank, IPG, Wells Fargo Advisors, Cosmopolitan Houses, Gotham, TV Boy, Eventscape, Forrest Sound & Vision, Taylor Creative Inc
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Head In The Clouds Night Market
Friday, April 19, 5-10:30pm
Indoors/Outdoors at Culture Lab LIC
(A ticket is required for admission to this event.)
Celebrate APAHM 2024 with us and over 75+ local businesses! Join us for food, drinks, home goods, art, special giveaways, and more!
General Admission ticket includes free swag from our friends at Omsom. VIP ticket includes a celebratory red envelope ($160 value!) filled with goodies you can redeem all throughout the night market.
Special thanks to: Asian Hustle Network, District One Studios, Welcome to Chinatown, Future Flicks, Omsom, and Maid Sailors: Cleaning Solutions.
Culture Lab After Dark presents
Theater Camp:
Reefer Madness!
Drinks, drag and drama... 4/20 style!
Hosted by MX. Lestrange
Saturday, April 20, 9-11pm
Doors at 8:30pm
Curtain at 9pm
Your favorite Campers are back for a 4/20 Drag Show!
Welcome to Theater Camp, a space for all the queer and trans ex drama kids in the NYC drag & burlesque scene to showcase the earnest, raunchy, gender-bent musical theater acts of their wildest dreams. We’re so excited to invite you back to Culture Lab LIC for our "Reefer Madness"!
Adult Content Advisory
Award-
winning
Children's
Storytelling
Show!
PinProductions & Culture Lab LIC present
The Selfish Giant
A classic tale by Oscar Wilde
Sunday, April 21, 3 - 4pm
This Earthday weekend PinProductions will be performing their award-winning children's storytelling show The Selfish Giant, a classic tale by Oscar Wilde about a giant who builds a wall
around his garden to keep out the town’s children but, in doing so, plunges his garden into an endless winter. The Selfish Giant is funny, touching and fun for the whole family. It’s a celebration of the power of stories!
The Selfish Giant is the recipient of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture’s Artist Grant, The Queens Council on the Arts New Works Grant, and The Indie Theater Fund's Artist and Leadership Grant.
Culture Lab After Dark presents
Noir Nights: Villains!
An evening of burlesque and vintage vibes!
Saturday, April 27, 9pm
"Noir Nights" is an evening of seduction and allure, drawing inspiration from the mysterious and sophisticated ambiance of film noir. This month, come fall under the spell of The Villains of Vulgaire as they steal your hearts... and your money.
Attendees are encouraged to embrace the evening’s dress code, your most villainous vintage attire. "Noir Nights" is more than a performance; our Villains bring you an immersive experience that invites the audience to step into the shadows of the glamorous past and our wicked wonderland of burlesque.
Adult Content Advisory.
LIVE!
AT CULTURE LAB LIC
FROM THE MALT DRIVE STAGE
Opening Day: May 4
Free, live outdoor music is back at Culture Lab LIC, from our newly named Malt Drive Stage sponsored by TF Cornerstone!
Click here to see what's coming up in May!
For
Kids!
Songs for You and Me
A Jazzy Kids' Swing-a-Long!
Sunday, May 5, 4-5pm
Come join Allegra Levy and her all-star friendly big band live in concert at Culture Lab LIC!
Allegra presents songs from her album, Songs for You and Me, the acclaimed singer/songwriter's first foray into jazz for the juvenile set. From bedtime and bathtime, to boogers and boo-boos, to how to say hello in 12 different languages, Allegra and her all-star big band make it all sing... and swing!
"Allegra Levy sounds like a female version of Mr. Rogers on this cozy album of cozy songs for tykes... Completely charming, life affirming and inviting. Won’t you be her neighbor?” - Jazz Weekly
The Great Magic
(La Grande Magia)
Adapted from the original play by Eduardo De Filippo
Part of In Scena! Italian Theater festival NY
May 4, 7:30-9pm at Culture Lab LIC
In Italian with English Supertitles.
“Everything that happens before your eyes is just an illusion”
A jealous husband and his beautiful young wife are on holiday in the Italian Riviera. A magician arrives at their luxury hotel and the wife steps into an Egyptian sarcophagus for the famous "lady vanishes" routine. Only she really does vanish - into a nearby speedboat and the arms of her lover. Out of this conceit de Filippo spins a wonderful play about theatrical illusion and obsessional delusion.
Directed by Rosario Sparno
With Luca Iervolino, Antonella Romano, Rosario Sparno
Costumes: Alessandra Gaudioso
Magic Tricks Coach: Massimiliano Foà
Production: Casa del Contemporaneo
English translations and English supertitles provided by students of Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori Altiero Spinelli - Milano as part of a tutored educational program led by In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY.
The Genesis of Regeneration
(Genesi Del Rigenero) by Beppe Allocca
Part of In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY 2024
Sunday, May 5, 7:30-9pm at Culture Lab LIC
Performed in Italian with English subtitles.
The Genesis of Regeneration (Genesi Del Rigenero) is a live storytelling event written and performed by Beppe Allocca. The event is part of the 2024 In Scena! Italian Theater Festival and is about the origins of rag-pickers (cenciaioli) and the artisans from Prato (Tuscany) who have been recycling used clothing since 1850. The event uses biblical stories, fashion writers, and artisans to tell the story.
Directed by Beppe Allocca and Roberta Provenzani
Free Admission.
Beppe Allocca (Actor, Director) is a “Theatrical Craftsman”. He defines himself this way to encapsulate his great passions in two words: being a knitwear craftsman in Prato and a monologist.
Craftsmanship enters the theater and vice versa since his first show is about his own work as a craftsman (the story of the rag-pickers of Prato) and he travels around Italy to markets and fairs to sell the objects he produces; and he is firmly convinced that the market is theater. The solo-show is his favorite theatrical form. The aim is to tell apparently complicated and bizarre stories but lightened by a comic and entertainment approach.
Read More & Buy Tickets...
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
Music For Healing: Angelica Olstad
Sunday, May 12, 1pm: Mommy and Me
Friday, May 17, 8pm: Live Performance and Artist Lecture
Thursday, May 30, 7pm: Adult Yoga Practice
Mommy and Me, May 12, 1pm: Join us at Culture Lab LIC and celebrate Mother’s Day for a fun filled Mommy and Me Yoga event! Bond with your little one in a nurturing environment filled with gentle stretches, playful poses, and relaxation techniques. Led by experienced instructors and accompanied by calming music, this session is tailored for both moms and their children to explore movement, mindfulness, and connection. Strengthen your bond while enhancing flexibility, balance, and well-being. Suitable for all levels, this event offers a welcoming space for moms to rejuvenate and babies to explore. Come together with other families in our vibrant community space, nestled in the heart of LIC. Reserve your spot today for a blissful experience that nurtures both body and soul.
Live Performance and Artist Lecture, Friday, May 17, 8pm: Join Angelica Olstad for a night of live music featuring her new album, Music for Introspection, music written for the installation, Music for Healing at Culture Lab LIC. Following the performance, stay for an intimate talkback session with the artist. Engage in meaningful dialogue as you delve into the creative process behind the music, explore the themes of healing and connection, and gain insight into the inspiration behind the compositions. This interactive discussion offers a unique opportunity to connect with the artist on a personal level, ask questions, and share your own reflections and experiences. Whether you're a music enthusiast, a seeker of inner peace, or simply curious about the power of artistic expression, this event promises to leave you feeling inspired, enlightened, and deeply moved.
Adult Yoga Practice, Thursday, May 30, 7pm: Indulge in a blissful fusion of yoga and music led by yoga teacher and artist, Angelica Olstad. Designed for all levels, join Angelica Olstad as she leads a class focused on intelligent sequencing, mindful movement and breathwork to help release tension and restore balance. As you move through each pose, let the enchanting melodies of minimal instrumental music bring you into a deeper state of calm. Bring your own mat, open for all levels!
Angelica Olstad is a classical pianist by training whose work spans across film, media art, installations, studio recordings, community programming, and multimedia performances. Her work is also informed by past experiences as a founder, yoga and meditation teacher, and community organizer for Pop Up Yoga NYC, a yoga events company that made yoga more accessible for New Yorkers, and as a corporate producer who’s worked with companies like Samsung, Meta, Reebok, and Google.
Through different mediums, she invites audiences to reflect on intercultural belonging and the timelessness of the human experience. She is the recipient of a 2024 NYSCA Artist Grant for her project, Music for Healing. She has recently received multiple awards for her short film, An Awakening. Through her collaborations, events, and art projects, her work has been featured in Well + Good, Buzzfeed, Timeout NY, and the Wire.
Museum of My Heart
Step into the Museum of My Heart, a captivating experience exploring the kaleidoscope of love, heartbreak, desire, and healing through interactive visual and audio storytelling.
This unique exhibition is presented as a free, three-day public event.
Join us on these dates:
Friday, June 28, 5-9pm
Saturday, June 29, 5-9pm
Sunday, June 30, 2-9pm
This work was made possible, in part, by the Franklin Furnace FUND supported by Jerome Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the members and friends of Franklin Furnace Archive, Queens Arts Fund and Culture Lab LIC.
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For
Kids!
Andy and Suzanna's
Children's Concert & Class
Sunday, June 16, 4-5pm
Sunday, July 28, 4-5pm
Join us for a lively family concert! Enjoy original tunes, classic favorites, & interactive fun with dancing & movement activities.
Got the weekend wiggles? Come sing and dance them away with Andy and Suzanna! With over 10 years of experience teaching musical enrichment classes for kids and caregivers across NYC, they bring a dynamic blend of original tunes, classic favorites, and interactive fun.
Enjoy bubbles, puppets, and harmonies in this unforgettable concert sure to entertain the whole family!
For
Kids!
PinProductions Presents
TrashBash
Live Performance at Culture Lab LIC
Sunday, July 14, 3-4pm
MacGyver for kids! We follow Maite and Pepe as they solve problems and have fun using only recycled materials and their imagination. With each adventure they prove, once again, that “One person’s trash is another kid’s treasure!”
In this adventure, our imagination travelers have finally made it to the stage to meet all their new friends in the audience. But...OOPS! They brought the wrong bags. They brought trash bags. YUCK!
Instead of panicking they remember that before trash was trash it was something else and, “You have the power to change things all by yourself!”
All materials provided just bring your imagination!
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arts exCHANGE: Malý Berlín X Culture Lab LIC
On View: July 11 - September 1 during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm. Free Admission.
Opening reception: Thursday July 11, 6-9pm
Join us for a captivating art exhibition that transcends borders and brings together the creative voices of Slovakian and American artists.
The exhibition features works by four Slovakian artists and four American artists. These artists will not only present preexisting art but will be challenged to create new collaborations across country and mediums.
This dynamic collection of works spanning various mediums, styles, and themes offers a glimpse into the artist's unique perspective and cultural background.
Join us on this artistic journey as we celebrate the power of art to bridge divides and unite us in our shared humanity.
Tribute to Life
A Himalayan Art Exhibition at Culture Lab LIC
On View: September 5-22 during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm. Free Admission.
Opening reception - Thursday, September 5, 6-9pm
This exhibition will showcase a rare combination of ancient Himalayan art and contemporary art, both of which share the evolving interpretations of ancient Buddhist philosophy that have inspired generations for thousands of years. Through artworks, audiences will draw from ancient Buddhist philosophy to find reverence for life in the present, prompting them to seek the meaning of life from contemporary perspectives and angles, and how we pay tribute to our own lives.
The exhibition is jointly curated by the Tibet Danba Raodan Thangka Art School (the most renowned gallery and the Top1 Thangka school) and the Karma Katri Thangka Art Center (both located in Lhasa, Tibet), with the participation of Contemporary Tibetan artists and Chinese well known artists residing in New York.
Danba Raodan Thangka Art School is founded by Mr. Danba Raodan, a renowned educator in Tibet, a professor at Tibet University (master's supervisor), a master of Tibetan Thangka art, and a national-level representative inheritor of the Tibetan Thangka Miantang tradition. Since its establishment in 1980, for over 40 years, rooted in the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation and taking the inheritance of Tibetan Thangka as its mission, the school has adhered to a unique educational system and teaching methods, nurturing numerous Tibetan Thangka painters for public welfare free of tuition for 40 years. Many of them have become outstanding artists in the contemporary Tibetan Thangka art scene, becoming the backbone of contemporary Tibetan Thangka inheritance. The Danba Raodan Thangka Art School is widely recognized as the highest institution for Tibetan Thangka art education in the industry.
Image is a painting by: Tenzin Phuntsho Principal of Tenpa Rabten School of Tibetan Thangka Art Inheritor of Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage (Mian Tang), Member of China Artists Association, Vice President of Tibet Thangka Association
PinProductions Presents
Famous Lake Park
Saturday, November 30, 7-7:30pm at Culture Lab LIC
Take a comedic, half-hour, animated ride through Famous Lake Park, which like most things named famous, is not. The rides are outdated and dilapidated, the eccentric owner values amusement more than human life, and the riffraff staff has a debilitating morale problem. Oh yes, and the Lake is drying up due to global warming.
In an ode to American debauchery, Famous Lake Park is a jolly jaunt through the agonizing death of the American Dream.
Written by Susannah Dalton and Braden Greenawalt
Directed by José Ignacio Vivero and Susan Lambert
The production of Famous Lake Park is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Free Admission (Donations Appreciated)
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 18, 8pm.
Ticket includes one selected beverage.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Plaxall Inc, TF Cornerstone, MetLife, IndieSpace, Con Edison, Volume Industries, Astound Broadband,
Steve Madden, Cushman & Wakefield, HRA, M&T Bank, IPG, Wells Fargo Advisors, Cosmopolitan Houses, Gotham, TV Boy, Eventscape, Forrest Sound & Vision, Taylor Creative Inc
2024 Emergence Artist
Residency Program
Culture Lab LIC is excited to announce our 2024 Emergence Artist in Residence!
These diverse and exceptional performace based artists will be a part of Culture Lab LIC's New Works Festival coming this Fall!
Helixx C Armageddon
Danie Kohn
House of Chow
Gaby Febland
Stay tuned for schedule, details and tickets!
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!
Spring is Here!
And 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.
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!
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
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.
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!
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 season ahead of us and we cannot wait to share it with you!
Special thanks to the following organizations and
individuals for their continuing support:
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