Our visit to Long Island City was unique for several reasons.  First of all, it was our first and only visit to the lovely borough of Queens.  Though Manhattan is often considered to be the most popular borough and the heart of New York City, I found it very interesting to learn about, and even see firsthand how Long Island City is rapidly developing.
            Our first stop, the Dorsky Gallery, was special in its own right.  The curatorial program the gallery provides sounds like quite an opportunity for those looking to go into that field.  The show itself, Threads of Memory, definitely made me think.  In a time where we have all become so dependent on technology, it is important to remember what life was like before everyone had a cell phone and an i-pod.  As I am sitting in my bed typing this on my laptop and using wireless internet, it is easy to forget that these things were not always a given.  Many artists, too, have begun to rely more and more on technology.  Threads of Memory asks us to take a step back and recall that people can indeed create things by hand without the help of machine.  The common theme of thread in the artwork in this show solid link between the pieces and really tied the show together. 
            One of the works I found most interesting was part of Meredith McNeal’s installation.  Though I don’t inherently believe in astrology, I have always been somewhat intrigued by it, and this installation definitely provided a distinct perspective on the field.  My favorite part was the chest of gloves, each of which had been stitched with the palm lines of her various friends.  All of these gloves were quite elegant to begin with, and adding the lines made them even more interesting by giving them a unique personal touch.  If I owned those gloves, I would certainly wear them as much as possible!
            P.S. 1, on the other hand, was quite unlike anything I’ve seen before.  I was intrigued by the very concept of turning an old school until an art museum.  The reuse of space for different purposes is always interesting to observe.  P.S. 1’s former purpose gives a whole new meaning to its present one.  Walking through the building, I could easily imagine classes in session.  Though this most likely brings up difficulties because the space was not designed for its current use, I think it is more than worth it for the added character.  I loved that the staircases were maintained but at the same time transformed into a whole new landscape for art viewing.  However, what held my attention longest was Torbjøn Rødland’s video “132 BPM.”  Rødland’s intention to “add a constant beat to the images” was certainly achieved, and was also what kept me there so long.  I first began to hear the reverberations of the video while walking downstairs to the basement, and was determined to find out where the noise was coming from.  Once I found the source, I had a hard time tearing myself away.  Seeing the stark contrast between nature and the very artificial sound of the music was rather powerful.  Yet these two seemingly opposite components actually worked rather well together to form a cohesive video.  The nature moved in perfect time to the music, forming a strong link between them despite their differences.
            Another exhibition I particularly enjoyed was Jessica Rankin’s The Measure of Every Pause.  I found her use of words to be especially interesting and spent a period of time staring at her works in hopes of trying to decode them, but with minimal success.  Yet the chaos is what drew me to them to begin with.  When we figure something out completely, it often loses its mystique and consequently its appeal.  Some things are better left a mystery.