7th Annual Governors Island Art Fair to Kick Off 9/6; Runs Weekends in September

4heads presents the Seventh Annual Governors Island Art Fair - 100 rooms of paintings, photography, sculpture, installation, video and sound art exhibited in abandoned military barracks on New York Harbor's historic Governors Island. Launching the fall New York gallery season, the Art Fair is free and open to the public Saturdays and Sundays 6 - 28 September and is easily accessible by regular ferries from downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront.

Every June since 2008, the GIAF jury carefully sifts through a sea of energetic and compelling proposals from New York and around the world, giving each of the top 100 selected a full room in the island's historic landmarked Army and Coast Guard housing.

Run by artists for artists, New York's largest independent exhibition enters its 7th year this fall, and is supported by Blick, proudly championing creativity at GIAF, throughout New York and nationwide. Now an established event of New York's art calendar, 4heads organizers are excited that the spirited end-of-summer fair still maintains its mission of giving dynamic talent from around the world unique spaces to showcase their work (and wreak havoc) as they see fit. "We believe artists know what is best for their own work and Governors Island gives participating artists the space to create these special environments," the 4heads founders explain.

Room after room unfolds with surprising and captivating installations throughout the former homes of military officers and their families. Manifesting various states of decay, the buildings seem to tell stories of their own, adding a thought-provoking second narrative to the artwork presented in the now decommissioned and re-energized spaces.

2014 highlights include Sui Park's organic and architectural Thought Bubbles, Harsha Biswajit's video sculpture The Animal is Absent, Joshua Longo's haunting sculptural monsters Friends, Katte Geneta's mediative chalk-and-volcanic ash drawing Cosmos No. 3, and Laetitia Soulier's toylike dreamworld Square Roots.

A complete list of exhibitors along with images can be found on the event website, www.4heads.org.

GIAF also features independent galleries, encouraging the dialogue between artists and art dealers. In addition, GIAF continues to expand the conversation by partnering this season with collectives like the Gowanus Swim Society.

GIAF partners with Ben Cohen - co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream - to bring his one-of-a- kind stampmobile to Governors Island to help stamp money out of politics. Cohen's Amazing Amend-O-Matic StampMobile, a giant Rube Goldberg money stamping machine on wheels, builds support for a constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics by legally stamping messages like "Not to Be Used for Bribing Politicians" on paper currency. !

In addition, on opening weekend (6-7 September), BLICK Art Materials sponsors a print workshop by Michael Krazowitz. Outside the buildings are sculpture, food and drink, and many other Governors Island sights and events. Visit www.4heads.org for regular updates.

GIAF is located in five stunning, brick buildings in Colonel's Row on Governors Island, with panoramic views of Manhattan and the harbor. Governors Island is accessible by a 7-minute ferry ride from both the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street) in Lower Manhattan and from Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6 (at the end of Atlantic Avenue, at Columbia Street) in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Ferry only runs on weekends. Both Brooklyn and Manhattan ferries are free before noon and $2 thereafter for a round-trip ticket. For further information call 212.673.9074 or visit www.4heads.org.

DETAILS:

Governors Island Art Fair is open Every Weekend in September (6-28), Saturdays & Sundays (11am-6pm).
Admission is free.
Exhibition catalogues are available for purchase for $20.
Hours are 11am - 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays, 6-28 September 2014.
Colonels Row
Governors Island
www.4heads.org

DIRECTIONS:

The Manhattan Ferry to Governors Island - The Governors Island 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:

By Subway - 1 to South Ferry station; 4, 5 to Bowling Green station
By Bus - M6, M9, and M15
The Brooklyn Ferry to Governors Island - The Governors Island Ferry from Brooklyn leaves from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, located at the end of Atlantic Avenue (corner of Columbia Street).
By Subway - 2,3,4,5 to Borough Hall A,C,F to Jay St./Borough Hall R to Court Street
By Bus - B63 to the terminus of Atlantic Avenue (at Columbia Street)
East River Ferry Service - NY Waterway's East River Ferry offers frequent service to Governors Island on Saturdays and Sundays over the summer. Ticket price varies by destination.

ABOUT 4HEADS - Governors Island Art Fair is organized by 4heads, a New York City nonprofit organization created by artists for artists. 4heads' goals are to foster community by offering space for artists, to provide arts-education for the underserved, and to expose hidden culture. 4heads supports a collaborative DIY spirit while catalyzing dialogue between artists and people from all walks of life. 4heads is led by founding members Nicole Laemmle, Jack Robinson and Antony Zito.