Support The Oyster, a monumental public artwork for New York Harbor from June 11th-June 22nd!

Part sculpture.

Part gathering space.

Part future living reef.

This summer, Alan Michelson and More Art will transform Governors Island with The Oyster — a large-scale sculptural installation inspired by the oyster reefs that once filled New York Harbor.

Created in partnership with Billion Oyster Project and supported by Governors Island Arts, the project invites the public to gather, reflect, and reconnect with the layered histories of New York Harbor: Indigenous stewardship, ecological loss, extraction, displacement, and the possibility of repair.

But The Oyster is not only symbolic.

At the end of its public life, we plan to submerge elements of the sculpture into the harbor so it can live on as part of a living oyster reef — becoming the first monumental artwork to continue beneath the waters of New York Harbor.

At a moment when questions of land, ecology, and belonging feel increasingly urgent, public art can create spaces for reflection, conversation, and imagination. The Oyster asks what it means to restore not only an ecosystem, but also our relationship to place and to one another.

With public support, The Oyster can become both a civic gathering space above the water and a living habitat below it.

We're raising $20,000 to bring this ambitious project to life between June 11th - June 22nd!

What Your Support Makes Possible

Final construction of the sculptural installation
Public programs and performances throughout the season
Guided tours on harbor ecology, oyster reefs, and Indigenous histories
Accessibility and free public engagement
Materials and logistics needed to eventually transform the work into a functioning oyster reef habitat

Ways to Support

Make a Donation between June 11th - June 22nd

Donors of $500 or more will receive a limited-edition The Oyster artwork designed by Alan Michelson.

Spread the Word

Share the campaign with friends and colleagues and help bring this ambitious public project to life.

Visit The Oyster

Join us for the opening on July 30, 2026, and experience the installation and public programs through November 30, 2026.

Follow The Oyster as it evolves through performances, conversations, and public gatherings across the season.

GET INVOLVED: Learn more about what we do at moreart.org and follow us on Instagram to stay connected! Contact us with any questions by emailing yasmine@moreart.org.