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No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"If you've always wanted to step inside a high-security bank vault, you won't want to miss curatorial non-profit <a href="http://www.nolongerempty.org" target="_blank">No Longer Empty</a>'s latest exhibition in Queens. Called “How Much Do I Owe You?”, the installation transforms the long-vacant ground floor of the Bank of Manhattan Building in Long Island City into an art space exploring <a href="http://inhabitat.com/worlds-most-expensive-broom-made-from-hundreds-of-shredded-dollar-bills/" target="_blank">currency</a>, value and exchange. Inspired by the concept that money is a language understood by all, 26 artists from 15 countries were invited to create art pieces in the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/starbucks-transforms-historic-amsterdam-bank-vault-into-custom-hyper-local-coffee-shop/" target="_blank">bank’s lobby, teller areas, vaults and balconies</a>.1
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"Built in 1924, the Bank of Manhattan Building was the tallest structure in Queens until 1990, its clock tower rising over Queens Plaza.2
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"The exhibition brings <a href="http://inhabitat.com/canada-to-begin-phase-out-of-the-one-cent-coin-next-month/" target="_blank">currency</a> back to the abandoned lobby, which was the bank’s headquarters until it moved into Manhattan proper.3
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"The sprawling double-height lobby has been enlivened with art works made from the colorful repurposed currency notes of the world. Visitors are greeted with a plexiglass box, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/trashed-beer-cans-become-butterflies-in-flight/" target="_blank">swirling with butterflies</a> cut from paper currency which move on their own through ventilator gusts.4
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"<a href="http://inhabitat.com/lottery-tickets-transformed-into-beautiful-works-of-art/" target="_blank">Ghost of a Dream</a>’s oversized “The Price of Happiness” dominates the right wall of the room.5
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"Upon closer investigation, visitors will find that the bright patterned wall is actually made from losing lottery tickets and outdated bank notes, given a new purpose after being rendered worthless.6
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"Guests can also draw their own “fundred” <a href="//bit.ly/10ccEPe @google" target="_blank">dollar bills</a>, which No Long Empty hopes to exchange for cultural funding <a href="http://inhabitat.com/canada-now-issuing-durable-and-recyclable-plastic-polymer-banknotes/" target="_blank">dollars</a>.7
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"The once prohibited areas of the bank are also open for exploration, including a sound and video installation in the balcony rafters, which reveal the original Corinthian columns that were covered up by a 1980’s renovation.8
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"Visitors can even explore the original 1920s vaults, which have each been transformed into individual installations.9
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"The incredibly expansive exhibition is on view until March 13th, and includes an ongoing calendar of events, tours and workshops that are free!10
No Longer Empty "How Much Do I Owe You?"A full list of events can be found on their website.11
