Rockaway
JOURNAL Since 1883
www.liherald.com
DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025
$1.00
Plays, artwork and an inspiring gift The Titan Theatre Company presents the classic Charles Dickens tale “A Christmas Carol” as a live radio play. The 7 p.m. shows are on Dec. 18, Dec. 19, and Dec. 22. The 2 p.m. shows are on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. $30. At the Secret Theatre, 10-10 44th Ave., Long Island City. Actress, writer and storyteller Dezi Eivah Bing discusses “ImmerenSiS,” her lyrical and form-bending new work. The plot follows a sharp, funny, and complex Black woman who resists the world’s attempts to flatten her story. Through a vivid sequence of poetic and surreal encounters, she confronts questions of ambition, identity, and self-definition, ultimately reclaiming her agency and imagination. On Dec. 18 at 8 p.m., at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave. Two new reasons to take a walk through Flushing Meadows Corona Park. A sculpture made from found and recycled materials and a multi-piece, anthropomorphized installation was unveiled recently. The art will be on view until Oct. 18 if next year. At Dinkins Circle, where the boardwalk from the 7 train station ends, Dakota Gearhart’s large-scale aluminum photo sculpture celebrates certain species of insects and creatures that live in the World’s Most Diverse Borough. Her larger-than-life renderings of these common pests ask visitors to reevaluate which bugs are unpleasant pests. Each insect is ador ned with a party hat and includes a cutout where humans (or dogs) can insert their heads, creating a playful photo opportunity. This quirky setup produces an optical illusion that invites participants to cosplay as the insects. Beneath the humor lies a deeper meaning: Gearhart uses anthropomorphism as a tool to reframe human perceptions of these typically unwanted creatures, suggesting that even the least loved forms of life are worthy of existence on Earth. Additionally, the sculpture incorporates augmented reality features, offering interactive links to media pieces that share information about each specific insect. Beginning on Jan. 1, the Long Island City museum MoMa PS1 will not charge an admission fee to all visitors, thanks to a gift from Sonya Yu. As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations to take place in the new year, the offer will make MoMA PS1 the largest free museum in New York City. (The entire slate of Golden Jubilee programs will be free, too.) Born in Beijing and raised in San Francisco, Yu is a brand adviser, entrepreneur, art collector, and the visionary behind Four One Nine, a creative agency that supports Bay Area artists. She’s also a board member at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and The Hammer Museum. Throughout her career, she’s worked as a freelance photographer, invested in real estate and even done
Courtesy Queens Tourism Council
Dakota Gearhart’s large-scale aluminum photo sculpture celebrates certain species of insects and creatures. market research in the tech industry. “I have always believed that building authentic creative communities is a powerful force for social change,” Yu said in a news release. “That’s why supporting MoMA PS1 is so important to me. Under Connie Butler’s leadership, PS1’s commitment to authentic community building and expanding access is a shining example of how institutions can build bridges and foster genuine inclusion. “As a proud Chinese immigrant and a mother, I’ve seen firsthand how access to art can directly shape imagination and change perspectives. I hope this contribution helps to inspire new generations to see themselves in art and experience its incredible power at PS1.” Based in a former public school building at 22-25 Jackson Ave., MoMA PS1 presents emerging artists in
an outdoor gallery, a two-story display room with high ceilings, and many creatively utilized nooks and crannies. It is affiliated with Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art, and the two venues collaborate on exhibitions, education activities, and special programs. –Jeffrey Bessen