Monday, June 13, 2011

Good Show: Figment Art On Governors Island

Hundreds (thousands?) of people got the same idea we had when it didn't rain after all on Sunday -- we took the ferry from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park to Governors Island for the annual Figment Art Show.

Figment is a feel-good art event where hundreds of art projects, plays, performances and improv experiences take place all over the island. Governors Island is magic anyway, so add some art and it's just about perfect.

Many of the participants wear costumes.

A lot of the works use recycled materials. The piece above, for example, is called "Plastic Fantastic" -- a geodesic dome made from over 6,000 used water bottles. People kept contributing their bottles all day.

Or you could write a message and put it in a bottle, like these inside the dome.

The True Mirror Palace was one of our favorite exhibits. You never think about it but normally, when you look into a mirror, you actually see yourself backwards. Subtle irregularities make the two sides of your face slightly different. So your true image looks different than your mirror image.

But when you look into a True Mirror, you see yourself the way you really are -- the way other people see you. You probably look better than you think. (Or at least different.)

It was a great day. If you missed the show, you can still experience a little bit of it when you visit Governors Island. Some of the exhibits, like the mini-golf course and the tree house, will remain up for the summer. (Here's a list of these pieces.)

Here's a list of all the exhibits and happenings that took place at this year's Figment.

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

7 comments:

chickenunderwear said...

I was there too!

http://whatyourdonotknowbecauseyouarenotme.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-cant-get-enough-of-governors-island.html

mcbrooklyn said...

Hey we go to a lot of the same places.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes on Monday morning I'm convinced McBrooklyn is stalking my weekends. Clearly, we all have good taste in fun activities. So far, we haven't appeared in any McBrooklyn photos. Yet...

For next year, you may want to mark down the World Science Festival in the NYU area, and the Dance Parade that ends in Tompkins Square Park. Both were great fun, free activities and Kostume Kult (the giant toad in your photo) was there, too, along with the neon colored Electric Bubble Bus.

mcbrooklyn said...

We have been wanting to go to the World Science Festival since we heard about it last year. Somehow we've missed two now, but we aim to go next year. Dance Parade? Sounds great, especially if it features giant toads and electric bubble buses. Let us know when you see yourself in our photos. We'll circle you in red.

Anonymous said...

Here's the Dance Parade info http://danceparade.org/EE/

Here's a quick hit for the Electric Bubble Bus
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Electric-Bubble-Bus/115148698519034

I don't want to be circled--we want to remain anonymous!

And next time you go to Governors Island, I highly recommend the trapeze class. It is waaay hard, but waaay fun to do (but you'll likely be sore the next day or so). I'd post my video, but I'm anonymous...

mcbrooklyn said...

Thanks for the info, Anonymous. Going to try hard to make the Dance Parade next year. So you did the trapeze huh? Hmmn, now we're going to have to think about this . . .

Anonymous said...

If you don't want to wait for the trapeze at Governor's Island, you can always do it on the West Side, either outside by the Hudson River or indoors on or about West 30th St (just Google Trapeze School). It is fun, and safe, but hard to coordinate your body while inertia and gravity seek to do what your mind is uncomfortable doing (ie handing by your arms).

See you at the Mermaid Parade this Saturday.