{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/0c4sj1b34s/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Sheila Lewandowski Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eInterview with Sheila Lewandowski co-founder of \u003ca href=\"ChocolateFactoryTheater.org\"\u003eThe Chocolate Factory Theater\u003c/a\u003e in Hunters Point, an incubator for experimental performance; interview conducted by QPL Hunter’s Point Librarian Jo-Ann Wong.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn this interview Sheila Lewandowski describes how the Hunters Point area has change since she moved there and opened the theater in 1997 – it was an already known artist community where artists came for the large loft spaces. The area has changed from delis and an older immigrant population to younger people and high-end restaurants. She also describes the many things she loves to see and do in Hunters Point/LIC, like visiting the waterfront parks or PS1 [museum]. Lewandowski also talks about the infrastructure and service needs of this quickly growing area, which do not meet the needs of the number of people moving in. She talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her personally, and the neighborhood.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eLewandowski describes why small artist run arts organizations, like The Chocolate Factory, are important for developing the arts and artists. She talks about community events that The Chocolate Factory has been a part of, and about starting “Taste of LIC” an event that has grown to have thousands of people participate. She describes the digital programming that The Chocolate Factory Theater has pivoted to during the COVID quarantine.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/search/browse/40582"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2021-01-26 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Sheila Lewandowski (Interviewee)","Jo-Ann Wong (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview recorded as part of the Changing Landscape of Hunters Point project at Hunters Point Library."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["1997-2021 (temporal)","Hunters Point and Long Island City, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eInterview with Sheila Lewandowski co-founder of \u003ca href=\"ChocolateFactoryTheater.org\"\u003eThe Chocolate Factory Theater\u003c/a\u003e in Hunters Point, an incubator for experimental performance; interview conducted by QPL Hunter\u0026rsquo;s Point Librarian Jo-Ann Wong.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn this interview Sheila Lewandowski describes how the Hunters Point area has change since she moved there and opened the theater in 1997 \u0026ndash; it was an already known artist community where artists came for the large loft spaces. The area has changed from delis and an older immigrant population to younger people and high-end restaurants. She also describes the many things she loves to see and do in Hunters Point/LIC, like visiting the waterfront parks or PS1 [museum]. Lewandowski also talks about the infrastructure and service needs of this quickly growing area, which do not meet the needs of the number of people moving in. She talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her personally, and the neighborhood.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eLewandowski describes why small artist run arts organizations, like The Chocolate Factory, are important for developing the arts and artists. She talks about community events that The Chocolate Factory has been a part of, and about starting \u0026ldquo;Taste of LIC\u0026rdquo; an event that has grown to have thousands of people participate. She describes the digital programming that The Chocolate Factory Theater has pivoted to during the COVID quarantine.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/120/385/small/lewandowski-sheila-aviary.png?1627570912","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - Lewandowski-Sheila-radioedit.mp4"]},"duration":2986.048,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/120/385/small/lewandowski-sheila-aviary.png?1627570912","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/120/385/original/Lewandowski-Sheila-radioedit.mp4?1627567930","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2986.048,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Okay, so hello everyone. And thank you Sheila Lewandowski from the Chocolate Factory Theater for joining us today. And so we're just going to jump straight into our questions. So, the first question is what is the Chocolate Factory Theater and why was Hunters Point chosen as its home location?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=0.0,19.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Thank you Jo-Ann for having me here. I'm pretty excited, as I was for the library to open within two blocks of where I live and work. The Chocolate Factory Theater is an incubator for experimental performance, mostly dance, that I co-founded with my co-director Brian Rogers. We started as artists making work and we were living in this community. Many of the artists we collaborated with, were living in this community. So we wanted to make sure that we had a home for us to make our work and present it to our community, our neighbors - that people didn't have to travel to, that they could walk to. We support artists by providing salaried residencies to make their work and then we open it up to the public, or we will again when we're post-pandemic \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=19.0,70.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: \n[Laughs] And so, the Chocolate Factory Theater is located in Hunters Point. And so, why specifically Hunters Point versus - cause there's so many wonderful neighborhoods in Queens - why Hunters Point specifically?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=70.0,83.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Great question. And I touched on that a little bit when I was just describing what it is - is that Brian and I both lived in Long Island City and we were, at that time, creating work and most of the opportunities to create and present were in Manhattan and some in Brooklyn. But yet many of the artists we were working with, including ourselves, lived here in Queens. So we very much wanted to open up something in Queens. And we lived in Hunters Point, so we were looking through the neighborhood. There are many visual artists who are here and we had trouble for about ten years finding an appropriate space, but then we were able to open it. But the reason is because no matter where you live in the city, you should have access to the arts within walking distance of where you are. And that was where we were. And so we wanted to make it and share it, right where we lived.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=83.0,136.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so, you bring up a really valuable point about how communities need art. People need art. And so I wanted to ask in your own terms, what does community mean to you in terms of the personal, as well as in your work/art?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=136.0,154.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Whew, that's a big question. I do want to kind of circle back - something I didn't say about Hunters Point and this does connect to it - it was a place that I chose to live, to own a home. It's a place that I choose to engage with my neighbors, with local businesses. I help in the saving of the trees in the park that were lost in Sandy. So, community to me means so many things and it does tie to why we chose Hunters Point and how - community means the people that you don't remember, even though you say 'Hello' to them when they deliver your mail. Community to me means the elected officials. It means the library. You may not realize - I'm gonna throw out this little story - that my very first job ever advocating for my community was as a child growing up in Stapleton projects in Staten Island. And I was petitioning for extended hours at the local library.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=154.0,212.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And I add that because all of these things are critically important to a healthy community. That includes the library, includes arts. That includes schools. That includes parks. That includes people owning their homes and includes renters. That includes the local coffee shops and businesses. So community to me is all of these things and an awareness of that is part of how people engage and people engage in different levels. And I realize I'm going off in a lot of ways, but Hunters Point was where I chose to move, where I chose to own a home, where I am living and owning a home. It's where I vote. And I care about whether there are trees or parks or whether there are artists who are able to work and share and arts teachers. And Hunters Point has changed a lot, but I realize that's a lot and I'm not sure if I fully answered your question.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=212.0,266.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Well, actually you segued right into my next question, so that works perfectly \n[laughs]. You mentioned there's been a lot of changes in Hunters Point, so I'm pretty new to Hunters Point. So I hear when people say they've been in the neighborhood for one year, five years and some people say 20 years, so having moved to Hunters Point, like you said, and you set there for home, for work. How have you seen the community change, during your time in the community?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=266.0,295.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: I moved to Hunters Point in 1997. I targeted Hunters Point as a place to move because it was already known as a creative community where there are a lot of artists because of the availability of industrial spaces or previously industrial spaces, which we could convert into a performance space and a workspace. Because of the people who were here. When we came, there are not very many open, publicly-accessible businesses. The PS1 was here, an earlier version. I apologize - so it's changed. I was quoted recently saying what I remember most when we first moved here was open sky, a lot of creative types and a lot of old-timers, all different types. I remember a number of Dominican delis, which I loved cause I would get awesome rice and beans and stewed chicken. A lot of old people sitting in their chairs outside.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=295.0,376.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: So that's a lot of what it was like. And I would sit sometimes and talk to some of the real old-timers, who are fierce advocates for this community for a long time, about what they were fighting to hold on to. And many of them were trying very hard to advocate for the community to keep things like parks, parking - and I know there's a lot of controversy around that - to their little clubs. Some of them had their little private clubs where they would meet. Most of them - almost all of them were immigrants, one time or another. So that's what I remember early on. And then now, the population has gone from 20,000 - I'm not pulling perfect data, so somebody would have to confirm this - but something like 20,000 to a couple hundred thousand.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=376.0,426.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And I know it's in that range when you look at Hunters Point a little bit less, but when you look at greater Long Island City. So we have a lot of towers. We have people who are, I would say, are more affluent and I'm not putting a judgment on that. It's just true. And there are expectations that come with the changing demographics about the services they should have. There's a young-ing of the neighborhood because when I moved here, the smaller population there, a lot of them were older. So a lot of changes, but then we have wonderful things like we came in and we built, and I think Chocolate Factory is pretty awesome. And the Hunters Point Library. There are new restaurants like my friends Casa Enrique across the street and I'll throw a plug out for them, Michelin Star Mexican restaurant. That is not going to allow me to be a size five anytime. So, there are a lot of changes and I think density, expectations, young-ing, affluence, those are some of the very big changes.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=426.0,499.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so I just have to ask - you were talking about the delis and those old clubs. Are they still around in the neighborhood, or has that changed as well?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=499.0,513.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: All of those delis are gone. I mean, I would say just factually from what I walk around the neighborhood, all of the old immigrant delis are gone. And that includes the Dominican places, two of them that I knew of. And there was one old Italian deli, they just kind of handed it over. They sold to someone else last year, I believe, or the year before. There are places that - there are old restaurants that are still here. Not very many, but there weren't very many back then. They're gone.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=513.0,554.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so, kind of going back to the Chocolate Factory, one of my questions was sometimes when you look at art organization, they're the big organizations and all this kind of stuff, but I think what makes Chocolate Factory so special is it's for artists, by artists. I wanted to ask, what do you see as the importance of having those spaces for artists, from artists in communities like Hunters Point and the importance of having that art space, like that in these neighborhoods?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=554.0,589.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: The importance to me, of having artists in almost any dialogue is that by nature, we question. By nature, we will not say something is done and we need that when it comes to always questioning everything from new development to where your library being designed. Having an artist at the table always helps that. So, for the Chocolate Factory, as an artist-founded, artist-led organization, that questioning is always in there, in addition to a commitment to the day-to-day needs of an artist making and sharing work.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=589.0,636.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: When an organization gets very large, there are a lot of - when any business gets very large, but let's just stay on an arts organization - the steps between the artist coming in the door and having access to the tools they needed, to being paid to any kind of approval process or to the folks who are taking care of the finances or the books, there's so many - let's say - gates between them making their work and that decision-making at a different level. So for us, the artists walk through my office - maybe not right now without a mask and lots of protocols, but there's never - we accept some of the conflict that comes with the person who is on the frontline and the person who is making sure the frontline is operating. We have to accept that because my role as an Executive Director has no meaning, if that artist is not fully supported. So, does that answer your question?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=636.0,707.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Yes.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=707.0,707.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And it's not always easy \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=707.0,710.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: \n[Laughs] It's like they always say, it's difficult to understand unless you've been in that position. So, if you have an artist background, it's almost like you're better capable of helping another artist succeed. That's the way I look at it.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=710.0,727.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And if I may add something to that, I'm very glad you put it that way, because we definitely model the residencies and the services - the way we support, I shouldn't say services, because it's the way we're supporting artists. We model it after our own experience, being transient producers for many years. And that's part of why we make sure that every artist working in the theater is put on payroll. We do not just pay them a fee. They're paid as an employee, so that they're covered by unemployment insurance, disability insurance, general liability. We also think about what it was like to be transient producers and had to lug our equipment. So when artists are in our space and I'm not just putting a plug for the theater, but this is ways of being an artist-founded, artist-run place affects every single decision.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=727.0,772.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: When they come in and they're in residence, they have the key. We're not going to say, 'Okay, pack up your stuff, so we can have a rental come in here for a few hours.' We don't do rentals because we have committed to, and our mission is to support these artists. So they can leave their stuff. Their cabling stays where it is cause they're using technology. If anyone out there is listening, they know working with technology, the minute, the hour you have to unplug everything is two hours that it takes to set it all back up. And all of those decisions are in part because we went through that. We got the parking tickets every time we had to lug our stuff around or paid for taxis. So, thank you for saying that because that very much drives all of our decision-making.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=772.0,815.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so you briefly mentioned the residency program and I was looking at it online and it's such an amazing program. So can you talk a little bit more about that and some of, kind of the highlights that have come out from that program?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=815.0,827.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Sure. Highlights. Well the program itself, as I mentioned, it's a curated program. The Artistic Director, Brian Rogers, he sees a lot of work and then - but it's not - we don't just select artists. They select us too. And it has to be, we're ready to work together because we work closely together. We have no say in what they do. That is up to them. But they get anywhere from one week to six weeks of salaried residency, where they have the keys. We have lighting, sound, video. They are put on our payroll, as I stated, and now we do $15 an hour for them and all of their collaborators. A lot of protocols right now for the pandemic. And they work - in the pre-pandemic, there was always, at some point, a public component. Whether it was a fully produced work, we've had many works get Obie awards, Bessie awards, come out of there.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=827.0,894.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: So, you talk about highlights. I'll tell you some of the highlights from the outside. Some of the highlights from the outside are the pieces that have gone on to tour nationwide or around the world. This last year we had two artists we worked with, Daniel Fish, who was the director of Oklahoma. And he is an artist we've worked with many times. And to give you an example of how it's different, Daniel did a piece based on the writings of Daniel - I'm gonna say it wrong. Oh gosh, I'm blanking on the author - but he did a piece, one of the most recent pieces where they're only 12 seats because he needed that. He needed to work through that. And it was great experience and he wanted every audience member to experience a certain way. And then he goes on to direct Oklahoma.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=894.0,938.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: We had also the choreographer for David Newman, who's choreographer for another Broadway show that won an award last year. And I apologize, I'm blanking again. See, I should've had these things written down for the interview, but those are highlights from the outside. And for the inside, for me, it is when we're talking to artists afterward and they talk about how this is their home or when artists come back, even though they've filled BAM or they've gone on to fill a place in Berlin, because they have something they really need to work on and feel safe and be supported. Those are highlights for me, but then other highlights. Let's talk for a moment about community events. So, other highlights for me are - we launched the event we do. We've done Taste of LIC, that we could not do last year. And having this event where we're working with all these local businesses and we respect each other and we support each other, or they're like, 'Let me give sandwiches to your opening night toast' or we send people across the street and we have drink specials. And then we have this event where we split the raffle with a local Girl Scouts. So this sense of us being part of this bigger community and every part of it is important. Every part of it needs to be successful, in order for us to be successful. So those are highlights for me, if that reads \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=938.0,1029.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Well actually I wanted -\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1029.0,1030.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: We bought a building, another highlight \n[laughs] Wow, how'd i forget that?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1030.0,1041.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Well actually, you mentioned Taste of LIC. I know you touched briefly upon it, but can you talk a little bit more about what it is, when it started and kind of why that community event eventually has grown to be as big as it is now?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1041.0,1056.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Sure. We've started it the year after we opened our doors here on 49th Avenue. We were trying to figure out how to have a gala to support what we, but none of us came from money. It's not like - my Rolodex doesn't stop on a thousand, let alone a million. But we were like, what do we have? We're like, 'Well, we have our artists and we're already connected to our local community'. So we reached out to the coffee shop where we were going and the artists were going, reached out to the liquor store where we bought the bubbly for the toasts, or - don't worry, we got apple cider and seltzer too. We take care of everybody - the local restaurants who were here. We said, 'we need to raise some money to survive. How about we give you a table? You have some samplings of food.'\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1056.0,1107.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: So, and we bring in all of our audience at the same time and our artists, they know where to go. So it came out of this very holistic relationship where we had menus, where we are constantly giving, or people are calling up. A lot of people had not come to Hunters Point before. So they were calling us up, 'So I'm coming to the show, where should I go to get a bite, to eat or drink?' And we were constantly telling people where to go. So, it came out of all of that. And then that first year, we had 200 people show up and let's just say we're not supposed to have 200 people in our space, but that was a long time ago \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1107.0,1148.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And then the next year it grew. Let's just say we had more people, a lot, maybe double. And, so that couldn't go on anymore. And if I can give credit to some people who believed in it, the next year after that I had spoken - I met Paul Januszewski who at that point was running Queens West Development Corps. And he connected us with John McMillan at Rock Rose and they let us do it on the roof deck of one of their new buildings. So, it went to this whole other height, this whole other level. And then the next year, we met the New York State Parks. We moved it into the park and we put up this 10,000 square foot tent. And so in four years it had grown from 200 people to like a thousand people in one night. But you look at the growth of the neighborhood and it kind of matched that trajectory, like the volume that just - of places to eat and coffee shops and bakeries.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1148.0,1209.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: So that's how it grew from something really small. But then we also thought it was important to share that it wasn't - so many people didn't even know it was a gala. So many people still don't know it was a fundraising event because we wanted to make sure that the other businesses were stars that night too. So, we always paid an artist to do some kind of site-specific performance, but we wanted everybody to know, go eat there and then come see this art. All boats float together.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1209.0,1243.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so, just you describing it, I got a little bit hungry for a second \n[laughs], when you were talking. And one of those things is like you said, it grew from this 200 person event to this gigantic thing. And so, in terms of Hunters Point, there's so many fun things to do, pre-COVID and during COVID actually. I know some of the stuff that's been happening. So, I wanted to ask you, both as the Executive Director for the Chocolate Factory but also as a person that lives in the neighborhood, what are some things to do in Hunters Point itself?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1243.0,1279.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: We have beautiful parks on the waterfront, which - your front lawn of the Hunters Point Library is gorgeous. The library itself is beautiful and libraries are - I know this is not an advocacy for libraries moment - but I happen to think they're one of the most important and equalizing venue or anchors for any community. And so the park is beautiful. There's bike-riding. We don't have performances in-person, but you can go online. I think PS1 does have opening times you can go in, which is incredible. Sculpture Center is another art space in the neighborhood. There are many places you can go to do activities, if you have children as well. The stroll over the Queensboro Bridge is wonderful and it looks at Hunters Point. There are many places to eat and get baked goods in the neighborhood. There's a pier that goes down to the water on 44th Drive. So, it's a lot of walking, running, biking. There's a soccer field and there are soccer teams and so there's a lot going on.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1279.0,1360.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so -\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1360.0,1361.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Go ahead. I'm sorry \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1361.0,1362.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Oh, no. I was going to say and you mentioned a lot of outdoor things, so I'm curious cause I've seen pictures of Hunters Point from back in the day versus now - is how have you seen the parks and the public spaces in the neighborhood change over time?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1362.0,1380.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Well, I know - I don't want to just go on a detour on some things that aren't all wonderful. But since you asked, as someone who lived here when the population was less, the proportion of public open green space to people has decreased dramatically. So to compare them is really hard because when I first moved here, I felt in some ways I had access to more. And this is not just because of the pandemic, you get nervous if you get within close proximity of anybody, even pre-pandemic. There was a sense of open sky, light and access to space that existed in some ways more so back then, because the population was lower and we weren't such a destination. At the same time, we didn't have such a gorgeous waterfront park, which is very beautiful. And I was actually - because I'm also on the Community Board - I was on some of the planning committees for different stages of the park and I'm very proud of the work. And it has evolved also to meet some of the environmental issues. So, I can't just say everything with change has been wonderful because I think some things are not enough for the growth that we have. Like we should've have had that library 20 years ago. I'm glad we have it now \n[laughs]. We almost need another one \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1380.0,1477.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: \n[Laughs] And so continuing off of that, talking a little bit about the Hunters Point specific, you mentioned especially with open air and when you walk around the neighborhood, it's a lot of tall buildings, I will say. A lot, a lot of towers. And so I wanted to ask, have you seen how zoning laws affect the neighborhood? Do you see gentrification possibly happening in this neighborhood? Have you seen these situations cropping up or not?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1477.0,1514.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Okay, so we're going into the dark part of the conversation here \n[laughs]. It's okay, I can go there. So, unfortunately I do feel that the zoning laws in New York City are woefully inadequate. I think zoning is, city planning is, as much as I have great respect for many people working at city planning and running different things - and this does connect completely to what you're asking me - is the city, as a whole, has not done enough to plan Hunters Point. And I would say probably, even other communities but we're talking about Hunters Point right now, because you have these very, very tall buildings that are, for the most part, gated. So you have gated vertical - I call them vertical cruise ships - where everything's in, people have their gyms, they have their community rooms, they have their roof decks. So they have their parks. They have their community centers, but it's all gated.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1514.0,1582.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And on top of that, you have this large influx of population. And the city should have a plan for - you're gonna have this population growth, so here's our checklist of things we need to make sure are in order. And that includes schools and libraries and cultural spaces. Community centers to me, I think it's awful that the city of New York has stopped building them because to me, I remember in Sandy, right outside my door here, the water is halfway up this block. I have video of that. It was incredible. Nobody knew where to go to get information. There were no places to distribute things. There's no place around here to pick up a CSA because it's either in your building or it doesn't exist. So I think the zoning has also pushed up other prices and that people are sitting on properties because they are waiting to sell them for the highest amount to someone who is planning to develop it.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1582.0,1642.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: So we're not preserving some of the things that were in the old neighborhood. Gentrification has existed. I was a gentrifier, let's be honest, as a person coming in and building an art space. I'm a gentrifier. I'm also a white person who - we can go back in time and talk about colonialism, but I don't think we want to completely go down that road. And then you have socioeconomic gentrification because what we were talking about earlier about the expectations of people coming in, who are more affluent. When you had a population of mostly working class folks, and I know that's a term that really shouldn't be used so much, but I put it out there. There's conflict. So, I wish we could update the zoning. I wish we could pause things so we can create a catch-up list of what's needed, including updating sewers and things like that. So I know that it's a big answer, but it's a big question. I could probably spend four hours just on that question.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1642.0,1706.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Yeah. And I remember I was talking to someone for this project about the schools and how with the influx, people were fighting over school seats was a big thing. And so kind of, we were talking about things that you've been seeing, what changes do you foresee in the neighborhood, maybe in the next five years, next ten years? What do you foresee as changes that will be happening?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1706.0,1735.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: I am not sure what is going to happen with the, I would say, the conflict between the need for change and development because there was a - I'm going to paraphrase it badly and I don't remember the first person who said it - but for cities to remain alive, we need to embrace a certain amount of change. But we need to find the - we have this conflict between what's not been done and there's no catch up and there's no checklist to say school seats, cultural spaces, parks, etc. And the developers who have really built a lot of what's here, and I don't want to come out cause I've had people say I - and I've said this very clearly - I am not saying developers are bad. And I'm also not saying that to be nice. To me, the policy has to change.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1735.0,1793.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: You can't say to somebody whose existence is to develop, it's up to them to plan the community. That falls to the city. I really believe that. So you're asking what I see is going to come, I do think some good is gonna come out of the conflict because developers still want to develop and people still want to live here. Yet there's so much push-back coming from people who live here, people who have lived here a long time, a short period of time, because they're now aware of the weaknesses in what has been built, maybe even more so. The pandemic absolutely shined a very bright LED spotlight - and I say LED cause they're so much brighter and \n[laughs] - on what's missing. I'm hopeful that there will be some coming together, change in the administration - and I'm not saying the current administration is not - but at the change time, there's always, I think, less forward movement. So, I'm hopeful that we will find a way to have more public open green space, a community center. We do have the public land on our 44th Drive that is really being argued about. I truly believe that the public land that is not built on should be a park, something dedicated to environmental studies and the DOE building, whatever part remains in DOE, that's great but anything that's built really should be dedicated to school seats or artists spaces, civic engagement of some type. So, I'm hopeful.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1793.0,1904.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so kind of going into, you've mentioned a little bit about it, but first, how have you been doing for yourself during this wild, wild COVID-19 time \n[laughs]?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1904.0,1918.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Fortunately, I'm safe and well. I've had stress-related things and I had to put my own face on this, my own personal face on this, I had what is called - I don't know if you know what Takotsubo syndrome is - it is a stress-induced heart event, which my heart is fine. I've had more tests in 24 hours in a hospital than I had in my entire life. And it wasn't caused by that. It was stress. And it's on the up-swing everywhere because I think a lot of people are feeling stressed. I really think mine was caused by my inability to hug people because I am a hug junkie.\n[Laughs] So, I mean, that's one thing that happened, but I find that some good things are I'm meditating more. There's connections that I'm making sure to keep with friends and support friends and look out for them. So, there's the struggle for all of us and like how to have personal interactions when we have this shield. It's kind of gets in the way of certain amount of transfer of energy and love and all that.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=1918.0,2007.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: Yeah. I totally understand when you say - I mean, I personally am not the biggest hugger and even I was just like, 'I just want to hug everyone.' I was like, 'you're in 3D.' That's my big joke now. It's like, 'I get to see people in 3D every once in a while.' And so I'm kind of going off of that, I mean, especially you said, you're in Hunters Point for work and for home, so how have you seen your local and personal community also being impacted during this time?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2007.0,2040.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Well, the first thing I will say is I've seen a lot of people move and it would be wrong of me not to acknowledge what cities are experiencing and what I'm seeing and experiences, friends who are moving out of the community. And some of that I think is because of the gaps we were talking about in zoning is that people have small children and apartments have become smaller, being trapped in these spaces. They're just like 'I can't do this right now,' for a lot of good reason. So I see that. I see businesses close. More losses of local businesses where people have put in their life savings. The Creek \u0026 Cave was one, the comedy club that I - Rebecca is a very close friend. LIC Market. So, and these were losses in the pandemic that didn't have to happen.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2040.0,2099.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: We don't have enough recognition of how to support people and small businesses. There's so much focus on big numbers and all these little things add up to big numbers. So those are changes I see regularly. And people, the nervousness where people getting too close to each other. We're in winter now, so there's one thing that we're not seeing that you see in the summer. In the warm weather, I don't want to go out almost because our neighborhood, the influx of people, other people in other neighborhoods that don't have enough public open green space. It's just, we are over - it's almost like it's 4th of July every day down here. It's so crowded and parks is under supported, so the garbage cans are overflowing.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2099.0,2150.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: And I want those - I feel those folks who are coming here are neighborhoods that have even less public open green space than we do. So I am glad they find a moment to go someplace. And then things like people are afraid to go in, even into the library. Like, they fear of going into these incredibly valuable places. We can't do inside performance. The protocols that we have to take, having sanitizer and building an air filtration system. Deliveries. So many deliveries, like people getting everything delivered. So those are some of the things I just am aware of all the time. But small businesses struggling, that is top of my list when I see them and hear them really struggling.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2150.0,2202.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so, yeah, when you mentioned with the deliveries, I was talking to my building superintendent and he's like, I've never seen it. This much. And it's just like the stack of cardboard boxes. He's like, 'I've never seen this happen prior to COVID-19.' And so you were mentioning also the protocols that you guys are doing right now for theater, so I wanted to ask - it's amazing that you guys are still doing stuff. I know you guys are doing digital shows, radio shows and all those kinds of things. So what drives art during times like this? Like during a pandemic, how does art come out and just create beautiful work?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2202.0,2243.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Okay. The first answer that came to mind was I'm going to ask you to do something. Close your eyes. Take a breath. That's what drives art. You're alive. It's the truth. I can go into the whole thing. Like if you're human, you are creative and you want song, you want poetry, you want to dance, you want to move, and so that's the experience side. Now, if you're an artist, you have to create. I mean, every human being needs to create, so we can't take that away. You create in different ways, but if you dedicate your life as a dancer to communicating what you're experiencing through movement, you have to keep moving. It doesn't stop because we're in a pandemic. There are dancers - and we've had some who we're working with, they have shut down for a bit - but to me, that is their sabbatical. Like that is how they're responding to in time. But it doesn't mean they're not creating. Last night you saw we opened with a radio play which you mentioned. And so these artists, they're finding ways to work together from different countries, from different platforms, but they have to keep creating and they have to keep feeding off each other. They're talking to each other. They're sharing music. They're dancing in the living room or in a basement, but what drives it, is that they're alive.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2243.0,2343.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And you brought up a wonderful point is the beautiful thing is just seeing how fast artists have been able to adapt. So talking about this radio play, correct me if I'm wrong, the title is THE SECURELY CONFERRED, VOUCHSAFED KEEPSAKES OF MAERY S, is that the title? \n[Laughs]\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2343.0,2364.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: \n[Laughs] I'm going to believe that you got the whole thing, right because I don't have it in front of me. I would have to read it as well to make sure I didn't miss something. But yeah, Sibly Kempson is an amazing writer, actually was in college with her, Brian and I were both in college with her. And yeah, I haven't listened to the whole thing. It's over three and a half hours, but last night, we had the opening toast and the show opened. And they really recommend doing it with headphones. And one person on the show, the director of Abrons Arts Centers, is like he listened to the first episode walking through Prospect Park. And he said that was incredible experience. So, what I love about the artist we're working with is they're making this work in a digital way, but it's meant to be experienced live. So even though we have this limitation, there's an expansion from it. So you have to set your environment, even with that. Like, if you're going to listen to that, I heard - I'm excited to hear how spooky it is - is shut off the lights. Make sure your radiator's making noise because that's going to drive your experience of it. So I love that they're making digital work that is meant to be experienced live still.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2364.0,2444.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And what's always interesting with these digital performances and events, is location is no longer as much of a hindrance, I guess. So for instance, if my friend from Texas wants to listen, she can now if she wants to. And so, it's been really interesting to see how that has affected performances during this time.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2444.0,2468.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Yeah. I do think that we're going to come out of this though - in the same way, we're all going to run up to random strangers and hug them - we are going to come out of this craving live experiences and we can't do a direct parallel to the Weimar Republic, nor should we, because there wasn't internet back then \n[laughs], so we've kind of going from a part digital existence. But I do think that, and I've heard this from artists and that's why we did a live performance under the 7 train with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. And anybody who was there, there's an energy that is present when it's live. But we found another way. So many ways, we were forced into using the technology that exists to advance where we might have been creating work and sharing work, if that makes sense. So we have both.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2468.0,2528.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: It's like you have the best of both worlds.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2528.0,2534.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: I will say that \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2534.0,2534.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: \n[Laughs]. And so for some of the, cause I know you guys are continuing to do work ongoing, there's no pause, it's ongoing. Can you talk about maybe some of the other artists and other projects that are happening at the Chocolate Factory right now? What should we keep an eye out for?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2534.0,2552.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Wow, oh boy. Now I feel like I need to be looking at my list for that and I did not have that in front of me. I can tell you a little bit about what's just happened is, so we had Sibyl with the that piece of work took years and actually evolved into the pandemic version of a radio play. And like you said, people adapt quickly, especially when you're very creative and critical of yourself and how you're sharing things. But we had another artist, Daria Fain who came and she did part residency in our current building that we're still in, and the new building that will be renovated soon, hopefully. And they did it as a 24-hour live experience that you can come in and out of, with a number of the parts that were pre-recorded and then that entire experience was being recorded as well.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2552.0,2600.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: So it was kind of like a mirror, like when you have the mirrors back to back to back to back. We have two other artists in there now, Lori Berg and I don't remember Matt's last name, who are creating a piece. Um, oops, sorry. My stomach decided to just make some noise. And so looking forward to what that piece, it will be. Some of the artists we worked with whose shows got canceled, like Stephanie Acosta, we will have something coming with her piece in the near future. So I wish I had the whole list in front of me, but we also don't know for sure what they're all going to be doing with the work, if that makes sense, because we are leaving that to them.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2600.0,2645.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Like we do have some artists who are working on books. They decided they're not doing live performance right now. And so they're writing books, but we committed to them. And so we're still paying them, in order to work on these books. So those will be shared. I would throw something out the Chocolate Factory is doing, as a whole, that we will be sharing in - if I may - later this year. We did receive some support from NYC and Co. and Borough President Sharon Lee, is we are going to do a book that's a look-back of our entire existence, with original writings and stuff that we're going to share in later, in like May, June. So, there's a lot of - many ways, what we all have been doing personally and professionally is some evaluation and reflection. And kind of trying to build that into what comes next.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2645.0,2701.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: The other thing you said is, we have always shared our work online. I guess you did know this. So, we have an archive of every show for the past six, seven years. It was professionally shot and edited and shared. That work was made for a live audience, but then professionally done to be shared. And that's there free for everyone to see. I would say, if you are a parent of children, you do want to check to make sure some of it is okay for your children. But now, the work we're doing and sharing is made for this experience. So it'd be interesting to see them side by side.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2701.0,2740.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And where can people find that archive?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2740.0,2742.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: ChocolateFactoryTheater.org. And theater is spelled T H E A T E R, not R E. ChocolateFactoryTheater.org \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2742.0,2753.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: \n[Laughs] Awesome. And so, when you were talking about reflection, during this interview, we've talked about past, present. So, I'm going to hit you with two kind of difficult questions. The first one being having been in Hunters Point for a very long time, what has been the best memory of being a part of this community?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2753.0,2774.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Oh, wow. Best memory. I have so many. Okay. I'm going to give a recent one and I might get emotional. I don't know if it's the best memory, but it's the one that just made emotion come up, so I'm going to share it, is that because of the pandemic, we had to cancel everything, but we still committed to and we're paying all the artists. We had to cancel Taste of LIC. So in our year-end appeal, we had a very modest goal. And when we sent out our appeal, the number of local businesses and restaurants that actually gave - and some of them really surprised us with how generous - when I know how hard they're struggling. I'm so moved \n[shows emotion]. And I really am, like it gets me emotional. We see in each other how we need to support each other. So that just made - it was a message to me about how important we are to them, as well. So sorry I went there, but that's the one \n[unclear] \n[laughs].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2774.0,2856.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: No worries, that's such a beautiful - I felt the emotion started to come up because it's really a testament when your local community all rallies up for you, and it just shows that in a time where everyone feels alone, it shows that you're really not, that people are out there looking out for you.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2856.0,2875.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Absolutely. Yeah. And there goes some tears \n[laughs] And you asked two questions, that was the one. What was the other one?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2875.0,2881.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: So, the second one is what are you most hopeful for?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2881.0,2885.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: I touched on this a little bit. And what I am hopeful for is that when we are coming out of the pandemic, when people feel safe and where we're vaccinated - before we go into the next pandemic, sorry, that's a bad joke. Too soon \n[laughs] - that people, that empathy grows. And I believe it will because we miss each other. And so I'm excited. I'm hopeful for people coming out and reaching out to each other more and supporting each other more and the artwork. I'm truly excited about the dancing that is going to be in the streets. We do have open streets now, which I got to give it to Council Member Van Bramer cause he really pushed that legislation in the city. I'm excited for the open streets for restaurants too. I don't know if you've traveled - folks have traveled who listening to this - but in other countries, whether you're in Europe or South America, there's so much sidewalk seating. So that feeling of vibrancy back in the streets, that's creative and community. So I'm excited for that.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2885.0,2969.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nJo-Ann Wong: And so on that note, Sheila, thank you so much for this interview. Just stay on the line just for a few more minutes, but thank you so much for doing this and I wish you and the Chocolate Factory all the best.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2969.0,2982.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385/transcript/31549/annotation/74","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nSheila Lewandowski: Thank you very much.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/46937/file/120385#t=2982.0,2986.048"}]}]}]}