An arts organization in Long Island City was denied a temporary liquor license for a dance party on Saturday advertised as going “very late.” The event went on, but without a bar.
Saturday’s party, called Pearly’s Beauty Salon hosted by Artists Wanted, a for profit business that helps artists gain recognition, was put on by Bushwick-based painter, collage-maker and performer Swoon. She and her band of helpers mixed art and beauty salon services to raise money to transform a dilapidated church in Braddock, Pa., into a community center with an emphasis on the arts. Hair dioramas were done by a sculptor, makeup by an artist, nails by a painter and paraffin dips by performance artists.
Artists Wanted had hoped that guests could have sipped cocktails while transforming their nails, but the State Liquor Authority denied the group a temporary license on Aug. 29, just 10 days before the event. The SLA cited previous noise complaints at that location, Community Board 2 Vice Chairman Pat O’Brien said.
Artists Wanted representatives say they opened up the gallery space in the old Bank of America building at 26-01 Jackson Ave. in May. Nevertheless, Artists Wanted Founder William Etundi Jr. is associated with noisy events that happened a year ago, O’Brien said.
“We never got full answers to those questions,” O’Brien said, about how Artists Wanted was involved in those celebrations before it says it located to the gallery. “I’m still a little confused.”
Businesses do not need to notify their community board when applying for a temporary liquor license. The SLA made an exception because of complaints made by neighbors and the board about parties held at the Jackson Avenue spot and told the group to talk to CB 2.
As per SLA requests, Jeffrey Aldrich from Artists Wanted visited the monthly CB 2 meeting on Thursday, asking the board to tell the SLA that it would be OK to issue a license for the event.
In executive session that night, the board discussed the issue and came up with a compromise to allow alcohol, but to increase security at the party and close down the bar early. The state authority had to be notified that an agreement had been reached by 5 p.m. the next day.
Artists Wanted agreed to the stipulations after discussing them Friday morning, told the board, who told the SLA, but “there just wasn’t enough time in the day,” O’Brien said.
The business did not answer further questions about the license, but Anna Frangos of Artists Wanted said, “The event went really smoothly. The artists and patrons appeared to be having a wonderful time. Lots of smiles all around.”
Another point of contention on Thursday with the group was why it isn’t more rooted in the community.
“[The exhibition space is] right around the corner from MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, home to a dynamic art community that we’re thrilled to be a part of,” the organization’s website touted.
CB 2 Vice Chairman Steve Cooper asked Aldrich if there were any Queens artists participating in Pearly’s Beauty Salon. Aldrich replied vaguely that they were from all over New York City.
“They were portrayed as local artists, but we see local differently,” CB 2 Chairman Joe Conley said.
