Field Trip: The Education Department Visits Governors Island
Jul 25, 2011
The Lower Manhattan and New Jersey skyline from the beach at Governors Island, July 2011. Photograph by Dina Helal
A Friday morning trip to Governor’s Island gave the Whitney’s Education Department a firsthand glimpse into some unique aspects of the New York contemporary art scene. A place steeped in American history, the island passed from Dutch to British to American control, serving as a base for both the army and the coast guard. Now protected as a historic monument, Governors Island nonetheless retains traces of its diverse past and former functions, many of which now serve as the inspiration for artists and arts programs.
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) is one organization taking advantage of the unconventional setting the island offers. Through its program Swing Space, LMCC has helped to create a thriving community of visual and performing artists just a short ferry ride away from Manhattan. The residency program on the island provides studio, rehearsal, and exhibition space for a period of five months, seeking to encourage experimental and collaborative approaches to artistic practice. Housed in a former munitions warehouse, selected artists can use their residencies in markedly different ways, whether it’s to create original work, or to hone an existing project.
Rehearsal of Deganit Shemy and Company, July 2011. Photograph by Dina Helal
The New York-based Israeli choreographer Deganit Shemy and her company currently occupy LMCC’s rehearsal space. Already a distinguished choreographer, Shemy’s current work is highly athletic, involving sequences of rapid tumbling and contortions. Her dancers execute every pose with conviction, wearing pads to protect their bodies from the demanding choreography. Shemy explained that while her work has a narrative element, the interactions between her dancers are the principal focus of each piece. The dances evolve as a series of vignettes rather than a linear story.
Members of the Whitney’s Education Department in front of one of Mark di Suvero’s massive sculptures, July 2011. Photograph by Dina Helal
A walk around the grounds of Governors Island revealed however that its contemporary art scene is not limited to the LMCC buildings. The massive steel sculptures of Mark Di Suvero, on view through September 25, offer a striking juxtaposition with the Victorian structures dotted throughout the landscape. In the old fort visitors can enjoy everything from a Civil War reenactment to an exhibition of electronic art installed in the former arsenal. It is clear from our visit that Governors Island has adopted yet another unique function, serving as a real laboratory for the creation and presentation of contemporary art.
By Elizabeth Pisano, Interpretation Intern