Anna Valdez makes work full of plants, birds and domestic objects, and Governors Island has given her a commission that stays up into 2027. Seeing it means a ten-minute ferry across the harbour and a walk through car-free parkland with the Lower Manhattan skyline behind you. If you want an art outing that is mostly outdoors and costs only a boat ticket, put this on the list.
What to expect
Ferries depart from Slip 7 at 10 South Street and the crossing takes under ten minutes. Once ashore you walk or cycle to the work; the Bloomberg Connects app maps every commission on the island. The South Island park, including the Hills, closes at dusk.
Good to know
- Ferries leave from the Battery Maritime Building, Slip 7, at 10 South Street
- Take the 1 to South Ferry, the 4/5 to Bowling Green or the R/W to Whitehall Street
- The artwork and the island are free; only the ferry costs anything
- Ferries have been running half-hourly rather than every fifteen minutes
- Download the free Bloomberg Connects app for the island's art map
- Bring water and sun cover; much of the island is open ground
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Common questions
Who is Anna Valdez?
An American artist known for densely patterned paintings and installations combining plants, animals and household objects.
Does it cost anything?
No. The island and the artwork are free; you pay only for the ferry.
How long is the ferry?
Under ten minutes from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan.
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