GovernorÂ’s Island
Now that the ferry is now operating to and from Governors Island, you should take the free ride over to this little publicized oasis of pastoral calm. Although in the heart of New York Harbor only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan and even closer to Brooklyn, it’s a world unto itself. For almost two centuries, Governors Island was a military base home to the US Army and Coast Guard but closed and mothballed in 1996. In 2003, the federal government sold most of the 172-acre island (about 22 city-blocks long) to New York State for $1. Today, plans are being made to develop it into a new public open space. The following 2 art exhibits on display until Oct. will have you brainstorming just what this island park can offer and what it will look like:
In Site
Cutting edge sculpture using remnants of military architecture and pastoral landscaping, members of the Sculptors Guild will enhance twenty-one outdoor sites as well as all three floors of a 3,500 square foot historic house. Artists have also created a collection of short animation and video screenings that will be shown to visitors onboard the Governors Island ferry during their ride over. Exhibiting member artists will periodically conduct walking tours offering first-hand insight into the creative process and stories behind many of the works. Educational work shops are also planned giving people of all ages and artistic backgrounds opportunities to try their hand at creating three-dimensional sculptures inspired by their own island experiences. At different times, an artist-in-residence will be available for questions regarding specific artwork and its progress.
Emergence
Figment, an artists’ collaborative deriving its name from Andy Warhol’s wish that he’d like his tombstone engraved with this one word, has transformed Building 14, a military edifice built on the island in 1900, into an interactive living exhibit. Using the theme of emergence or revitalization as it applies to Governors Island’s planned transformation; more than 30 artists evoke their visions through diverse media ranging from installation art, aerial kinetic sculpture, to interactive multimedia.
Island open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 31st until October 5th. On Friday, the Island is open from 10 AM to 5 PM; on Saturdays and Sundays, open from 10 AM to 7 PM.
More information on PlanetEye: Governors Island
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