One More Week to Visit Governors Island!

The 2014 public season, which opened Governors Island to visitors seven days a week for the first time in history, is ending on September 28th.

That means you have exactly seven days left to take a trip to Governors Island!

Nine days left to bike in the new 30 acres of park on Governors Island. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Governors Island this week will be filled with events and exhibitions to help you wrap up the summer season!

Ride a Bike with Free Bike Mornings! 

Enjoy free bikes on Governors Island for one more week! Free Bike Mornings allows visitors to borrow a bike for free for up to one hour on any weekday. Bikers will be able to enjoy miles of bike paths, including new paths in the 30 acres of park that look upon the Statue of Liberty. Visitors are also able to rent bikes or bring a bike on the ferry at no extra charge.

“A Portrait of Marina Abromovic” by Matthu Placek in Fort Jay  

Matthu Placek is making his New York debut of his 3D video portraits on Governors Island this week! The piece, ” A Portrait of Marina Abramovic” will be installed in Fort Jay from September 25th through the 28th. Shot in one take and without dialogue, these short films offer rare, uninterrupted moments with subjects as they interact with symbolic surroundings. 3D cinematography enhances the intimacy of the vignettes, further collapsing the space between the viewer and the subjects’ essential natures. Screenings are every 15 minutes to groups of 6 people by reservation. To make a free reservation please visit www.130919.eventbrite.com

LMCC Open Studios 

The LMCC gallery exhibition ““Embodied Practice and Site-Specificity” about Trisha Brown’s Work. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Explore the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s many programs this week on Governors Island. In the LMCC gallery (building 110), you will find an exhibition on the work of Trisha Brown. Over in the St Cornelius Church, you can experience the development of Rachel Tess’s “Souvenir” during open studio hours every day this week (12PM-4PM). LMCC describes the performance: “the project investigates the relationships between architecture and choreography and choreographer and audience. The work more specifically explores the concept of a mobile architecture versus pre-existing institutional structures and how this design may impact the making and viewing of performance.” This coming weekend is the LMCC Open Studio Weekend. There will be art’s activities and open studios at four unique sites, including Governors Island. See more information here.

Hammocks and Food vendors!

This is your last chance to nap in a hammock and take a hammock selfie! With the weather forecast estimated to be 70 degrees all week, it is the perfect time to snuggle in Hammock Grove and maybe bring a book. Afterwards, stroll over to Kings Ave and Liggett Terrace to the many food vendors for a quick bite. Get a taste of Snowday and decide if they deserved their recent Vendy Award (p.s. they totally did). Then back to the hammocks to sleep off that Snowday maple grilled cheese!

September 27th Governors Island Kite Festival 

Bring your kites or make one during the Governors Island Kite Festival! Brooklyn Artery, CMA, and the Brooklyn Kite Fest are coming together to bring you a Governors Island Kite Festival. There will be music, refreshments and fun to be had for the whole family.  All activities are free. The festival will run from 11-4PM.

Explore Nolan Park

Explore everything that makes Governors Island great  by heading to Nolan Park. The historic area is the home to 19th century Army officers houses. Today, these faded yellow buildings become the summer home for many arts and cultural organizations. Find handmade items for sale at Brooklyn Artery or Better than Jam, or see exciting exhibits at the New York Historical Society house and the International Center of Photography gallery. See further information on the more than 12 organizations in Nolan Park here. 

The Governors Island Art Fair

Sabrina Barrios, “How to Build a Pyramid.” Image courtesy of Hyperallergic.com.

The 4 Heads Governors Island Art Fair will be open one more weekend. Already reviewed by the NYTimes, ArtNET, Gothamist and more, the Governors Island Art Fair is not to be missed! Around 100 rooms within the historic buildings in Colonels Row have been transformed by paintings, sculptures, video and sound installations, and other installation works. The Governors Island Art Fair is run by artists and has recently headed to Kickstarter.