Hybrid Event: Welcome to the Graveyard: American cemetery art, history and symbolism

This talk chronicles cemetery art, history, and symbolism.  From colonial New England burial grounds of the 1600s and 1700s, through the nationwide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century and into 21st-century locations, the program examines why we have cemeteries and gravestones, why they look like they do, and how styles and art have evolved over almost 400 years.  The presentation is robust, with photographs of original gravestones from many cemeteries visited by Gravestone Girls over time.

The speaker, Brenda Sullivan, has an education in Art History and restoration. Sullivan has spent more than thirty years immersed in gravestone art, history and symbolism. She is one of the creators of the Gravestone Girls, whose mission is to "Keep Our Dead Alive" through educational lectures, tours, classes, and the creation of New England gravestone replicas.

The program is free and open to the public. It will be offered both in-person and virtually.

This event is graciously funded by Mass Humanities.