Special Event

We all struggle to find the right words. We want to convey sympathy, admiration, and support. And we want to express ourselves as well as possible. Why not take inspiration from another time? Condolence letters of the nineteenth century, when death was ever present, were mainstays of life—missives of comfort written straight from the heart. Death educator Amy Cunningham will lead a practical guide to crafting messages that heal and knowing what’s best left unsaid. Along the way, she’ll share condolences written by luminaries including Thomas Jefferson, Emily Dickinson, Queen Victoria, Marcel Proust, and Ernest Hemingway.

In this illustrated talk, poet, novelist, and diplomat Homero Aridjis will share his first-hand accounts of meeting Maria Sabina, whom he sees not only as a cultural icon, but also as arguably the greatest visionary poet in twentieth-century Latin America. Aridjis’s 2013 novel Carne de Dios, centers on Sabina’s life in Huautla and her involvement with Westerners who flocked to her home to experience the hallucinogenic effects of the “magic mushrooms”.

How can we reimagine the ways in which we approach and discuss the experiences around end of life? Death educator Amy Cunningham leads a lively and inspiring discussion about new ways of considering death, cremation, burial, and being remembered. Bring your imagination and come join us for a life-affirming conversation about living and legacy.

Join us for a special after-hours garden party to celebrate the return of spring and the opening of Morbid Anatomy’s new exhibition, Envisioning the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

Enjoy music curated by Friese Undine and complimentary refreshments while taking in the enchanting atmosphere. There will also be a special tour of the newly curated Morbid Anatomy Library by its creators, Joanna Ebenstein and Laetitia Barbier, as well as an opportunity to meet the artists, collectors, and contributors to the exhibition.

The Green-Wood Historic Fund invites you to help us plant trees in Green-Wood for Arbor Day. It’s a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and plant a tree. The tree you plant during this event may provide shade and oxygen for your great-grandchildren someday! Green-Wood’s professional horticulture staff will be on hand to guide and help you through the process. Green-Wood, Nature, and You!

Back by popular demand! Festival of Arcane Knowledge is an afternoon-long exploration of the intersections between art, death, and culture, featuring short talks, demonstrations, and film screenings presented by Morbid Anatomy’s community of makers, teachers, collectors, and rogue scholars. Special tours will be available of both the exhibition Envisioning the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory and Green-Wood. The day's activities will be followed by an evening reception.

Learn how you can play an active role in supporting the health of our urban forest, including the basics of watering, tree bed gardening, and soil cultivation.