Parade of the Species is an art show and parade celebrating the ecology of Governor’s Island. The parade will proceed in a loop starting and ending at Soisson’s Landing. 

Puppeteers, visual artists, musical performers and more will make a brilliantly colorful procession in costumes and displaying art depicting the island’s species (oysters, hawks, squirrels, lichen, etc).

The art show will take place at Colonel’s Row House 404, the Flux Factory residency. Paintings, installations and costumes from more than 30 New York artists and many Governor’s Island artists in residence will be on display. The 174 species observed by island goers and confirmed on the iNaturalist website will make an appearance in the art. 

The parade and show were conceptualized by Sally Beauti Twin at her LMCC Governer’s Island residency and will be realized via Flux Factory. The theme of all the associated events will be celebration, inclusiveness, ecological conservation, environmental protection and sustainability. 

Participatory events associated with the parade include: 

May 21, 12-5pm, Soft opening for art exhibition related to the species of the island
May 22, 2-4pm Paper mache costume making class (parade prep)
May 28 (Flux Saturday), 12-5pm opening party with musical performances
May 29, 2-4pm, Open house for costume making for the parade
June 4, 2-4pm, Parade on Governors Island
June 11th, 4-6pm, Costume Ball
June 12th, 4-6pm, Show Closing

Bio of Organizer: Sally Beauty Twin is a trans-woman artist living in New York City. Her practice includes creation and curation of visual art, music, and theater. In October 2021, she curated a three day performance art festival on Governor’s Island with Flux Factory at House 404, which included theater, poetry, dance, music, puppetry and more. Included was a three weekend fine arts show which she curated. Hundreds of events she has curated can be seen at www.amphoranewyork.com. Her art has recently been shown at Tomato Mouse Gallery, Spring/Break Art Fair, and in July at Mizuma and Kips. She received her arts education at Tulane University. 

The canvases Sally paints are frequently small and packed with detail and jewel-toned hues, reflecting her generous spirit. Sometimes they are on the scale of theatrical backdrops and are sometimes used that way in the hundreds of performative events she curates. Curation at the intersection of quality and diversity is very important to Sally. A fifteen year New York resident, she is from New Orleans, where her family started Mardi Gras parades. Her artwork and curation pairs New York City’s high standards with New Orleans’s festiveness and surprise.