An aerial view of MoMA PS1 in Long Island City.
Photo courtesy of MoMA PS1
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The magnetic pulse of beats, savory aroma of international bites and lively sounds of borough pride will soon fill the courtyard of MoMA PS1 in Long Island City on Saturday, April 18, as the art institution prepares to honor 50 years of community and boundary-pushing creativity.
Kicking off from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visitors from all corners of the city are welcome to join in for a day-long celebration of alternative art. For the past five decades, MoMA PS1 has been considered “a cultural landmark in one of the fastest-growing, urban residential neighborhoods in the country,” according to the About section.
An advertisement of the MoMA PS1 50th Anniversary block party in Long Island City, scheduled for Saturday, April 18. Photo courtesy of MoMA PS1
In collaboration with community partners, the highly anticipated milestone will coincide with the opening weekend of Greater New York, an annual exhibition that highlights over 50 multidisciplinary artists in site-specific commissions, productions and performances. Some of the institution’s longtime partners include The Fortune Society, Black Trans Liberation, Courtyard Coalition and Queensbridge Photo Collective.
“As part of our anniversary celebrations on April 18, we’re also hosting a major 50th Anniversary Block Party, a free event on the opening weekend of Greater New York that celebrates our community partners,” said Connie Butler, the Director of MoMA PS1, in a statement. “Visitors can enjoy food from local vendors, dance demonstrations by the Queensboro Dance Festival, a FAD makers’ market, a quilting circle with Queensbridge Photo Collective, a self-defense workshop with Malikah, a mural workshop by artist Lady Pink, and more activities throughout the day. It’s a way of celebrating not only PS1’s history, but the communities who have sustained it.”
As of press time, the anticipated celebration will feature the following participants: Discolocas NYC Fiesta Club, FAD Market, Lady Pink, Lower Eastside Girls Club, Make the Road, Malikah, Nuevayorkinos, Queens Night Market, Queensboro Dance Festival, Queensbridge Photo Collective, Red Canary Song and St. James Joy.
An image of Lady Pink’s plaza mural at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. Photo by Steven Paneccasio
The neighborhood festivity will also come alive with curator-led gallery talks, family-friendly activities and music sets across MoMA PS1’s public plaza, courtyard and galleries. As an iconic Queens arts institution, the block party is guaranteed to represent the diverse tapestry that formed its beginnings — and continues to shape its evolving presence as a New York City landmark.
Please note that additional RSVPs are required for the following workshops, set for Saturday, April 18:
The anniversary celebration is open to community members of all ages. There are a few tickets left, so don’t forget to RSVP.
To learn more about MoMA PS1 and their programming, visit their website.