People and Happenings
People and Happenings
Landscapes in Our Lives: Mount Auburn and Elsewhere
“ Mount Auburn Cemetery and Landscapes of Memory,” a program held February 6 at the Massachusetts Historical Society, featured a panel discussion by Blanche M. G. Linden, author of Silent City on a Hill: Picturesque Landscapes of Memory and Boston’ s Mount Auburn Cemetery and Elizabeth( Betsy) Barlow Rogers, author of Landscape Design, A Cultural and Architectural History and President of the Foundation for Landscape Studies in Brooklyn, NY. Moderated by President Bill Clendaniel, the evening explored the vital role landscapes play in our lives, indeed imprinting themselves on our consciousness and becoming inseparable from many of our personal milestones. Blanche detailed Mount Auburn’ s history and pioneering role in the landscaped cemetery movement, and Betsy described her part in the revitalization of Central Park, including establishing a new landscape, working with Yoko Ono on the memorial to John Lennon, Strawberry Fields.
On February 8 Blanche spoke further about the history of Mount Auburn to a sizable crowd at the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge and then signed copies of her revised and expanded edition of Silent City. Following the signing, Friends members joined Blanche for a reception at UpStairs on the Square in Harvard Square.
Clockwise from top: Mount Auburn Director of Education Bree Harvey with copies of Blanche Linden’ s expanded edition of her book on Mount Auburn’ s history, Silent City; Bill Clendaniel introduces Blanche Linden before the author of Silent City speaks to the audience at the Harvard Book Store in Harvard Square; Blanche with her son Marc Lindow of Wellesley and daughter Julia Lentini of Ashland;( l to r) Betsy Barlow Rogers, Blanche Linden and writer / landscape historian Jane Roy Brown at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
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