Datuna Art Space has recently held its grand opening. Founded by acclaimed artist David Datuna and housed in a repurposed taxi cab garage, it is one of the largest privately-owned art centers in Long Island City.
More than 600 people attended the event, many from the surrounding neighborhood, while notable guests included Richard Mazda, executive director of LIC Arts Open; Ja’dee Murphy, Marina Dojchinov, Frankie Silver, Anthoula Katsimatides, Tatum Peacock, and Michele Peacock.
Datuna Art Space was built to be part of the cultural fabric of Long Island City, welcoming walk-ins and presenting a program of community-focused events. The center is scheduled to present up to six shows per year. Datuna’s goal was to create a space that pushes the boundaries of conceptual art by providing a home for nontraditional endeavors. In our current social and political landscape, the aim is to showcase the common denominator, our shared humanity, through art. Datuna hopes to promote understanding of diverse global perspectives in artwork that would not be shown in most galleries.
The opening exhibition includes both new and historic pieces from Datuna, including the interactive installation ‘Cloning Eternity’ recently installed in Washington Square Park (pictured below), a piece from his Smithsonian-recognized ‘Portrait of America’ flag series, as well as a selection of his signature portraits. The exhibition will remain on display until July 20.
“Long Island City has a long history of creating alternative spaces that foster non-traditional creativity,” David Datuna said. “I’m humbled to be in the same neighborhood that was once the home of spaces like 5 Pointz, and I’m looking to continuing a tradition of producing and showcasing art that delivers powerful messages about the human experience.”
