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Queens artist explores Hispanic identity

A number of artists throughout Queens are also finding new avenues to explore and share their Hispanic identity. This includes Jaclyn Burke, a Native American and Mexican American artist based in Middle Village.
“I started to sell work and do commissions a lot more in the last two years,” said Burke. “I would say within the last two years I’ve learned and grown tremendously. I am now very aware of what kind of work I’m most passionate about creating and know how important art is not just for me but for creating community.”
Burke’s work is currently on display at the Fashion Institute of Technology in a new show entitled “Enroute”.
“I curated the show in honor of Hispanic Heritage month,” she said. “There are paintings, photographs, and fashion designs by fellow Hispanic and Latinx creators I’ve met at the Fashion Institute of Technology over the years.
“One of my favorite works in the show is by Guadalupe Perez,” she added. “She’s an artist who creates these whimsical paintings that are so surreal.”
Burke experiments with multi-media relating to her life, identity, mental health, human body, and emotional experience.
“Last year I was recently diagnosed with auto-immune diseases and found that that has affected my art-making process in a surprisingly positive way,” Burke shared. “I find that large movements and gestures are an enjoyable and gentle process on my body.”
Burke’s video piece “Roll the Dice” is the perfect example of the relationship that she has with her art. She shared that the title of the series relates to her life, as she “never knows how she’ll wake up feeling, and essentially it’s a ‘roll of the dice.’”
Burke is currently working on a project that combines a variety of mediums that include large-scale painting, drawing, installation, and performance.
“Hopefully it will create an immersive, and transitional experience for the viewer,” she said.

Ogle judgeship nomination a first for Queens

When she appears on the ballot in November, Andrea Sabita Ogle will be the first woman of Indo-Caribbean descent nominated by the Queens County Democratic Party for a judgeship.
Ogle and her family immigrated from Guyana. She grew up in Cambria Heights, studied at Queens College, and attended law school at Seton Hall University.
“I knew I wanted to help people, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in terms of practicing law,” said Ogle. “When I came into Family Court as a pro bono attorney and a private practitioner, I saw people who looked like us.”
Ogle has maintained a diverse private practice in Queens for more than 20 years. As Queens became more diverse, Ogle recognized the need to help people whose first language was not English.
“What I started to do is to think of ways that I could be responsive to the needs and concerns of the community,” Ogle explained. “I started working with various organizations to educate and help others and to improve diversity, tolerance and relationships in our communities.”
Ogle often gets invited to speak at various events on topics like domestic violence, women’s rights, and many more that she is passionate about.
For senior appreciation month, Ogle was a guest speaker at an annual senior luncheon sponsored by Councilman I. Daneek Miller, Assemblywoman Vivian Cooke, and District Attorney Melinda Katz.
“We presented on issues regarding wills, predatory lending, scams, domestic violence, elder abuse, the Cares ACT forbearance, and nursing home care,” she said.
Ogle has seen firsthand how the legal system impacts lives, and believes that public service is one of the most rewarding and gratifying endeavors one can undertake.
“It’s important that when people come before the courts, they’re treated with dignity and respect,” she said. “At the same time you must be impartial. It’s important they feel they have had a fair opportunity to be heard, even if they don’t get the result they want.”

St John’s streak snapped against Providence, but Bartlett’s PK beats Villanova in OT

St.John’s University men’s soccer graduate defender Lucas Bartlett has earned a spot on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll For the third time in a span of four weeks.
The Overland Park, KS native buried on a penalty kick less than two minutes into overtime to move the Red Storm past Villanova, handing the Wildcats their first conference loss of the season. Villanova entered the match sporting a 4-0-0 record in Big East play with all four of those victories coming via the shutout. The win marked SJU’s seventh clean sheet of the season, one in which Villanova managed just six shots on the day. On the season, Bartlett leads the Red Storm in scoring with four goals and ranks second on the squad with three assists. He is tied for sixth in the Big East in scoring and fifth in points (11).
Earlier in the week, Bartlett played all 102 minutes in an overtime loss at home against Providence last Wednesday night. After more than a month without a loss, the Johnnies saw their seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end at Belson Stadium, falling to the No. 25 Friars, 1-0, in double overtime.
The NCAA released its first official RPI of the 2021 season on Monday and St. John’s (8-3-1, 3-1-1) was positioned at no. 32. The Johnnies currently sit fourth in the 11-team Big East Conference standings.
Bartlett and the Red Storm will return to action on Saturday when they host Seton Hall for a 7 p.m. showdown at Belson Stadium on the Big East Digital Network. On Wednesday, October 20, the Johnnies travel to D.C. to take on the Georgetown Hoyas, who are ranked #1 by both the United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer.

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