Want To See Some Modern Art? Hop On A Ferry To Governors Island

Governors Island is an ideal day trip for artistic inspiration. Its offshore location, nature walks and historic buildings make you think you’ve traveled back in time to another part of New York. We recommend visiting the growing number of galleries open to the public. Here are some of our favorite exhibits that are free to explore through October.

Blessing of the Boats

Located within the new Lower Manhattan Cultural Council building, the “Blessing of the Boats” interactive sculpture by Muna Malik invites everyone to fold their own paper boat (supplies are available on tables surrounding the piece) and answer the following question: “We have an opportunity to set sail towards a new future—what society would you build and how do we get there?” The boat sculpture includes slots around its perimeter where participants can drop their own boat design into the mothership. Open Thursday-Sunday, 12-5pm.

The Forever Museum Archive_Circa 6000BCE

Onyedika Chuke’s multimedia piece about systems of power, culture and religion is located on the ground floor of LMCC Arts Center. We recommend sitting down in various places along the labyrinth of pews to fully appreciate the piece’s deeper messaging.  

The May Room / Church

Take a walk down the island to see how British artist Shantell Martin transforms the former Our Lady Star of the Sea chapel into two intertwined art pieces: a playful black and white mural on the church’s exterior and a whimsical floor labyrinth that guides visitors along the light-filled interior. Open Friday-Sunday 10:30am-4:30pm.

Wave

We come full circle in Governors Island Nature-vs-Modern Art with Meg Webster’s take on nature, including an actual living nursery in partnership with the GrowNYC Teaching Garden. Open Thursday-Sunday, 12-5pm.

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