Art & Architecture on the Big Apple's Island

Governors Island 

Imagine escaping the hustle and bustle of city life and sailing off to a stunning island that’s also a hive of art activity – in just 10 minutes. Well, I’ve discovered that if you live in New York, you can do just that! Governors Island is a former military base and a national park that has been transformed into a cultural destination. All it takes is a short hop on a ferry to get to this picturesque art and architecture hub where you will find a host of art galleries and coffee shops – always an excellent combination!

On an Art Expedition

​Enthralled by the island’s colourful history and the promise of art, I decided to take a trip to see it for myself. I took the ferry and was there in a flash. Although it is mere minutes away, it felt like I was transported to a different country. Away from the buzz of New York, Governors Island is an oasis of tranquility. There were no cars, no advertisements, and no rubbish on the tree-lined streets. I hopped on a rented bicycle and started exploring.

​Historical Structures Transformed into Contemporary Masterpieces

My first stop was Nolan Park. Here I happened upon a timeworn stone chapel – Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion. Upon closer inspection, the chapel was so much more than met the eye. Inside I was delightfully confronted by a wave of black and white disks suspended from the ceiling. Named ‘The Eclipse’, the installation was designed by Jacob Hashimoto, a New York City artist. I learned that it was an adaptation of an installation that featured in the 57th International Art Exhibition in Venice. I was soon lucky enough to spot another one of Hashimoto’s pieces – this time in Liggett Arch, a former infantry housing space. Entitled ‘Never Comes Tomorrow’, the installation consists of decorated wooden cubes floating above the deep passageway of the arch, introduced by a colourful metal vortex. ​

The Joy of Finding Art in Unexpected Places

I continued on to Fort Jay where I was drawn to a colonial house. Out of sheer curiosity, I entered an open cellar door leading from the house. At first, I thought I had stumbled onto an archaeological site – I saw dirt, rocks and clay placed on scaffolding flowing through a tunnel. It turned out that New York artist David Brooks used geological samples from around the island to create ‘Rock, Mosquito, Hummingbird’. As I further explored the installation, it became apparent that the weaving lines of the structure (laden with rock samples) clearly represented the wavering movement of the mosquito and the frenetic flight of the hummingbird. Unexpected indeed!

​I Was Wandering, But I Wasn’t Lost

​As I continued meandering through the streets of Governors Island, I realized how effective public art hidden in plain sight is. I was inspired to imagine how it can be used to celebrate and encourage creative collaboration between an areas’ historical, geographical and architectural treasures. Can you imagine the urban fabric of every city transformed into a treasure trove of art and culture? I certainly can.