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BROOKLYN WEEKLY, JULY 12, 2020
Grave circumstances
Green-Wood Cemetery seeks fi rst of its kind artist-in-residence
BY BEN VERDE
Brooklyn’s biggest burial
ground is seeking applications
for its new artist-inresidence
program — the
fi rst of its kind at a New York
City cemetery.
Green-Wood Cemetery
is looking for a local mid-career
artist for its new ninemonth
residency program,
which will take place between
January and September
of 2021.
“I’ve always thought it’s
such a great place to have
an artist come in and create
a project,” said Harry Weil,
director of public programs
at Green-Wood, who will
oversee the residence. “A lot
of institutions throughout
the country have an artistin
residency and I think as
Green-Wood is emerging
as a cultural destination in
Brooklyn that having an
artist-in-residence is the
next part of our growth.”
The artist will have a studio
space in the cemetery’s
landmarked Fort Hamilton
Gatehouse and will have access
to Green-Wood’s vast
archives, which date back to
its 1838 incorporation.
The collection includes
archival material such as
administrative paperwork
and correspondence between
the cemetery and the
families of its permanent
residents, and a historic assemblage
of objects related
to those buried in the cemetery,
including personal
clothing, books, and paintings
belonging to 19th and
20th artists — 400 of whom
are buried at Green-Wood,
including Jean-Michel Basquiat,
George Catlin, and
Asher B. Durand.
The program is open to
artists of any medium within
the visual or performing
arts, and the sprawling 478-
acre greenspace has the potential
to inspire any number
of creative urges, which
Weil says he looks forward
to looking over as the applications
start rolling in.
“Whether it’s the art,
the monuments and the architecture,
the beautiful
landscape, or the history of
the residents that are buried
here and the history of
Green-Wood itself, I’m excited
to see what they’re going
to focus on,” he said,
adding that he expects artists
working in different mediums
to be inspired by different
aspects of the historic
greenspace.
“I’d be curious to see
how a painter could be inspired
by this space versus
someone who does a participatory
project, or someone
who does dance,” he said.
The chosen artist will
receive a $7,500 stipend and
will work with cemetery
staff to put together a fi nal
work, which, depending on
the medium of the creator,
may be an art installation
or performance on Green-
Wood’s grounds. The artist
will also present at least one
lecture and host at least one
open studio in connection to
the work.
The cemetery has become
a haven for Brooklynites
during the coronavirus
crisis, offering a solace
during the worst days of the
pandemic, and has inspired
Brooklyn artists for generations,
noted the cemetery’s
president Richard Moylan.
“I believe Green-Wood
will be a great source of inspiration
to our new artistin
residence,” said Moylan.
“I look forward to watching
the creative process unfold
and seeing great art come to
life.”
Applications are being
accepted until September 2.
Interested artists can apply
at www.greenwood.slideroom.
com/
The chosen artist will have a studio space in the historic Fort Hamilton
gatehouse. Shannon Taggart/Green-Wood Cemetery
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