Governors Island Blog

Starting this Friday, June 12th, the annual art mega-event known as FIGMENT* will be transforming Governors Island into a participatory art festival. The activities will include a Spontaneous Poetry session, a Circus Yoga Workshop, a music piece entitled Strong Woman and Amazons, and even a human sculpture. This list is extensive.

FIGMENT began in 2007 on Governors Island. That first year 2,800 people came to be a part of the event. Last year visitorship reached over 10,000 participants! FIGMENT ’09 is sure to be a huge success. The group has received two grants this year from The Fund for Creative Communities, and The Manhattan Community Arts Fund. David Koren, along with a substantial number of other volunteers, is largely responsible for the organization of the event.  In a interview with the Gothamist last year he describes where the name comes from, and how it relates to the festival: ”The name comes from Andy Warhol. He once commented that he’d like his tombstone to have only one word on it: “Figment.” Though Warhol never got his wish (he has a traditional grave marker), we hope that this event can build a bridge between the incredible history of the arts in New York, while pointing the way to the future, and helping New York to remain the center of the art world.”

Additionally, FIGMENT will be expanding their mini golf course “City of Dreams” to 18 holes. This weekend the Island will be alive with activity, and we hope you will be apart of it. There will be something for people of all ages. So now the question is: what are you bringing?

Filed under: Art on the Island Tagged: | Andy Warhol, City of Dreams, David Koren, Figment, Fund for Creative Communities, Gothamist, governors island, Mini golf, performance art, The Manhattan Community Arts Fund