Acumen Capital Partners, located at 630 Flushing Avenue, has turned recently renovated spaces into art galleries for a multi-tiered COPE NYC Art Expo organized and curated by Vida Sabbaghi in the spirit of creative reuse. Acumen, a hub for talent, and host to over 150 businesses including media, music, tech, fashion, film, and food, will host An Inclusive World’s Repsychling exhibition of acclaimed artists known for their use of humble materials. Participating artists, Will Kurtz, Federico Uribe, Alice Hope, Jacques Jarrige, and Sui Park work wonders with repetition of materials like colored pencils, bullets, and cable ties.

Artists in Residence from Pratt Institute and Adelphi have been turning reusable materials into artworks and site specific interactive installations. Pratt Institute’s installation, Fish Bones, tells a story inspired by the Taino myth of how the sea began - how communities come together and support each other in the face of overwhelming circumstances. The installation of shadow play, spoken word, and music engages participants in the creation of a sea of fish using a variety of collected materials culminating in a series of interactive performances and workshops. It was developed by Aubrey Roemer (‘19), Susan Luss (‘13) Miguel Hernandez (‘98), Rachel Cohen (’18), Rhea In (’17), and Yen Yen Chou (’18) and Pratt faculty advisor Jean Shin.

Adelphi’s Dwell: An Interactive Art Project was jumpstarted by a challenge to reuse cardboard shipping boxes while considering the needs of refugees fleeing disasters. Adelphi students, Ankit Yadav, Brianne Giuliano, Carissa Giulian, and Dr. Ann Holt and Dr. Cindy Maguire’s students in Art and Technology: High Tech/Low Tech, Sarah Franzino, Dimitrios Mamounas, Doreen McDevitt, Brian Testa, Rawad Akhand, Nicole Cunha, Bridget Finnegan, Pawandeep Kaur, Momoka Nagamine, Leuna Rahman, and Stephan Steiner capped the base of sturdy cardboard boxes with a Geodesic Dome.

On November 17, NYC students will arrive at Acumen to engage in creative reuse art workshops. COPE NYC brings the museum model to the Acumen space by providing tours of the exhibits to hundreds of people and offering art-making workshops with help from MFTA, Weaving Hand, Queens Museum educators, and Adelphi and Pratt student artists and educators. COPE NYC will also exhibit artwork by NYC public school students in response to an Open Call through An Inclusive World’s partnership with NYCATA/UFT and the creative reuse project – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and the 4th R – Reimagine.

On November 18, 2017, at 2 p.m., COPE NYC kicks off the opening reception on Acumen’s third floor with a performance of Fish Bones and a recognition ceremony, distributing certificates and gift bags (courtesy of MFTA) for participating student artists. The Opening continues on the first floor from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a Fashion Show at 3:30 p.m.- Power Wear garments, made and modeled by students of HS of Fashion Industries and Juan Morel Campos Secondary School in partnership with COPE NYC and the Queens Museum. The public, friends, and family are welcome to join the November 18th events and opening, at 630 Flushing Ave. COPE NYC will serve refreshments. The exhibit runs through December 16.