LOWER MANHATTAN — If you're looking for a behind-the-scenes peek into the creative process, head to Governors Island this Friday.
The island, which closed its public season at the end of September, is welcoming visitors for a free one-day event — a chance to meander through the studios of 20 artists who work year-round on the picturesque former military base.
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's artists-in-residence will be on hand to discuss their work with visitors throughout the 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. showing of their workspaces. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested.
The artists' works span a variety of subjects and mediums, including sculpture, painting and dance, according to the LMCC.
The day will also include two afternoon performances along with open studio time.
At 1:30 p.m., a Brooklyn-based arts duo called Smoke & Mirrors Collaborative will perform a work-in-progress theater piece about the U.S. immigration system, and discuss their art with the audience. RSVP here to reserve a spot.
Another arts group, Katy Pyle and The Ballez, will give a glimpse into their latest dance piece, "Sleeping Beauty and The Beast," — a "fantastical story ballet" that focuses on a "time-shifting street protest march" of the striking Lower East Side garment workers of 1893 and later lesbian activists in the 1990s." Those wishing to check out the performance are also asked to RSVP.
For more information about the day, and to RSVP, head to the LMCC website.
A ferry ride to Governors Island, from the Battery Maritime Building in the Financial District, costs $2.
