An Avant Garde Afternoon

Flux Factory

By Brent Weitzberg

Getting Started

The artists of Flux Factory, Long Island City’s cultural collective

Look no further than Flux Factory for a unique night out. The artists’ collective, which was founded in 1994 and has been a not-for-profit organization since 1998, was created to show off the works of its lively, sometimes rowdy artists. Flux’s raison d’etre is supporting innovative and collaborative artwork, giving “fluxers” (as they’re known amongst themselves) a place to come together and create—and to give you the chance to see it.

Digging In

If you’re itching to become part of the collaborative process yourself, Flux also provides the public with a computer center, dark room, performance space, musical recording space, publishing equipment, and a weekly Thursday night dinner and salon that has become well known to the people of Queens for portraying finished and unfinished pieces of art for all to see.

From Sept. 17-Oct. 22, Flux Factory will be holding “Almost Something”, which is an art exposé of over 20 featured artists, including musicians, writers, and film-makers. The viewer who sees this exhibit gets to piece together in their own mind what they want it to be, so each observer can understand it.

Finishing Up

“We show work by artists that would not be the same work shown elsewhere,” says Stefany Ann Goldberg, Flux’s Executive Director. “Artists get to collaborate with other artists, and it’s a completely different form of work.”

Expect the arts and events at Flux to be just that: a different form. If you hurry out this Saturday, you’ll catch the “2005-End-Of-Summer-Booty-Bass-Dance-Party,” an art and music showcase featuring Mr. Andersonic, DJ Goon, DJ Unicorn and DJ Pizza Party. It starts at 9 p.m., and will cost you a paltry $3.

And After That…

When you’re done trekking through the creative wonderland at Flux, walk four blocks away to El Shater, a Lebanese Grocery, for a bit more culture. It’s located on 43rd street and 43rd Ave. You can browse through a plethora of palatables traditional to Middle Eastern cuisine. A recommendation from Goldberg herself, who eats there with her colleagues? “The humus and tabouli sandwich with lots of pickles and covered in hot sauce,” she says. “You got to have a lot of hot sauce.”

Flux Factory
38-38 43rd St., Long Island City
(718) 707-3362
www.fluxfactory.org
Open Thu.-Sun., call for hours.

FREE, donations accepted.