Leslie Wayne treats oil paint as a material to be built, folded and peeled rather than spread, so her works read as sculpture that happens to be made of pigment. Seeing them in the Arts Center's converted island rooms, with the harbor visible outside, sharpens the tension between control and collapse. It anchors the 25th edition of River To River and stays up for weeks after the marquee performances wrap.
What to expect
The Arts Center sits in a converted building on Governors Island, open to visitors on weekend afternoons alongside LMCC's artist residency studios. Gallery attendants are on hand, the rooms are quiet compared with the rest of the island, and the visit takes well under an hour — leaving the rest of the day for the ferry-and-hammock version of the island.
Good to know
- Ferries run from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street and from Brooklyn's Pier 6 and Red Hook.
- Admission to the exhibition is free; you only pay the ferry fare.
- The Arts Center opens on weekend afternoons only, so a weekday island visit will not include it.
- The building is a short walk from Soissons Landing and is step-free at the entrance.
- Pair it with the island's outdoor public art commissions, which are free and always on view.
- Check the last ferry back before you settle in; return schedules tighten in the evening.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
What is River To River Festival?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's free summer arts festival, now in its 25th year, presenting performances and installations across Lower Manhattan and Governors Island from July into September.
Is the exhibition free?
Yes. Admission to The Unintended Blues at The Arts Center is free. The only cost is the Governors Island ferry fare.
What kind of work is Leslie Wayne known for?
She manipulates oil paint into folded, layered and peeled three-dimensional forms, producing pieces that behave like sculpture while remaining, technically, paintings.
More this weekend
