Art on the Island | Governors Island Blog

Governors Island opens this Saturday!

Posted on May 23, 2013 by hy0rk

This Saturday thousands of visitors can officially come out to Governors Island to explore all that it has to offer!
The island wil be open every Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday (Memorial Day and Labor Day) through September 29 from as early as 10am to as late as 7pm. With all that time to spend on the island, it would be a shame to miss even one of the amazing events available this season!
Below is a small sampling of some of this weekend’s activities:

Stop by the historic houses of Nolan Park for the Better Than Jam: Handmade gifts shop to take home some creations from New York City’s most talented artists and crafters.
Join CMA’s Teaching Artists for free hands on art-making.
Visit the “Shipwrecked!” exhibit and experience both the history of the island and the surrounding areas through artifacts from public and private collections.
Stop by the Parade Ground for the Vintage Baseball event and enjoy America’s pastime the way it used to be played!

And, of course, there is so much more! Check out the full list of events and programs and we look forward to seeing you on the Island.

Filed under: Announcements, Art on the Island, Bikes, Upcoming Events, Weekend | Leave a Comment »

Announcing the 2013 Season on Governors Island

Posted on May 16, 2013 by sarahpelosidunn

Governors Island’s summer season is right around the corner.

This year, programming will take place throughout the Historic District while we continue construction on the southern end of the Island. Ferries will once again bring visitors from Manhattan and Brooklyn, or you can also take the East River Ferry to the Island. Governors Island is open every Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday (Memorial Day and Labor Day) from May 25 through September 29.

As always, you can bring your own bike to the Island or they can rent one here. We will again be hosting a variety of food vendors each weekend, located in the King Avenue Food Court in the Historic District.

New Programs and Exhibits!

We’re welcoming several new programs to the Island this year, including the New York Historical Society’s WWII & NYC: Photography and Propaganda, which will paint a vivid picture of New York City life in wartime through photographs, posters, a Victory Garden hands-on activities for all ages beginning July 13th.

The Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Library are partnering with the Uni Project, New York City’s portable outdoor reading room, to provide books, learning activities, and children’s programs throughout the summer. Visitors will be able to borrow books “in house”, register for library cards, sign up for summer reading, learn more about the Uni, and find out about what’s happening in each of the three New York City public library systems.

Bike New York will also offer classes where visitors can learn to ride and brush up on their bike skills.

The highlight of the 2013 season will be a French festival of vintage carnival rides and carousels, opening in mid-July. The festival will take place in Nolan Park. More details about the festival will be released later this season.

Jazz Age Festival

Your Favorites Return!

This year we’re welcoming back some of our favorites including the Jazz Age Lawn Party, FIGMENT’s mini-golf, Tree House and City of Dreams Pavilion, and the Unicycle Festival. The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council will host a series of exhibits and open artist studios throughout the season. Visitors can also enjoy guided programs with the National Park Service, explore Castle Williams and Fort Jay and experience special youth programs.

Summer 2013 in the Historic District

All programming this summer will take place in the National Historic District. The southern half of the Island, including Picnic Point, will be closed (with the exception of hard hat tours). This will allow us to continue our construction of 30 new acres of park and public spaces, work on the Island’s seawall and potable water pipe, and demolition of non-historic buildings. The closure of the southern portion is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and an on-time completion of these projects, allowing us to improve the island for the next generation.

New Ways to View Construction Progress!

Those who would like to check in on our construction progress are in luck! There will be a Viewing Platform at Liggett Arch where visitors will be able to see the entire 30 acre construction site. The park and public spaces under construction include lively plazas, a shady botanic forest, two ball fields and expansive lawns. In addition, we will be offering free hard hat tours for the public on the last full weekend of each month.

For a full schedule of events and programs, up-to-date ferry schedules, information on our construction tour program, and downloadable maps, please visit www.govisland.com.

Looking forward to seeing you on the Island!

Images courtesy Arsenic & Old Lace (by Patrick Michael Hughes), the Governors Island Alliance, and istolethetv.

Filed under: Announcements, Art on the Island, Bikes, Construction, Governors Island 101, Upcoming Events, What's New? | 4 Comments »

Use Kickstarter to Bring Your Project to Governors Island

Posted on April 24, 2013 by sarahpelosidunn

Zachary Landsberg’s Face of Liberty. Image Courtesy Shaun Hoke

We welcome a wide range of projects to Governors Island so we can create unique experiences for our visitors each season. To help expand the projects on Governors Island for the 2013 season and beyond, we have joined forces with Kickstarter! Kickstarter is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Creators who use Kickstarter are able to make their ideas reality, while maintaining complete creative control of their work. We are committed to hosting any project that gets funding and fulfills our permit requirements. For more information on bringing projects to Governors Island and to download permit requirements, visit our website.

Some of our favorite events were brought to Governors Island using Kickstarter. The Face of Liberty, a replica of the Statue of Liberty’s face, built to scale, sinking into the grass at Governors Island was fundraised through Kickstarter. The Face of Liberty was featured on Governors Island as part of the Figment Festival’s Interactive Sculpture Garden in 2012.

Head In the Clouds Construction Day 3. Image courtesy of FIGMENT

This year, STUDIOKCA exceeded their $9,000 Kickstarter goal to raise money for the Head in the Clouds Pavilion that will be featured as part of the FIGMENT Festival this summer on Governors Island. The architectural pavilion will be made from 53,780 recycled and re-purposed plastic bottles—the same number that is thrown away in New York City in one hour.

Filed under: Art on the Island | Tagged: Figment, Head in the Clouds, Kickstarter, sculpture, STUDIOKCA | Leave a Comment »

Pulblic Art Fund Talk: Susan Philipsz / March 20

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Ellen

Susan Philipsz, Study for Strings, Documenta 13 Courtesy the artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

Susan Philipsz, aTurner Prize – winning sound artist who will be presenting Governors Island’s first piece of permanent public art when we open the new parks and open spaces this fall, is giving a talk at the New School next week. Get there!

When: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 6:30pm

Where: The New School, John Tishman Auditorium

66 West 12th Street, NYC (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Admission: $10; FREE to all students with valid ID and New School faculty, staff and alumni

To purchase tickets, visit PublicArtFund.org

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Archipelago: Works by 17 artists of the LMCC’s Governors Island Artists-in-Residence Program

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Ellen

Seventeen artists of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Swing Space residency program present Archipelago, a collective exhibition of recent work. Curated by Kaegan Sparks, the exhibition will culminate the participating artists’ fall 2012 residency at Building 110 on Governors Island.

On view January 17 to 27, 2013 at the Westbeth Gallery, 55 Bethune Street @ Washington Street, New York, NY 10014

Open Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 6pm

Filed under: Art on the Island | Leave a Comment »

Bill’s Design Talks: Graphic Design – Now in Production

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Elizabeth

Check out Bill’s Design Talks about “Graphic Design- Now in Production,” the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s exhibition on Governors Island this summer.

Many Governors Island visitors have already headed over to Building 110 to visit the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s Exhibition “Graphic Design – Now in Production.” The exhibition was co-organized by Cooper-Hewitt and Walker Art Center and explores some of the most vibrant sectors and genres of graphic design today.

On June 28, you can join Bill Moggridge, Director of Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and Walker Art Center Curator Andrew Blauvelt as they lead a conversation with designer Dimitri Nieuwenhuizen. Nieuwenhuizen is a member of Lust, the Dutch design collective that created the large-scale interactive project Posterwall for the Twenty-first Century, which is featured in the exhibition.

Learn more about how designers today are rethinking the aesthetics, process, and public of graphic design by creating their own software and systems. Register to attend the talk from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on June 28 at the Greene Space at National Public Radio.

Filed under: Art on the Island, Upcoming Events | Tagged: Bill Moggrdige, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Exhibition, Design Talk | Leave a Comment »

This Weekend: FIGMENT NYC Festival

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Elizabeth

This weekend Governors Island is hosting the annual FIGMENT NYC Festival which features “an explosion of creative energy” where visitors can observe and interact with over 200 artists located in different areas around the island! The Treehouse, unique miniature golf course, and interactive sculpture garden will stay until September 23. Both kids and adults will enjoy this creative, crowd-pleasing festival!

Here is a link to learn more about the many artists and projects that will be featured this weekend: http://newyork.figmentproject.org/figment-nyc-2012/figment-nyc-2012-artists-projects/

Other on-going events to check out around the island:

See an acclaimed performance of “Amelia” in Fort Jay at 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are required but they are free!
Visit the top of the newly re-opened Castle Williams with a National Park Service Ranger. Timed tickets are free and available at the gazebo outside of the Castle.
Stop by Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s incredible exhibition “Graphic Design – Now in Production” in Building 110
Head over to the Governors Galleries to stop by Better than Jam’s Pop Up Shop, bring the kids to Mu Math for some fun and interactive riddles and math games, and see exhibits by the Sculptors Guild, Empire Historic Arts and Storm King Art Center.
Visit the goats and chickens and learn more about composting at the Earth Matter Compost Learning Center near Picnic Point.

Filed under: Announcements, Art on the Island, Things people do in parks, Upcoming Events, Weekend Report | 2 Comments »

Art Abounds in All Corners of Governors Island

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Elizabeth

: The “Designs for Living” exhibit by Empire Historic Arts features couture fashions and antique wallpapers.

Many visitors to Governors Island have seen the incredible Mark di Suvero exhibition by Storm King Art Center, but did you know that there are nearly a dozen historic buildings that have been transformed by exhibitions this season?

Houses in Nolan Park and Colonels Row are being used by groups such as the Sculptors Guild, Harvest Works, Children’s Museum of the Arts, West Harlem Art Fund, the New New, Empire Historic Arts, the National Academy of the Arts and Storm King Art Center. These groups have created unique, dynamic visual arts exhibitions, interactive and sound installations for visitors to enjoy.

The West Harlem Art Fund has taken over Building 17 in Nolan Park with an exhibition entitled "Loosely Coupled"The New New features homemade creations in their shop in Nolan Park.

Be sure to stop by any house with a blue “Visitors Welcome” flag to see what they are all about. And, more groups will be presenting new works before the end of the season. In just a few weeks, the 4 Heads, will bring their Art Fair to Building 12.

Filed under: Art on the Island | Tagged: art exhibits, historic houses | 2 Comments »

Spend Your Weekend Listening to Poetry on the Island!

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Nina Quattrocchi

Poetry is usually heard in dark bars and small coffee shops, but we’re excited to present poetry in a new venue – outdoors on Governors Island! We are proud to host the first annual New York Poetry Festival, a free celebration of the poetry world of NYC. The festival is this Saturday, July 30^th and Sunday, July 31^st, starting at noon each day and going until 5pm.

The New York Poetry Festival is this Saturday and Sunday from noon - 5pm

There will be over 30 reading series and 100 poets on the Island! For the poetry schedule, click here. There will also be food, wine, and beer vendors on site to keep you happy all afternoon.

For those of you who prefer your poetry at night, there will be a Pre-Fest Party and Fundraiser at the Bowery Poetry Club on Thursday, July 21^st, 8pm-2am. Tickets to this event are $10 and help support the free festival. Listen to poetry and dance the night away to live jazz with Shawn Randall and tracks from DJ Eliel Lucero.

Whether you’re an avid poetry lover or don’t know the difference between a sonnet and a haiku, come enjoy the day in the middle of the New York harbor.

Filed under: Art on the Island, Things people do in parks, Upcoming Events | Leave a Comment »

FIGMENT Returns to Governors Island

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Elizabeth

Visitors love FIGMENT's artist designed miniature golf course.

FIGMENT, now in its fifth year on Governors Island, returns this weekend with a wide range of participatory arts projects taking place all over the Island.

This year, Figment participants will enjoy favorites from years past as well as surprising new projects like Plastic Fantastic, a 16-foot geodesic dome made from over 6,000 post-consumer water bottles; The Anywhere Organ, a giant, mobile, electronic pipe organ built out of recycled parts from discarded church organs; and Seeing Inside, a puppet theater hidden inside a dress – all in addition to scores of spontaneous performances, art and activities for all ages.

In addition to this weekend’s activities, Figment has three long term exhibitions, including the very popular miniature golf course (with a theme of “Bugs”), an interactive sculpture garden, and the Burple Bup Pavilion.

So come out to the Island anytime today-Sunday to participate, experiment and explore!

Filed under: Art on the Island | Tagged: Figment, Mini golf | 3 Comments »