QUEENS — An art project that asks Queens residents what they are willing to do when they're in love, will soon be installed in a vacant Sunnyside storefront.
The storefront, at 39-11 47th Ave., has been empty for more than six months, and the organizers hope the campaign will help attract attention, eventually leading to finding a new tenant.
Students attending P.S. 206 in Rego Park and other community members who participated in the project offered numerous answers, which will soon be displayed with hashtags in the storefront windows.
The answers included phrases such as: #StayPositive, #SupportThem, #ForgiveThem, #GiveBreakfastInBed, #MakeQualityTime and #RubFeet.
“The overall mission here is to use creativity to address community issues,” said Yvonne Shortt of RPGA Studio, a nonprofit focused on projects seeking to engage local residents.
The store was occupied by an accounting firm for about two decades, but six months ago the company moved and the owner has not been able to find a new tenant since, Shortt said.
The group, hoping to avoid “another store with the gate down,” came up with the project to “put up a collaborative piece about actions and love in the windows" of the store, an idea which the owner embraced, Shortt said.
The group decided to base the campaign on one question: "What are you willing to do when you love someone?"
The answers were placed on several posters that will be displayed in the windows and door of the empty storefront.
The pieces were made using painter's paper “to show how art does not have to cost a lot and can take a sustainable approach," Shortt said.
The group also created a 12-by-5 foot banner with the question which will be displayed above the store, along with the phone number for those interested in renting the space.
“I hope people see these actions, reflect on being in love and what it means, and hopefully take positive actions to show their love,” Shortt said.
The project will be installed on April 8 and will remain on display for about a month, Shortt said.
