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Art Exhibition On Governor's Island
SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH 2009
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Governor's Island hosts a variety of events throughout the summer, including art exhibits, theatrical performances and musical concerts. It also has over five miles of biking paths, and you can bring your own bike or rent one for a few hours. People were walking, biking, picnicking and having an all-around grand old time when we got there.

We happened upon the island during an art exhibition that took place in multiple locations around the island. Like most of the art world, you had to endure a search through a lot of bad art to find the few decent works. Two artists in particular caught my attention.

Catch Me by Kim Meijer was installed in a dark corner room of the basement of a house, and I was immediately breathless when I laid eyes on her video installation:

"This project is inspired by family relationships and our search of finding a balance between independence and connection to the people we love. At the same time it questions the way we perceive and experience these relationships. The house is a symbol for the place where we create our intimate connections. Yet, the house casts a big shadow, showing the fragility and transience of our relationships and life in general."

Up All Night Sleeping by Tara Parsons was on an upper level of the house in a brightly lit bedroom, and even without reading the artist's statement you were compelling to participate in the installation:

"Please come into the room, take off your shoes, and lie down on the bed. Recall your dreams. Do you have a recurring dream? Do you dream in a theme? Are you awakened by nightmares? Record your dreams by writing them on the ribbon located on the nightstand. Pin your dream to the canopy."

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Exploring Governor's Island
SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH 2009
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After ravaging the Brooklyn Flea for treasures, we wandered over to the adjacent waterfront [panorama] where we spontaneously jumped aboard a free ferryboat to Governor's Island. We had no expectations, knowing nothing about the island. It was a partly cloudy day and we were feeling rambunctious.

Governor's Island has a somewhat interesting history. In 1637, it was purchased from the Native Americans of Manahatas by a Dutchman for two ax heads, a string of beads, and a handful of nails. In 1664, the English captured New Amsterdam, renaming it New York, and took Nutten (now Governor's) Island. The island was used for over 200 years as a military facility. It was used by the Coast Guard from to 1966 to 1995, hosting a population of approximately 3,500.

The island is actually partially manmade. Using rocks and dirt from the excavations for the Lexington Avenue Subway, the Army Corps of Engineers supervised the deposit of 4,787,000 cubic yards of fill on the south side of Governor's Island, adding 103 acres of flat, treeless land by 1912, and bringing the total acreage of the Island to 172.

During the American Civil War, it was used for recruitment and as a prison for captured Confederate soldiers. Finally, we get to my photos. The decommissioned prison is partially open to the public, and although you cannot go into the interior of the building, you can enter the courtyard and peek in the windows. How lucky were the prisoners that had waterfront windows!

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The Brooklyn Flea, under the Brooklyn Bridge
SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH 2009
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The Brooklyn Flea is a once-weekly market that takes place in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn, directly beneath the Brooklyn Bridge every Sunday. It features both vintage and antique items, like clothing, home accessories and furniture, and newly crafted items like organic soaps and silkscreened tees. The prices are upscale by comparison to suburban garage sales, but the aesthetic of the products remains pretty consistent, whereas garage sales are very hit-or-miss.

I was thrilled to visit the flea market, and I think Justin was just happy to get out of the house. Before the thrifting commenced, we stopped by Almondine Bakery and noshed on apricot and chocolate croissants and fresh orange juice. Yum!

We attended the flea on "opening day" - the Brooklyn Bridge location is actually the second of two locations, the other being Fort Greene - and it had so much to offer that my brain could not focus. We came ill-prepared, having only $2 in our pockets (we spent $8 at the bakery) and no vendors accepting checks or credit cards. Thus, I walked away with nothing more than a 6" cylindrical glass vase - but it was a steal! You can buy one here for $10, and mine cost only $2!