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Exhibition
Title:
Dwelling: Memory, Architecture & Place
Exhibition
Sponsor:
The Forest Hills Educational Trust
The Trust is a non-profit organization which organizes public programs
at Forest Hills Cemetery
Location:
Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA
02130
Exhibition
Dates:
June 24 – October 31, 2006
Short
description:
15 contemporary artists respond to the Victorian origins of this
grand landscape as the ultimate domestic space – a home for eternity – and to “dwelling”
as a process of lingering reflection.
Longer description (241 words):
For Boston’s Victorians, Forest Hills Cemetery was the ultimate domestic space: a home for eternity. They transplanted the architecture and furnishings of their 19th century homes into a romantic park, creating a pastoral landscape filled with marble staircases, gothic spires and miniature mansions. They preserved a 250-acre green space just minutes from downtown Boston; a sanctuary separated from the city. This oasis of nature and art continues to offer visitors a haven for contemplation.
For Dwelling, fifteen artists and architects were selected by a jury to create site-specific contemporary art exploring the cemetery’s origins as a final home and its role as a place for lingering reflection. The result is a lively and diverse show that includes work in a variety of styles and media. Some of the artists employ the archetype of the house, at a scale large enough to enter or in miniature. Structures are cast in cement, defined by walls of lush vines, hidden in trees, or overflowing with vibrant sunflowers. Several sculptures provide shelter for birds, a reminder that Forest Hills is also a sanctuary for wildlife. A lush oriental carpet made from recycled wood and a series of antique doorknockers mounted on resonant posts reference domestic furnishings and suggest rooms and thresholds in the open air. Visitors can listen to a sound piece using an iPod or cell phone while strolling the grounds. Monthly walking tours are guided by scholars of Victorian life and participating artists.
Opening
Reception:
Saturday, June 24, 3 to 6 pm (raindate: June 25). Featuring performances
from The Water Project by Michael Dowling & Christine Bennett/Bennett
Dance Company
Regular
Hours:
Open daily, 8 am to dusk
Admission:
Free admission to the grounds and the exhibition. $8 admission for
guided walking tours.
Directions:
One block from Forest Hills T station, Orange Line, via Tower Street
shortcut. Free parking.
Info:
617.524.0128, www.foresthillstrust.org |
