Governors Island is open every Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday (Memorial Day and Labor Day) through September 29.
Island is open from 10 AM to 7 PM.
A full schedule of 2013 events and programs is
below:
Ongoing Events and Exhibits
Children's Museum of the
Arts Free Art Island Outpost Program: May 25-September
29, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm
Join CMA's Teaching Artists for free
hands on art-making each weekend. Collaborate with
other visitors on a variety of themed art workshops including
painting, sound design, sculpture, animation, podcasting,
and more!! For more information visit www.cmany.org.
Rising Tide presented by the Sculptors Guild,
11 am to 5 pm
Almost six months after Hurricane Sandy,
artists across the region are still putting the pieces
of their lives back together, getting into their (in
some cases, devastated) studios, and creating new work.
This show will acknowledge rising tides of all stripes
(political, social, psychological) in the hope of drawing
attention to the new forms that result -- to the bright
and shiny treasures that have now washed ashore.
WWII & NYC: Photography
and Propoganda, Presented by the New York Historical
Society, June 15-September 2, 10 am to 6:30 pm
This exhibition paints a vivid picture
of life in war-mobilized New York, when virtually every
industry, institution and home was transformed into
a venture to support Allied victory. Through moving
black-and-white photos, iconic propaganda posters and
an authentic Victory Garden, experience what total war
meant for New Yorkers. Hands-on activities for all ages
will be offered beginning July 13th.
Empire Historic Arts presents Shipwrecked!
A History of Maritime Disasters in NYC Harbor, May 25-September
29
“Shipwrecked!” will
provide thousands of visitors to Governors Island an
inside look at local maritime mayhem. Using artifacts
pulled up from the depths of New York City's harbors,
and related sea and sailor materials, we will be creating
a story that will illuminate both the history of the
island and the surrounding areas. The exhibit includes
artifacts from public and private collections up and
down the Hudson, many never before seen by the public.
Better Than Jam: handmade
gifts shop: May 25- September 29, 11 am-6pm
For it's 3rd year, the Brooklyn boutique
of all locally handmade products, will be bringing the
creations of New York City's most talented artists and
crafters. BTJ will be moving back into one of
the beautiful and historic houses of Nolan Park
and the cute yellow victorian home will be filled with
the work of talented people, who have created some amazing
and original products just for the island shop. Visitors
will get to take home a tangible memento from their
Governors Island visit—a souvenir that was designed
and crafted nearby with the island in mind. FREE
family-friendly demonstrations and workshops on Saturdays
1-4, will be hosted by the Etsy New York Team, to teach
visitors some of their skills, used in creating these
unique products.
Mü-Math: The Mobile
Unit to Promote Mathematical Thinking,
11am to 5pm
Mü-Math returns for its second
summer on Governors Island with a baker's dozen of "hands
on, minds on" brain stumpers designed to engage children
from 8 to 80. Jump some taxi cabs, split up some
apartments, or figure out the missing number on a subway
car, you'll be entertained and maybe even educated along
the way.
FIGMENT 2013 Summer-Long
Installations, June 8-September 22
This summer, FIGMENT’s acclaimed
interactive Sculpture Garden, artist-designed Minigolf
Course and City of Dreams Pavilion welcome visitors
to the Parade Grounds to play with, dance around, contemplate
on, and experience these wonderfully imaginative installations.
One centerpiece of FIGMENT's summer-long installations
for 2013 is the Treehouse, expanded and returning to
Governors Island for a third year.
2013 also heralds the return
of the City of Dreams Pavilion: 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) proudly
present Studio
Klimoski Chang Architects’ Head
in the Clouds as the winner of the third annual
City of Dreams Pavilion Competition. Head in the
Clouds will offer visitors the chance to walk into
the clouds, experiencing them from the inside out.
This year's Minigolf Course is based on the theme "State of the Art." The artist-designed golf holes invite visitors to putt newer! faster! better!, and feel the spirit of visionaries past into the present with innovative ideas and breathless concepts of “the future.” For more information, visit http://newyork.figmentproject.org/long-term-
Lower Manhattan Cultural
Council Presents Building 110: LMCC’s Arts Center
at Governors Island, 11am-5pm
LMCC and its artists-in-residence welcome
audience to Building 110's Gallery and their studios.
Discover new artists, engage in the artistic process
and simply enjoy the art in this stunning setting this
summer. LMCC is also the lead presenter of the River
to River Festival, a four- week, multidisciplinary arts
festival throughout Lower Manhattan. For more information
visit www.lmcc.net
and rivertorivernyc.com.
Bike Governors Island
Experience miles of car-free biking.
Visitors can bring their own bikes or rent one from
Bike and Roll. Bike and Roll has bikes for all sizes
and abilities, including kids' bikes, kids’ trailers
and four-seater quadcycles. 1-866-RENT-A-BIKE or visit
bikeandroll.com.
MULTIPLE WEEKENDS
Hard Hat Tours of the New
Park and Public Spaces Under Construction, select weekend
afternoons
Take a hard hat tour with members of
The Trust for Governors ISland and the West 8 Design
Team to see the 30 new acres of Governors Island’s
park and public spaces under construction. Dates and
times of tours will be posted on govisland.com.
Vintage Baseball, Saturday
and Sunday May 25-26, Saturday, June 29, Saturday July
27, Saturday August 24 and Saturday, August 21
See baseball played as it was at the
turn of the last century! Visit the Parade Ground and
enjoy America’s pastime the way it used to be
played!
Pop Up Library presented
by Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library,
and Queens Library
Brooklyn, New York and Queens Public
Libraries parter 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 learn about what's
happening in each of the three New York City public
library systems.
Bike New York Classes, Saturday, June 1 and
Sunday, July 28, Saturday, September 7 11am
Learn how to ride a bike for the first
time or brush up on your basic biking skills with free
Bike New York classes on Governors Island. For details
and free pre-registration visit bikenewyork.org.
The Skate Truck NYC, Sundays in June, July
and August
The Skate Truck NYC provides roller-skating
equipment, helmets and safety equipment to skaters of
any age. Skate for fun. Skate for health. Skate for
life! For more information visit skatetrucknyc.com.
Writing On It All, June 16, 22, 23 and 30,
12pm-3pm
Writing on It All is a series
of participatory events where artists, writers, and
interested members of the public can come together to
write all over the inside of an out-of-use house in
Nolan Park. Participants explore the nature of writing
as collaborative, material, site-specific, and ephemeral.
Through prompts that support site-specific writing,
invited artists and the public will have the chance
to explore the relation between writing, history and
the constructed environment of Governors Island. For
more info on sessions and artists visit writingonitall.com
LMCC’s Open Studios: Visual and Performing
Artists at Building 110, May 25-26, July 13-14, September
28-29, 12pm
to 5pm
LMCC’s Open Studios make accessible
what is often viewed as the mysterious or secretive
process of art-making and offer visitors the unique
opportunity to tour artists’ studios, watch rehearsals,
attend readings, and speak with artists-in-residence
about their work and practice. For more information
visit Open
Studios.
Jazz Age Lawn Party: Saturday
and Sunday June 15 and 16th and August 17 and 18
Michael Arenella and His Dreamland
Orchestra invite you to the beloved Jazz Age Lawn
Party -- a dream of the 1920s nestled right in the heart
of New York Harbor! Now in its eighth year,
the event has become the quintessential outdoor celebration
of the Jazz Age and its living legacy. Under a
canopy of century-old trees, caressed by fresh sea air,
a delightful array of offerings abound throughout
the day including: live music and dance performances,
dance instruction for the hottest dance steps of the
time, games for all ages and a wide variety of 1920's
inspired refreshments and gourmet food for purchase.
Tickets are required for this event. Advance General
Admission tickets can be purchased at http://dreamlandorchestra.com/calendar.php.
If space is available, tickets will be sold at the door.
4 Heads Art Fair, weekends
in September
The 4 Heads take over dozens of rooms
in an historic building on Governors Island. More information
at 4heads.org.
4 Chambers Performances,
Saturdays and Sundays, July 6-July 21, 11:30 AM, 1 PM,
2:30 PM, 4 PM, 5:30 PM
4Chambers is a sensorial journey into
the human heart. Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects transform
Officers' House #15 in (Nolan Park) into an intimate
performance space with corridors that function as arteries
and veins leading to four discrete chambers. Guided
by six cast members, an audience of 12 moves through
the space, monitoring their own hearts throughout. Reservations
begin June 3rd, contact: Mercedes@jodyoberfelder.com
for more information.
ArtShare for HeartShare, Weekends in September,
11:30am to 5:30pm
This exhibition showcases the talents
and creative abilities of artists with intellectual
and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum
disorders, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and neurological
impairment. In addition to raising awareness of the
capabilities of the people with disabilities, our artists
continually progress in their art, expressing themselves
in beautiful and meaningful ways.
The ArtShare for HeartShare program is available
to artists in HeartShare Human Services of New York’s
developmental disabilities program. Participants in
the program are supported in their creative endeavors
by volunteer artists in residence and a dedicated committee
throughout the year. The program provides professional
quality arts materials and culminates in an annual exhibition
at the New Century Artists gallery, in Chelsea gallery
district of Manhattan. The annual exhibition will
be celebrating its 5th year of exhibiting
in 2013. This is the second year that ArtShare for HeartShare
will be exhibiting on Governors Island.
National Park Service Programs On Wednesdays and Thursdays
Hiking Through History: Governors
Island’s Historic District
Join the National Park Service for
a hike through the National Historic Landmark District
on Governors Island. Park rangers will guide you on
a 1.5-mile, 1.5-hour tour through over 200 years of
history in one of New York’s most historic and
beautiful places. Tours begin with the arrival of 10am
and 2:15pm Manhattan ferry.
Get Fortified: Exploring
Castle Williams and Fort Jay, 12:15pm
Learn about the rich histories of Fort
Jay and Castle Williams, two of the best-preserved forts
of their era, on this 1.5-hour walking tour. Explore
the depths of the powder magazine and the cells of Castle
Williams and climb to the castle’s roof and take
in a grand panoramic view of New York Harbor. Tours
begin with the arrival of the 12:15pm Manhattan ferry.
Artillery Thursdays, June
14-September 27
Great balls of fire! Learn about the
US Army's cannons on Governors Island during the 1800s.
This tour, which includes demonstrations, requires participants
to walk about two-thirds of a mile.
On Fridays
Programs for Youth: Bring
Them Back Alive! 10 am
Discover what life was like on Governors
Island and in New York City. Learn to drill like a Civil
War soldier and hear stories of the women and girls
of the time. Please call 646-241-2670 or email gois_information@nps.gov
to make a reservation. The program begins with the arrival
of the 10am Manhattan ferry, with return on the noon
ferry.
Ranger’s Choice Programs:
Spin the Bottle on History, 12:15 pm
Join a National Park Ranger and take
90 minutes to learn about a fascinating—and unexpected—aspect
of Governors Island history. Reservations are required;
visit nps.gov/gois or call for each week’s program.
National Park Service Special Programs
Saturday, June 22 Army Heritage Day
Re-enanctors and small displays bring
back a sense of Governors Island 200 year long history
as an Army post.
Saturday and Sunday August 10-11 Civil
War Heritage Weekend
With the 150th anniversary of the Battle
of Gettysburg and the New York Draft Riots, living historians
offer a glimpse of Civil War life as a solider with
camp, musket and cannon firing demonstrations.
ISLAND SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Saturday, May 25, Opening Day Family Festival,
12pm-4pm
Join the Governors Island Alliance
in Nolan Park for arts and crafts, musical and theatrical
performances, and harbor-education activities for kids.
Sponsored by the Governors Island Alliance. For more
information, visit governorsislandalliance.org.
Saturday, May 25, LMCC’s Open Studios:
Season of Cambodia "In Residence", 12pm
to 5pm
LMCC is proud to be a part of the Season
of Cambodia Festival, a city-wide initiative of Cambodian
Living Arts celebrating the arts and culture of Cambodia.
Join us in the Gallery at Building 110 and meet the
six Cambodian artists who have been in residence since
April 2013. For more information: Season
of Cambodia.
Saturday June 8 and Sunday
June 9, FIGMENT NYC, 10am to 6pm
FIGMENT is a free, inclusive, participatory
arts event held in multiple cities and drawing tens
of thousands of participants each year. Now in its 7th
year on Governors Island, FIGMENT NYC removes the barriers
of museum and gallery walls and entrance fees, and blurs
the lines between those who create and those who enjoy
art. At FIGMENT you will find works in every imaginable
medium including sculpture, installation, performance,
music, workshops, games, social experiments, and heart-stopping
technological innovations that change the way we see
the world… and visitors are invited to bring
something, too! FIGMENT NYC has been named the
Best Art Festival in New York by the Village Voice,
and BBC Travel writes, "If FIGMENT were a country, it
would be the happiest in the world—and I would
apply for citizenship immediately." See you at FIGMENT!
What are you bringing?
Saturday June 22nd, RECESS Badminton 12pm-5pm
Dust off those badminton rackets and
birdies as RECESS returns to Colonel's Row for their
infamous outdoor badminton challenge featuring 32 creative
organizations battling for the title of New York City's
supreme shuttle cockers! Festivities include free bike
rides, food vendors, a beer/wine tent and guest deejays.
Plus a few public courts. Visit http://www.recessnewyork.com
for more information.
Saturday, July 13 Come Out
& Play Field Day and Family Day at the Parade Ground
as part of the River To River Festival, 11am
to 5pm
City-sized fun for kids and adults,
Field Dy and Family Day events turn Governors Island
into a giant play ground for all. New games, new experiences,
and new takes on old favorites, Field Day and Family
Day give participants the opportunity to rediscover
each other and the city they call home through joyful
interactive play. For more information: Come
Out & Play.
Saturday, July 13: Rite of Summer presents Bang on a Can All Stars, 1 and 3pm Formed in 1992, the Bang on a Can All-Stars are recognized worldwide for their ultra-dynamic live performances and recordings of today’s most innovative music. Freely crossing the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music, this six-member amplified ensemble has consistently forged a distinct category-defying identity, taking music into uncharted territories. Performing each year throughout the U.S. and internationally, the All-Stars have shattered the definition of what concert music is today. Visit Bang on a Can
Saturday, July 20th: Metropolitan
Waterfront Alliance presents The City of Water Day Festival,
10am-4pm
A day of entertainment, education and
adventure celebrating our waterfront and its potential.
Enjoy free boat tours, children's activities, fishing,
the Waterfront Activity Fair, and more! For more information,
visit www.cityofwaterday.org.
Saturday and Sunday, July
27 and 28, 11am-5pm: New York City Poetry Festival
The Poetry Society of New York will
once again invite New Yorkers to come together
for this two day festival to celebrate NYC’s vibrant
poetry community. The event will include over
50 poetry organizations and 200 poets on its three
stages; a Vendor’s Village where local booksellers, artists
and craftmakers will sell their wares; a beer garden
sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery; healthy and delicious food
options; poetic installation art throughout,
and, of course, the Children’s Festival at
NYCPF, this year sponsored by Writopia!
Sunday, July 28: New York Hall of Science
presents Designing for Flight with NYSCI, 12pm-4pm
As part of the programming for the
summer exhibit, Design Zone, NYSCI will be going out
to Governor’s Island to run Designing for Flight,
a fun, design-focused day--exposing some of the
design and science involved in common and exciting forms
of flight. This science outreach event invites the public
to bring their own kites (BYOK) to fly, enjoy demos
by NYSCI Explainers, and experiment with making flying
machines.
Saturday, August 10: Rite
of Summer presents an Homage to
Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring: Ljova and the Kontraband
and Fireworks Ensemble, 1 and
3pm
LJOVA AND THE KONTRABAND is chamber-jam
music for the “remix generation”. As if
by alchemy, Eastern-European and Gypsy melodies, Latin
rhythms, Jazz-inspired improvisations, and deeply rooted
Classical forms are given new meanings in original compositions
that fearlessly forge a new direction, with a nostalgic
gaze towards the past.
Saturday Aug 24th RECESS Bocce
12pm-5pm
Itchy for bocce anyone? Join RECESS
for a day of outdoor fun in the sun as 32 creative organizations
put their lawn skills to the test, rolling and knocking
off each other's bocce balls on the makeshift grass
courts on Colonel's Row. Festivities include free
bike rides, food vendors, a beer/wine tent and guest
deejays. Plus a few public courts. Visit http://www.recessnewyork.com
for more information.
Sunday, August 25: The NYC Volkswagen Traffic
Jam, 10am
The Traffic Jam is a spectator-judged
vintage Volkswagen car show and picnic. With great views
behind a vibrant line-up of nearly 100 Beetles, buses,
dune buggies, Things, and other original VW's circa
1950's - 1970's, this car show is a one-of-a-kind event
for both the casual spectator and classic VW enthusiast. Because
show cars ride a ferry to get to the event, registration
is mandatory to secure a spot at the show. Registration
opens June 30th. Registration will be first-come, first-served. Car
Registration $20.00 and spectators attend for free.
Visit www.vwtrafficjam.com
Saturday and Sunday, August 31 and September
1, NYC Unicycle Festival, noon
The 2013 NYC Unicycle Festival rolls
onto Governors Island on Labor Day weekend. Activities
include races, competitions, exhibitions, a variety
of unicycle sports including unicycle basketball and
hockey, world-famous riders will display their skills,
and members of the public have the opportunity to try
one—wheel riding. nycunifest.com
Sunday, September 1: Rite
of Summer presents Rite a Thon, 12pm to 5pm
Performances by Pam Goldberg and Blair
McMillen in Colonels Row.
|
