This Sunday, Socrates Sculpture Park, in partnership with Storm King Art Center, launches its August series of guided art tours of Governors Island. 

In honor of the 25th anniversary of Socrates Sculpture Park, founded by Mark di Suvero, four artists who have exhibited at Socrates will lead workshops and tours of the di Suvero exhibition on the Island. Above, Mark Di Suvero: Dreamcatcher, 2005-2012.

Sunday, August 12, 10 am or 2pm: Rob Swainston: Pedal Social Practice (see Tour Schedule below)

At 2pm on Governors Island, artist team Rob Swainston and Alison Dell will lead an easy, waterfront bike ride saluting a diversity of communities and structures along the way. The tour will be punctuated by "Stop and Look" moments at which time participants may explore buildings and landmarks through "SeeSlow"- outdoor drawing at a leisurely, contemplative pace - and discuss how waterfront neighborhoods are being transformed by development and gentrification.

Participants are also invited to join Swainston and Dell at 10am at Socrates Sculpture Park, or anywhere along the way, for the ride to Governors Island. For more details or to joinSwainston and Dell earlier in the day, see the tour schedule below or visit seeslow.net. Location will be posted on SeeSlow's Twitter feed (@see_slow) as the day progresses!

Helmets required! Bring plenty of water – only bottled water is available on Governors Island.

Tour Schedule:

10 am Meet at Socrates with bikes, helmets and sketchbooks. Drawing warm-up while waiting for people to arrive. A quick discussion of social practices, artistic communities and the waterfront.32-01 Vernon Boulevard, at Broadway. Long Island City, NY. Map/Directions.

10:30 am Leave Socrates. Ride to Williamsburg Grand Ferry Park. (4.5 miles)

11.15 am Grand Ferry Park. A story of waste transfer stations, and 79.9-megawatt power plants, and waterfront rezoning. 15 minute drawing.

11:45 am Leave Grand Ferry Park. Ride to DUMBO Brooklyn Bridge Park Manhattan Bridge Anchorage (3.5 miles)

12:20 pm A story of Two Trees. St. Anne’s Warehouse, Smack Mellon, DUMBO, Original loft movement, The New Loft Law and NYCLT. 15 minute drawing. 

1pm Ferry to Govenors Island. 

2pm-5pm Meet at Di Suvero sculptures, talk about artist programming at the park, community art programs (Figment etc). Drawing Di Suvero’s sculpture with Governors Island’s buildings and landscape.

Directions to Governors Island from Manhattan:

The Governors Island FREE ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building located at 10 South Street, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan. The ferry terminal is accessible as follows:Sat-Sun & Holiday Mondays: Ferries leave at 10AM, 11AM and then every half hour until 5:30PM. Ferries return to Manhattan at 10:30AM, 11:30AM and then every half hour until 7PM.

Directions to Governors Island from Brooklyn:

The FREE ferry from Brooklyn leaves from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, located at the foot of Atlantic Avenue (corner of Columbia Street). Ferries leave at 11 AM and then every  twentyminutes until 5:20PM. Ferries return to Brooklyn at 11:10AM and then every twenty minutes until 7PM.  

For more information about Governors Island, please click here.  
Stay tuned for weekly updates about this public program in DART.