This Saturday saw the launch of a new summer festival for NYC, with the inaugural Governors Ball bringing a lineup that included Big Boi, Girl Talk, Empire of the Sun, Neon Indian, and Pretty Lights to the increasingly popular offshore destination of Governors Island. With perfect weather blessing the festival grounds, spirits were high for the event, which had revelers dancing, soaking in the sunshine, and moving from stage to stage for continuous sets of fest-friendly hip-hop, indie pop, and electronic music. As many area festival attempts often fall flat due to poor execution, the Governors Ball was a pleasant exception to the rule, leaving us looking forward to its return next year. Check out our collection of photos from the event, revealing the sights and spectacles of the Ball, both onstage and off.
Governors Island turned into the West Egg for the second time this summer over the weekend thanks to Michael Arnella and his Dreamland Orchestra’s Jazz Age Lawn Party. The shot above of a ’30s-style Annie Hall was taken by Flickr user jwoodford35; click through for more old-school sartorial inspiration courtesy of the turned-out crowd.
M.I.A. had a lot riding on Saturday’s HARD NYC festival on Governors Island. Following disappointing reviews of her latest album and the cancellation of the LA incarnation of the event, this was a chance for her to soar back, phoenix-like, and reclaim her crown. Unfortunately, a poor sound mix and a thunderstorm that cut her set short saw to it that that didn’t happen. Fortunately, however, for the thousands of fans in attendance, the day offered plenty of other highlights to make the excursion more than worthwhile.
Governors Island is a tranquil, green oasis and former military base that’s also only a brief, free voyage from Manhattan or Brooklyn. Since 2007, the entire island has been open to the public on summer weekends, playing host to concerts and art events like the beloved, annual Figment. (This year’s takes place July 11-13.)
Beginning this year, Governors Island will be an art destination all summer long. When the island opens to the public tomorrow, visitors are invited to a two-day open house at Building 110 — an exciting new studio, performance, and exhibition space that is a project of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. The weekend will feature performances, screenings, and artist talks. Throughout the season, art lovers will also have the rare opportunity to explore works in progress at Building 110′s studios. Yesterday, LMCC gave Flavorpill an exclusive glimpse of this wonderful space and a chance to meet the talented and friendly artists at work there. Click through our photo gallery after the jump and makes plans to visit ASAP.
Summertime, and the living’s easy. Especially with visions of picnics and sunny skies dancing in your head. Now that we’re past two months of pouring rain, capitalize on some of New York’s most culturally inclined outdoor spots and pack a design-friendly lunch-to-go. Our top three al fresco locales and a roundup of picnic goodies after the jump. Read More »
This summer, Creative Time launches New York’s first public art quadrennial, PLOT, with The World & Nearer Ones, an exhibition on Governors Island featuring 19 individual artists and artist collectives from nine different countries. Minutes away from Manhattan and Brooklyn by ferry, Governors Island in New York Harbor was home to the US military for more than 200 years, but now its fortresses, officer’s houses, chapel, theater, and other sites hold contemporary art. Exhibition curator Mark Beasley divides the work, which engages the island’s history and future, between indoor and outdoor locales — making the discovery of the artists’ projects an adventure. Read More »
If you’re like the majority of Flavorpill staffers, then you took the ferry over to Governors Island to check out Figment this weekend. The annual three-day event — which converts the entire island into a temporary, large-scale collaborative artwork — is a mixture between walking through Jim Henson’s Labryinth, a PG-version of Burning Man, and the arts and crafts cabin at summer camp.
