sweet auburn | 2024 volume i
Clockwise from left : Liz Walker ( 2022-2023 ) Dance of Arrival © Daniel Huang , John M . Williams ( 2022-2023 ) Seeing Mount Auburn with a Different Eye on view at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in March 2023 , Swati Biswas ( 2023-2024 ) Seasons of Life , Zhonghe ( Elena ) Li ( 2021-2022 ) Asa Gray Garden , Roberto Mighty ( inaugural AIR , 2014-2016 ) premiered the multimedia earth . sky at Mount Auburn , photograph by Billy Hickey ( 2023-2024 ), Ira Klein ( 2022- 2023 ) The Oak Cycle , Patrick Gabridge ( 2018-2020 ) The Mount Auburn Plays
“ Mount Auburn is a place , an idea , a community , and a legend . In 2014 , as its inaugural Artist-in- Residence , I was granted resources , time , access , and the unwavering support of board members , staff , and volunteers . Wandering the grounds , researching historical records , and interviewing families of the deceased helped solidify my ‘ earth dot sky ’ multimedia project – a blend of filmmaking , fine-art photography , sound design , and documentary . Ten years on , it is wonderful to see the artist-in-residence program continuing to grow .” — Roberto Mighty , 2014 – 16
But how did it all begin ?
In 2013 , Mount Auburn ’ s Curator of Historical Collections & Archives , Meg Winslow , procured the Cemetery ’ s first federal IMLS grant ( Institute of Museum and Library Services ), which allowed for research and documentation of the Cemetery ’ s historically significant monuments . Filmmaker and multimedia artist Roberto Mighty was selected to create a series of short films about the monuments , which then led to a larger discussion with former Director of Special Events & Sponsorships , Jenny Gilbert , and Bree Harvey , VP of Cemetery & Visitor Services , about the possibility of expanding Roberto ’ s work as part of a new Artist-in-Residence program . At the time , there were no other cemeteries to look to for guidance , so we looked to other institutions for inspiration like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum , whose AiR program began in 1992 .
At the beginning of Mount Auburn ’ s AiR program , selected artists were in residence for two years , allowing them a significant amount of time for preparatory research . Filmmaker and multimedia artist Roberto Mighty was Mount Auburn ’ s first Artist-in-Residence ( 2014 – 16 ), followed by musician and composer Mary Bichner ( 2016 – 17 ), and playwright Patrick Gabridge ( 2018 – 19 ). The program underwent some restructuring during the pandemic when the length of the residency decreased and the number of artists increased . Since the 2021 – 22 season , we have worked with 5 – 7 artists each year , including visual artists Ponnapa Prakkamakul , Simone Nemes , and Resa Blatman , dancer / choreographers Jennifer Lin , Liz Walker , and Swati Biswas , musician / composers Todd Thibaud , Ira Klein , and Eden Rayz , and photographers Thierry Borcy and Billy Hickey , among others .
Through their thoughtful and imaginative work , these artists have interpreted and portrayed Mount Auburn in compelling , surprising ways . They ’ ve created music about grief , oak trees , and the landscape . They ’ ve written poems and plays about salamanders , birders , and friendship . They ’ ve made paintings , illustrations , and collages of plant life , sunsets , and monuments . They ’ ve performed dances about birth , loss , and change . Their work has brought thousands of visitors to Mount Auburn and has expanded what the Cemetery can be .
The Artist-in-Residence program has enabled us to create avenues for deeper connection with our visitors through intentional programming that centers on the Cemetery ’ s values , and to expand Mount Auburn ’ s ever-growing community . We hope you will join us this year in celebrating this exciting milestone and in supporting our 2024 – 25 cohort : multimedia artists Yufan Gao and Adam Molinski , poet / illustrator Fatima Seck , dancer / choreographer Lonnie Stanton , and interdisciplinary artist Markel Uriu .
To learn more about Mount Auburn ’ s Artist-in-Residence program , visit www . mountauburn . org / artist-in-residence /.
21 greater beauty