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Public Artwork Goes Up On Skillman Avenue, Features Mascot of Local School

A piece of public art by Lina Montoya has gone up on a fence outside P4Q@Skillman (Photo: LIC Arts Connection)

June 26, 2019 By Shane O’Brien

Students from a Long Island City school teamed up with New York City artist Lina Montoya to complete a new public art project on Skillman Avenue on Monday.

The artwork consists of thousands of blue metal tiles and vinyl yellow stars, and has gone up on a fence outside the students’ P4Q@Skillman school. The K-8 school is located at 24-30 Skillman Ave. and serves children on the autism spectrum and with special needs.

The design incorporates the school’s mascot, a dragon.

The project began last November but has was delayed due to difficult weather and scheduling issues. It is expected to be finished within the next two weeks.

The project, called Las Estrellas Brillerán, was developed by the Long Island City Partnership through a community arts initiative called LIC Arts Connection that builds non-traditional partnerships between public and private landlords, local businesses, students, residents and artists.

This current installation at P4Q@Skillman is the fourth such installation initiated by LIC Arts Connection. The projects cost between $5,000 and $10,000.

Elizabeth Lusskin, president of the LIC Partnership, said that public artwork such as Montoya’s livens up the streetscape and helps to promote a sense of community.

LIC Arts Connection is funded by the LIC Partnership in conjunction with the New York Community Trust and site-specific contributions from borough president Melinda Katz and Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, along with others.

The Las Estrellas Brillerán project has been installed indefinitely and joins already established LIC Arts Connection initiatives located at Queensbridge Baby Park, the LIRR underpass on Skillman Avenue, and at 23-02 42nd Road.