Queens Tribune Q Culture Online Reports
The Wonderful NYJPW College Point Arts & Cultural Center for Community |
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John and Penny Wang are preciously welcomed Queens Tribune Reporter Ellen Thompson visiting on August 27, 2006, at NYJPW College Point Arts & Cultural Center. Ellen is one of the finest reporters who works for Queens Tribune newspaper. Ellen met John & Penny Wang at NYJPW College Point Arts & Cultural Center. The goal of Ellen's trip is to find out what NYJPW's history and what NYJPW's plan for upcoming programs to server for the communi community. The questions and answers in the conversation of Ellen and Wangs are as follows:
Q: How long is NYJPW Chinese American Arts & Culture Association been established?
A: NYJPW Chinese American Arts & Culture Association Inc. was self-founded and self-supported by John & Penny Cheng-Hua Wang on February, 1997 in New York as a not-for-profit organization.
Q: How did you find this building and why are you set up the cultural center at this location?
A: This building was introduced by one of our friends who worked in the neighborhood. Every since we saw this building, we liked it very much from investment point of view. This is a very solid break building and was first build by Manhatten Bank in the early 19 century. We bought this building from Bart's Auto Parts Company on May 24, 2003. We teared down all the temporary metal shelfs and made the entire 25 feet tall store as the rehearsal auditoriam for NYJPW Chinese Opera "The Orphan of Zhao". We made a very successful production at Licoln Center Alice Tully Hall on September 18, 2003. Afte the production, we decided to renovate the building from 1 story to 2 stories. We worked with Kings Architects Associates, Chen Chen Constructions, JY Cooling & Heating Corp, Hightpoint Incentives, etc. for the renovation work. We received the official Certificate of Occupancy from NYC Building Department for the renovation on December 13, 2004. It was the day that Penny Wang had successfully completed her ovarian cancer operation at Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey. After the successfully chemotherapy treatment on May 27, 2005, Penny went back to work. John and Penny thanks God's Blessing to help them to go through such a huge life and death advanture. John and Penny and their lovely son Jon and daughter Jennifer decided to open the Arts And Cultural Center on the second floor at this building to share their hard work accomplishment and their espertise return back to the community. Penny came to the United States on September 15, 1974 and studied at St. John's University, Jamaica for her MA in Asisn History and MBA for Public Accountancy. Queens New York is the place that Penny earned her degree, found her job, got married, and became a susseful business woman as a techenologist in a major US Bank. John is a professional photographer and owns a studio at East 20the Street, the center of the advertising business district, in between Park Avenue South and Broadway. John is a very talented photographer as well as a successful business man and investor in real estate. John and Penny are both sharing their talent to their professions and arts. John and Penny have produced more then 30 famous Chinese Operas in the past 9 years throughout the United States and China. Now is the time John and Penny built their own Art Center for John's Photography and Penny's Opera. Looking at all the professional spot lights on the celling and the red wood stage with a complete professional sounding systems, every visitors have words as terrific wonderful work Wang has done for their Center.
Q: How many artists that NYJPW has held as membership?
A: Every artist who ever joins NYJPW Chinese Opera performance in the past nine years are counted as NYJPW's membership. It is closed to 150 to 200 members. Three NYJPW artists, Bai Ge, Li Dan Hong and Zhang Guo Hui, who danced "Crouching Tiger & Hideen Dragon" at 73rd Oscar Academy Award Ceremony on March 25, 2001, Los Angeles, CA, are the proud NYJPW artist members.
Q: How many programs have been presented to the community?
A: Since the grand opening on October 22, 2005, NYJPW CP Center had presented the Lion Dance by Bergen Chinese School from New Jersey, Ribbon Dance and Iron Fan by Chinese Public School from Chinatown, New York, John Wang's Creative Photography exhibition, John Wang's new photography book review, John Wang's alive demo for still life, Chinese New Year celebration with traditional Chinese delicious food treats, Chiba University Alumni reunion from Japan, etc.
Q: What is your upcoming program?
A: Penny is currently still under chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Penny would like to show everyone to make Chinese dumplings and traditional New Year food for Eight Jade Treasure Sweet Rice. Penny also like to teach everyone some speaking Chinese for Beijing Olympic Game's Opening on 2008. Of couse, Penny will organize a fantastic Chinese Opera Performance from all NYJPW artists dress with beautiful silk made customes and painted faces and acrobetic wu kung and romantic and comedy stories. As long as Doctors permit and Penny can do, these programs are in the planning and will be presented to the public sonn.
Q: Any charge to the public for the upcoming programs?
A: No, Free for everyone.
This is a great honor of John & Penny Wang to have an exclusive interview by one of the most effective newspapers in Queens. John ang Penny are very much apprecicated of Ellen Thomson's visit and prepared sufficient materials for Ellen. Penny has showing Ellen the history of College Point Center since they bought from Bar's Auto Parts Shop in May 2003. It was a one story building and built by first owner Manhatten Bank in early 19 centry. This building is like a landmark in the center of College Point commercial area. When Penny and John bought it, they were thinking to renovate as a investment building. Since they went through many archietects consultations, Penny and John finally decided to convert one story to two stories with efficient interial design. The first floor can be used for store and the new second floor can be used as a center which can do everything in their dream. It could be a exhibition hall for John's photography. It could be an opera house for Penny's performance. It could be a big hall with professioan audio and video sound system and lights for exhibition. John and Penny spent a big efforts to deal with Con Edison to bring the gas pipe to the building. They had to deal with NYC Department of Water for the new Sprinkler system. Most importantly, they had past NYC Department of Building and to obtained the officail Certification of Occupancy on December 13, 2004, after 2 years hard work with renovation and new construction. Due to the overly working on the building, Penny Wang was illed and went on her unexpected operation for ovarian cancer on the same day, December 13, 2004. Luckly, Penny went through many times operations with chemo and radiation treatments, Penny went back to work effectively and produce some activities at the Center for the community.
Ever since John and Penny Wang has established their own self sponsored NYJPW Arts and Cultural Center at College Point, NYJPW has been highly recognized by many Queens public media.
Whitestone Times, World Journal, New York Community Times, Chine Prese, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao Daily Newshad a special report on the grand opening and John's photography exhibition. Queens Public Television had visited the Center and made a special "Queens Journal on John Wang Photography" and broadcasted on QPTV channel 35 and 36 several times. Within this 30 minutes program, John Wang introduced his photography, which are currently exhibited at the Center and also demonstrated the special techniques that will help interested viewer to learn how to make the lighting to shoot a picture. Thanks QPTV had promoted John's special talent on creative photography through QPTV Queens Journal program. This is the greatest honor that John has received recently and has encouraged John and Penny's hard work for the contribution to the community.
John & Penny Wang preciously converted QPTV 30 minutes "Queens Journal on John Wang Photography" and NYJPW Chinese Opera productions for the past nine years from VHS to DVD. Interested viewer please call John Wang or email Penny Wang for a free copy.
John & Penny Wang are appreciated Ellen Thompson's special report on Queens Tribune and list NYJPW College Point Arts and Cultural Center as one of Queens Culture Centers. John & Penny Wang will continue their dedicated contribution to the community to return the favor of recognitions of Queens Tribue, Queens Public Television, Whitestone Times, World Journal, etc. Interested viewer please check NYJPW College Point Arts and Cultural Center Special Report on Queens Tribune web site at
www.queenstribune.com.
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Queens Tribune The 2006 Q Culture - A Look Inside The Hidden Art Of Queens
Vol. 35 No. 35 Aug. 31 - Sept. 6, 2006
Building On A Dream - College Point Photo Gallery Delights By Ellen Thompson |
Queens Tribune Q Culture Cover Page
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The Article "Building On A Dream College Point Photo Gallery Delights" by Ellen Thompson
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John & Penny Wang Welcome Ellen Thompson at NYJPW College Point Arts & Cultural Center |
Penny Wang Gave a Walk Through to Ellen Thompson
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Penny Wang Spoke the History of NYJPW
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John Wang Gave a Detail tour of His Photography
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What a Nice Calligraphy and Painting on the Wall
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Every Photo Representing a Story
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Bringing a Lot of Memory Behind the Theme
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How was the Photo been Shot
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How to Make this Photo
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Ellen Likes Every Photo
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The Eye Included Centry Park New York Can See the World
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Number of Years Adds Up for the Selective Photos
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Very Difficult to Get a Good Shot
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The Curent Exhibition of John Wang's Photography at the Center
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John Wang Explainging the Detail Themes of His Creative Photography
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Ellen Thompson Asking Specific Questions
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John Wang Giving a Very Detail Answers
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John Wang & NYJPW Artist Ye Zhang & Sino American Television
Marketing Manager Tracy Zhao Happy Visiting
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John Wang Welcome Trace Zhao & Ye Zhang Visiting NYJPW College Point Center
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John Wang Welcome Trace Zhao & Ye Zhang Visiting NYJPW College Point Center
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John Wang Welcome Trace Zhao & Ye Zhang Visiting NYJPW College Point Center
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NYJPW Chinese Opera "The Orphan of Zhao" Rehearsal at
NYJPW College Point Center Before Building Renovation
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Penny Wang & Ye Zhang are rehearsaling "The Orphan of Zhao" befor NYJPW CP Center's Renavation
Ye Zhang Remembered the pilled paint falled on his head when the bus past by in front of the building
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Penny Wang & NYJPW Artists Rehearsaling "The Orphan of Zhao" at NYJPW CP Center on September 13, 2003
Photo Taking by John Wang from the Menzane in the back of the Big Hall before the renovation
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What a Amazing Difference of Before and After the Renovation of NYJPW Colleg Point Arts & Cultural Center
Renovation 11/03 - 09/04, NYC Department of Building Official Certificate of Occupancy on 12/13/04
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Bart's Auto Parts Store
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Removing the Temporary Metal Floor
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Chinese Opera "The Orphan of Zhao" Rehearsaling
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Hanging up the Customes for "The Orphan of Zhao"
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The Original First Floor is Under Construction
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The Original First Floor Completed Construcation
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The New Second Iron Floor
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The Original Roof to be Raised Up for New Second Floor
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The New Second Floor Just Covered with Cement
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The New Second Floor is Completed Built
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Penny Getting to the Roof from Back Stairs
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Workers Putting up the New Cooling System
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DEP & Con Edison Digging for Main Gas & Water Pipes
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DEP Digging on the Side Walk for Water Pipe
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Master Gas Pipe is Above Master Water Pipe
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Haray, Gas is in the Building
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Let's Close the Hole with Cement
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NYC Building Inspector Gave OK on Final Inspection
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The Original Window Bar Should be Painted with New Look
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The Original Back Ladder with
Metal Stairs
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The Current NYJPW College Point Arts & Cultural Center at 18 Avenue Corner Building
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This is the Building Locates at the Corner of College Point Boulevard and 18 Avenue, College Point, New York
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This is the New Second Floor with Every Details from John and Penny Wang's Artistic Design
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John Wang's Creative Photography Exhibition is Always Opened to Welcome Public Free Access
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Feeling Good in the Exhibition Hall with the Creative Photography, Romantic Lighting and Music Surounded
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Happy Hours Area Provides Plenty Drinks, Delicious Treats and Lovely Music for Many Happiness Gathering
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The Large and Wide Opened First Floor can be utilized by any kind of business with the corner building good location
This is the view from the front door entry look inside
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The Large and Wide Opened First Floor can be utilized by any kind of business with the corner building good location
This is the view from the back to the front entry
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