Photo Installation At Jamaica Thursday at 165th Street

JAMAICA, QUEENS — As a kickoff to the Jamaica Arts Music Summer Festival in August, a photo exhibit will be held Thursday on 165th Street from Jamaica to 89th avenues. The “What’s up, Jamaica!” installation, which is sponsored by the Design Trust for Public Space, a nonprofit, will feature the work of Nat Valentine, a nearly 40-year veteran photographer from Hollis, from 12 to 7 p.m.

Valentine’s exhibit will feature 15 photos of past JAMS festivals showcasing past performers and personalities from Southeast Queens, like dancer Omar Edwards, saxophonist Craig Crawford and the late NY Page publisher Thomas Crater Jr., to name a few, according to the photographer.

Valentine said he was excited to have been selected for the installation that covers 15 years of the festival and is he is looking forward to seeing emerging talent perform.

“I feel very good about it,” said Valentine. “I hope people will be inspired by the exhibit and come out to this year’s festival.”

The JAMS Festival, which is Saturday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., is an annual street fair held on Jamaica Avenue from Parsons Boulevard to 170th Street that features classic cars, a farmers’ market, a children’s corner, a senior spot, live music on 164th Street, goods from vendors that showcase what they have along the 10-block stretch and of course a variety of food that highlights the World’s Borough diversity, according to Tyra Emerson, the executive director of Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, a nonprofit and one of the event organizers.

In the past 25 years, the seven-hour family-friendly event has often brought in approximately 100,000 in foot traffic annually throughout the day, helping to boost business for local entrepreneurs.

“People are ready to come out,” said Emerson, who hopes for the same foot traffic this year.

Like previous years, the precursor to the festival is the JAMS Under the Stars free concert, which will be on Aug. 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Rufus King Park located on Jamaica Avenue between 150th to 153rd streets.

“It’s a beautiful night of live music,” added Emerson. “The whole event is an initiative with Design Trust, 165th Street Mall, King Manor Museum and Cultural Collaborative Jamaica to create a different use for urban space.”

The city's Department of Small Business Services is another organizer.

“Celebrations of public art and public spaces can help drive our economic recovery forward," said SBS Commissioner Kevin Kim to Patch via email. "SBS is excited to see revitalization efforts in downtown Jamaica continue to grow, and to support the organizations helping to lead the charge.”

As for Valentine’s selection for Thursday’s exhibit, to Emerson it was a “no-brainer!”

“He’s the go-to photographer who has lovingly photographed so many different events in Southeast Queens,” said Emerson. “Along with supporting Nat Valentine, we will be supporting 15 small businesses and artists at tents outside 165th Street Mall.”

There will be craft artists at the exhibit, Moody Treats will sell cupcakes, a soul food restaurant will have food and Dawn Kelly of the Nourish Spot Juice Bar will be there too, added Emerson.

For more information about the exhibit visit neighborhoodcommons.nyc and to learn more about the JAMS Festival visit eventbrite.com.

This story was updated to reflect that Craig Crawford, not Clay Crawford is one of the performers and that Omar Edwards, not Savion, who he has performed with, is the other performer.