All Aboard the Art Train
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May 29, 2009
Rarely can the price of a MetroCard afford you a chance to see Japanese sculpture, Spanish theater and an a capella Caribbean folk choir. This weekend, however, kicks off the annual Queens Art Express, a celebration of culture and artistic skill, taking place along the 7 train and sponsored by the Queens Council of the Arts.
A bastion of diversity, Queens’ 7 train has been dubbed the “International Express” by the Department of City Planning. The borough plans to capitalize on this over the next three weekends (May 30 to June 14) with performances, exhibitions and special events all located along the transit line. Sidewalks, subway stations and open spaces will become 20 unique showcases, all free to the public.
This weekend’s activities include a literature event with the poet Kahlil Almustafa at the Queens Botanical Garden (Saturday at 12:30 p.m.) and a local art show in Long Island City, featuring words and images by contributors from all over the borough (Sunday at 6 p.m.). More information on these and other events can be found at Art Express
Coinciding with the Queens Art Express is Safari 7, which turns the train into a veritable classroom on wheels. Safari 7 will conduct tours, circulating maps and producing podcasts created by students at Barnard and Columbia, all aimed at helping riders learn more about the surrounding ecosystems.
