Artist in Residence Program
A stylized, dark blue graphic featuring the silhouette of a person engaging with an art piece by Gal Nissim and Leslie Ruckman. A green illustration of a hawk overlays the dark graphic.
NYC Bird Alliance's unique and innovative Artist in Residence program offers two local artists space, resources, and transdisciplinary exchange opportunities to investigate birds and wildlife conservation in the context of urban natural space and public engagement.
NYC Bird Alliance on Governors Island
Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor, just minutes from Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront by ferry. An award-winning park complements its dozens of historic buildings, year-round educational and cultural facilities, rich arts and culture program and 22-acre National Monument. In the coming years, Governors Island will also be home to the Center for Climate Solutions: a physical hub committed to researching and demonstrating urban climate solutions, and advancing education, training, and workforce development opportunities for New Yorkers in climate and environmental fields.
For six years, NYC Bird Alliance has maintained a presence on Governors Island through our seasonal environmental center and weekly bird outings. NYC Bird Alliance engages thousands of visitors over the course of a season.
For six years, NYC Bird Alliance has maintained a presence on Governors Island through our seasonal environmental center and weekly bird outings. NYC Bird Alliance engages thousands of visitors over the course of a season.
An NYC Bird Alliance volunteer engages with a young Island visitor below the work of 2023 AiR Carolyn Monastra.
Avian Ancestors, 2023. By 2023 AiR Dario Mohr.
2023 AiR Dario Mohr in his Governors Island studio space.
Governors Island visitors engage with 2023 AiR Carolyn Monastra's Divergence of Birds installation.
An NYC Bird Alliance volunteer engages with a young Island visitor below the work of 2023 AiR Carolyn Monastra.
Avian Ancestors, 2023. By 2023 AiR Dario Mohr.
2023 AiR Dario Mohr in his Governors Island studio space.
Governors Island visitors engage with 2023 AiR Carolyn Monastra's Divergence of Birds installation.
About the NYC Bird Alliance Artist in Residence (AiR) program
NYC Bird Alliance’s Artist in Residence (AiR) program is a six-month residency program on Governors Island providing commissioning support, studio space, and exhibition and related opportunities designed to support the creative process of New York City-based, wildlife conservation-focused artists.
Two Artists in Residence are provided a studio space at NYC Bird Alliance’s seasonal environmental center in a historic house at Governors Island’s Colonels’ Row, House 405B, between May-October 2024. Artists receive a one-time $750 stipend and a supportive community in which to develop ideas and focus on their artistic direction.
Artists in Residence have opportunities to present works in progress as part of Governors Island Open Studios events, as well as finished work in the first-floor gallery space at NYC Bird Alliance's seasonal environmental center throughout the 2024 season. Artist applicants must be willing to lead at least one conservation-focused art workshop for Island visitors during their residency.
Two Artists in Residence are provided a studio space at NYC Bird Alliance’s seasonal environmental center in a historic house at Governors Island’s Colonels’ Row, House 405B, between May-October 2024. Artists receive a one-time $750 stipend and a supportive community in which to develop ideas and focus on their artistic direction.
Artists in Residence have opportunities to present works in progress as part of Governors Island Open Studios events, as well as finished work in the first-floor gallery space at NYC Bird Alliance's seasonal environmental center throughout the 2024 season. Artist applicants must be willing to lead at least one conservation-focused art workshop for Island visitors during their residency.
.jpg)
2024 AiR: Kiera Bono
Kiera Bono is an interdisciplinary choreographer, artist, and Ph.D. Candidate in Theatre and Performance at The Graduate Center, CUNY. Through multisensorial scores and choreographies of care, Bono’s work engages with disability, diaspora, and relationality. They have taught Queer Theatre and Performance and Theatre History courses at The City College of New York and have worked as a Writing Fellow at CUNY School of Professional Studies.
Their performance practice has recently been supported by the Dance/NYC Disability. Dance. Aristry. Dance and Social Justice Program (2023, 2021, 2020), the Bearnstow Artist Retreat (2023), The Croft Residency (2022), the Snug Harbor PASS Residency (2020-2022), and The Whole Shebang Open Space Residency (2019). They have had the pleasure of performing in the processes of Zoey Hart, Jerron Herman, Londs Reuter, Ella Dawn W-S (Dancews), and Melissa West, as well as collaborating with Melisande Echanique, Laura Harris Farrell, Alexander Enzo Hope, Simone Johnson, Yo-Yo Lin, Michelle Mantione, Krista Miranda, and Julia Lucrecia Taveras, among others.
%20(1).jpg)
2024 AiR: Susie Oh
Susie Oh is a Brooklyn-based illustrator and artist with storytelling at the heart of her work. As a child, Susie developed a fascination with nature in South Korea's rural backwaters and a passion for narrative art in New York City's public libraries; she went on to study illustration at Pratt Institute and has taken classes in animal drawing and urban ecology at the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Botanical Garden. She layers inks, paints, and pastels to create textured scenes inspired by flora and fauna and dabbles with textiles and ceramics. She has also adapted her love of mixed media collage into digital art, and her debut picture book, Soomi's Sweater, was a silver medal winner of the 2020 Key Colors Illustrators Competition.
About NYC Bird Alliance
NYC Bird Alliance is a nonprofit organization that works for the protection of wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Founded in 1979, NYC Bird Alliance works through research science, engagement, and advocacy to involve all New Yorkers in appreciating, learning about, and taking action to protect urban biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for the City.
We believe that all people have the right to a close connection to the natural world and the right to a healthy environment. We also recognize that inequities in our society are widespread and hinder access to nature. In an effort to close the gap of these inequities, NYC Bird Alliance provides points of entry that appeal to a variety of audiences, including public workshops and art exhibits that capture the spirit of our urban birds and the imaginations of both adults and children.
NYC Bird Alliance is an independent non-profit organization. We affiliate with and often collaborate with the National Audubon Society (and its state office Audubon New York), but are a separate entity.
We believe that all people have the right to a close connection to the natural world and the right to a healthy environment. We also recognize that inequities in our society are widespread and hinder access to nature. In an effort to close the gap of these inequities, NYC Bird Alliance provides points of entry that appeal to a variety of audiences, including public workshops and art exhibits that capture the spirit of our urban birds and the imaginations of both adults and children.
NYC Bird Alliance is an independent non-profit organization. We affiliate with and often collaborate with the National Audubon Society (and its state office Audubon New York), but are a separate entity.
