LONG ISLAND CITY — A new gallery is spotlighting the neighborhood's artistic and industrial sides.
Edison Price Lighting, a company that's been manufacturing light fixtures since 1952, will open an art gallery inside its factory and headquarters at 41-50 22nd St. Thursday with a debut show that focuses on local artists.
The exhibit, "Made in LIC" is part of the annual LIC Arts Open festival and the first for Edison Price, which has been in the neighborhood for more than a decade and specializes in creating lights for museums and galleries.
The gallery was originally created as a showroom to display its fixtures, which have been used to light up art at places like The Met and MoMA PS1, said Nora Vizzini, the company's marketing coordinator.
"Obviously the fixtures have to focus on something, so we thought, let's throw some art on the wall," she said.
The idea then developed into a full-fledged gallery displaying works from artists in the neighborhood, which is known as a hotbed for the creative set, Vizzini said.
"We recognized that it's the perfect equation," she said. "Especially considering the neighborhood we're in — there's people everywhere doing amazing art."
Local photographer Orestes Gonzalez is curating the shows, which will change every six months. The art will be displayed using lights made at Edison Price.
"There's a great opportunity to show the local work of artists that work in Queens," Gonzalez said.
The exhibit launching Thursday features the paintings and sculptures of 10 Long Island City artists as well as four artists from Ohio. The opening will run from 6 to 9 p.m., and visitors will also be able to check out the gallery this weekend during the LIC Arts Open.
The annual arts festival runs until Sunday, with dozens of events and "open studio" exhibits at galleries and venues across the neighborhood.
Participating venues include the Falchi Building at 31-00 47th Ave., where exhibits will be held throughout several floors, including one called "Celebrating Queens Artists" featuring works by 30 members of the Long Island City Artists group.
Events will also take place at The Secret Theatre, Local Project and Court Square Studios, where Gonzalez will be taking photos of visitors at a pop-up portrait studio on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.
For a complete guide to LIC Arts Open, visit its website.
