The work of more than 100 independent artists will be featured on the Governors Island Art Fair, opening this Saturday.

Every Saturday and Sunday this September, visitors to Governors Island can see musical acts, performance artists and interactive creative programs, in addition to the paintings, photographs, sculpture, video, and sound and object installation pieces that are displayed in the Third Annual Governors Island Art Fair. 

The Fair is presented by the 4 Heads, whose work has been presented on the Island in previous years. The art of more than 100 independent artists will be featured and displayed in Building 12, which was formerly used as military housing. Each artist is given his or her own room in which to present their work. 

The public is invited to view the fair every Saturday and Sunday in September from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free. The Fair kicks off this Saturday with an opening party, beginning at 11 AM.

 Johnson’s 90 foot mural in Pershing Hall depicts American military history.  A close look at these detailed murals reveals many notable national characters, some with particular connections to Governors Island:  

The familiar profile of founding father, George Washington

General Lee’s surrender to General Grant at Appomattox in the American Civil War

This gentleman is General Pershing, Commander of the AEF (American Expeditionary Forces) in WWI and namesake of the building that contains this mural.

A medical officer attends a wounded fellow officer in WWII. The officer, Frank R. McCoy, later became commander of Governors Island

Molly Pitcher is depicted here, representing women who fought in the American War for Independence.

A host of less well- known figures can also be found and a heap of symbolism:

This rakish figure represents the "carpetbaggers"-post Civil War northerners who moved to the south in the reconstruction era.

The plaque for this mural reads “the tragic dissolution of the South is the young woman clinging to a crumbled column”

This rose is noted as “symbolic of the romantic stories of the Mexican War”

Pershing Hall will be open to the public August 7-8 for the African Film Festival. Check out this excellent event and take a look at the fantastic murals while you are there.

The New New has transformed on of the Island's historic homes into a unique boutique filled with handmade items

Governors Island is pleased to be home to a wide array of artistic and cultural activities and programs for visitors of all ages to enjoy. 

This year, the New New, a group of independent Etsy artists and craftsman, have brought their unique artwork, jewelry, glass, ceramics and textiles to the Island and its visitors. 

Every Friday – Sunday through early September, visitors can stop by House 6 B in beautiful Nolan Park to see a treasure trove of homemade crafts that are available for purchase. Many of the pieces have been inspired by the Island itself,  as well as its history. Others reflect the Harbor or even the ferry terminal. You can see handbags, earrings, t-shirts, tea towels and more. 

All visitors are invited to stop into the Treasure Chest, speak to members of The New New and see these incredible handmade items.

Art underway outside the art center at Building 110

Every public access season Governors Island becomes an oasis for the arts — with sculpture, performance and diverse cultural experimentation to be experienced across the Island. As of this spring the opening of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s art center in Building 110 means that Governors Island has resident artists hard at work year round. In the months before public access the artists have been a welcome sight on the quiet Island as they take advantage of the sites, materials and inspiration the Island has to offer in every season. Now, their work and their process can be shared by the public throughout the public access months.

The New York Times highlights the Island art center in a June 1 article entitled, Exotic Isle for Artists, Right in City.

Exhibitions, open studios and performances will be ongoing throughout the season. For more information visit LMCC at  www.lmcc.net.

Click image to see video.

Our friends over at FIGMENT have a new video on the street, showcasing all of the awesomeness that is their multi-day participatory arts festival here on Governors Island. Ah SUMMER!! Click above to watch the video for inspiration. Then warm up your glue gun and get to work!

Ann Ha and Behrang Behin's photo rendering of a temporary pavillion for Liggett Terrace on Governors Island. Ice cream sold separately.

Earlier this year,  FIGMENT, The Emerging New York Architect Committee (ENYA) of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY) and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) announced a competition call for an architectural pavilion for the 2010 summer season on Governors Island.  This week they announced the selection of Ann Ha and Behrang Behin’s “Living Pavilion.”  Check out their website for more info and images. And if you’ve been inspired by your experience of art on Governors Island in the past, you’ll want to check out ELNYA’s Creative Conversation tonight: Public (Art x Space). Speakers from FIGMENT, the High Line and NYC DOT’s Urban Art Program will discuss the role of art in public space. We like that!

Public (Art x Space)

Wednesday, April 21, 6:30pm
WNYC’s Jerome L. Greene Performance Space
44 Charlton Street (at Varick Street)

Buidling 110 is right at Governors Island's front door

Today’s New York Times Arts Beat blog mentions that Governors Island ‘s first year-round occupants have moved into the upper floor of Building 110. More than 20 artists have set up work space as part of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council ‘s  newest artist residency program. Previous residency locations include the Woolworth Building, the World Trade Center and the Equitable Building; Governors Island’s building 110 is in fine company. Building 110, built in 1870 as a munitions storage facility, was converted over the years for a series of administrative uses. This past year, the upper floor underwent a remarkable transformation from a dark, partitioned warren of offices to the open, bright studio space for artists.

 The artists will work in a 16,000 square foot space with sweeping views of lower Manhattan unparalleled in the harbor. The LMCC space includes twenty studios, two dance rooms and a gallery where visitors to Governors Island during the public access season will be able to see installations from some of the artists on site.  In addition, the artists work spaces will be open to the public on and off throughout the season to get a glimpse of the artists’ processes.

 Many of the first group of both emerging and seasoned artists have been inspired by Governors Island and will be creating site specific work during their 5 month residency on the Island. Everyone on Governors Island is excited to have new neighbors during the spring, summer and fall seasons as well as the quieter winter months–at long last!

Thousands enjoy a concert on Colonels Row last summer

Friday’s New York Times City Room blog had a post about Governors Island’s potential to host classical music festivals,  much like  Tanglewood or other famed venues around the country. With its outstanding views of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan, and New York Harbor, along with  its large, open green spaces, Governors Island is a unique place to experience the arts. 

Over the past few years, Governors Island has become home to a diverse array of cultural activities and programs. The Island has hosted performing arts festivals,  concerts at Water Taxi Beach and on Colonels Row, site-specific dance performances, outdoor public art, and much more. 

"The Wind Nomads" art installation on the Parade Ground was a part of last fall's New Island Festival

As we move forward and prepare for another public access season here, we very much look forward to welcoming even more partners to bring new festivals, programs, and activities to hundreds of thousands of Island visitors.

One of the team's ideas to combat the effects of climate change on Lower Manhattan by creating new wetlands to absorb rising surf (Rendering courtesy of ARO and dlandstudio/MoMA from nymag.com)

In this week’s New York  magazine, Justin Davidson looks at five architecture teams’ proposals for soft-edge interventions that could combat the effects of  rising sea levels in NYC’s future. The concepts will be displayed in the Museum of Modern Art and P.S.1′s “Rising Currents” exhibition, which opens on March 24.  One of the sites that the teams are contemplating includes Governors Island. You can click here to see a slideshow of the teams’ ideas.

Last month, Leslie was a guest blogger on the MOMA/P.S.1 blog, Inside/Out,  and shared her perspective what the five zones look like from Governors Island. Take a virtual walk around Governors Island with her and learn more about each teams’ proposed plans.

Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) Summer Colony on Governors Island: “Five Days of Clay” by CMA

Improv Everywhere: “The MP3 Experiment” by Improv Everywhere

Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra: “Jazz Age Lawn Party” by Michael Cumella