sweet auburn | 2022 volume i
SPECIAL EXHIBIT IN WATERTOWN – THE ART OF LIVING TOGETHER
By Anna Moir , Grants & Communications Manager
t the end of her year in Mount Auburn ’ s Artist-in-
A Residence cohort , Zhonghe ( Elena ) Li had produced a wide variety of traditional Chinese papercuts and
pleinair watercolors for her project , The Art of Living Together . Thanks to a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council , we partnered with the Watertown Free Public Library to exhibit her work in March 2022 .
The Art of Living Together exhibit featured highlights from Li ’ s many papercuts and watercolors to depict the delicate balance between people and nature and interconnectedness of all beings . Her works were inspired by her observation of wildlife , plants and trees , and her reflection on life and death across Mount Auburn ’ s landscape . This was the companion exhibit for the Library ’ s annual “ One Book , One Watertown ” for 2022 , which explored how we engage with the natural world through the featured book , Robin Wall Kimmerer ’ s Braiding Sweetgrass , plus related programs and workshops .
PRESERVATION PLANNING FOR THE SCOTS ’ CHARITABLE FENCE
By Anna Moir , Grants & Communications Manager
ount Auburn received a challenge grant from the National
M Trust for Historic Preservation for a detailed assessment of our magnificent Scots ’ Charitable Society lot fence .
We then matched the grant thanks to generous support from the Scots ’ Charitable Society and many individual donors . With this funding , we completed the important first step toward preserving Erik Christensen from Foster Architecture assessing the Scots ’ lot fence . this unique work of commemorative art .
The Scots ’ Charitable fence features some of the most ornate cast iron design at Mount Auburn , adorned with symbols of the Scottish heritage of the more than 200 people buried in the lot . What makes it unusual is that instead of headstones or grave markers , the fence itself is the memorial . Back when the lot was established in 1841 , many working-class people could not afford the costs of individual lots at Mount Auburn , so the Scots ’ Charitable Society offered this lot as a resource for members in need .
After many years of outdoor exposure , the fence needs substantial repairs . Now that the assessment is complete , we can use the information from it to proceed with the fence ’ s preservation – a complex but essential project to ensure its future . Stay tuned for more updates on our progress ! Visit mountauburn . org / scots-charitable-fence-preservation / to learn more .
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