Rest/Play

Fea­tur­ing works by Arlene Shechet, Hank Willis Thomas, Nina Chanel Abney, Lenka Clay­ton & Phillip Andrew Lewis, Sam Falls, and more to be announced.

Rest/​Play invites vis­i­tors to expe­ri­ence Gov­er­nors Island like nev­er before — bal­anc­ing moments of relax­ation with bursts of cre­ativ­i­ty and joy. The exhi­bi­tion, spread across the Island’s 120 acres of open space, is a cel­e­bra­tion of how we spend our time in this unique space, whether it’s unwind­ing or immers­ing our­selves in dynam­ic art. 

Rest trans­forms the Island with artist-designed seat­ing that merges cre­ativ­i­ty with func­tion. These inno­v­a­tive works not only pro­vide a place to sit and refresh, but also offer a chance to pause, reflect, and recon­nect with the sur­round­ing nature. Play brings ener­gy and col­or to the Island, with bold, inter­ac­tive art­works that spark joy and inspire deep reflec­tion. The vibrant use of form and hue cre­ates a sen­so­ry expe­ri­ence that refresh­es both body and mind. 

Rest/​Play is curat­ed by Lau­ren Haynes, Head Cura­tor of Gov­er­nors Island Arts and Vice Pres­i­dent at the Trust for Gov­er­nors Island.