National fenestration manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems has a unique art exhibit on display at its corporate headquarters in Queens, New York City. Original design statues created by Taiwanese artist and sculptor Shih Pao Lin, representing the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig), can be seen in the showroom lobby. The statues of the Zodiac animals are built from recycled Metropolitan Transit Authority Metro Cards. The statues range in size from 3 feet tall to over 7 feet tall.
The Chinese Zodiac statues are on exhibit this summer in the lobby of Crystal headquarters at 31-10 Whitestone Expressway, just off College Point Boulevard in Flushing, Queens. Customers and the public visiting the Crystal product showroom are invited to view the art display anytime from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays.
Crystal's connection to art
A devotee of modern Asian art, Crystal Chairman and founder Thomas Chen sponsored the Chinese Zodiac art display. Through his family’s non-profit foundation, he has long supported artists and initiatives focused on contemporary Asian art. In 2021, Chen established a $1.1 million endowment at Queens College School of Art for scholarships, exhibits, and artists in residence to promote Asian culture and art. At Queensborough Community College and the Queens Museum, Chen supports many art programs and galleries. He also continues to develop Crystal Park, a 200-acre private nature and sculpture park in Dutchess County, New York, for family, friends and Crystal employees to relax in an outdoor setting and enjoy art installations by artists from around the world.
About the artist
Artist Shih Pao Lin, who is known for incorporating recycled materials in all his artwork, has created many sculptures and paintings that have been on display at the Crystal New York headquarters and other New York City locations. One of the most notable was at Crystal New York in 2019, the Tree of Hope, which is a 25-foot tall structure with an 8-foot diameter base comprised of 25,000 baseballs actually used and contributed by professional and recreational teams from 30 countries. The Tree of Hope was subsequently exhibited at several locations across the country. Lin has exhibited in Taiwan, Japan, Canada and New York City, earning numerous awards. His career has been featured in a TV documentary in Taiwan. Lin is the artist in residence at Crystal Park.