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May 06, 2023

A love for cemetery art and history with the Gravestone Girls

LUNENBURG – From colonial New England burial grounds of the 1600s and 1700s,

LUNENBURG – From colonial New England burial grounds of the 1600s and 1700s, through the nation-wide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century and into 21st century locations, the Gravestone Girls have examined why we have cemeteries and gravestones, why they look like they do and how styles and art have evolved over almost 400 years.

Excited to share this information with the community, the Gravestone Girls will present "Welcome to the Graveyard!", a 90-minute illustrated ‘virtual tour’ chronicling cemetery art, history, and symbolism.

The presentation will be held from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in the Wallace Community Room of the Lunenburg Public Library, 1023 Massachusetts Ave., and promises to be robust with photographs of original gravestones and burial grounds from cemeteries visited by the Gravestone Girls over many years.

"I want people to come away from my program with an understanding of what these spaces represent, why they look like they do and how they have changed over many years," said Brenda Sullivan, proprietrix, Gravestone Girls. "I believe that cemeteries are living history and art museums; as well as a time capsule and a time travel vehicle."

All Massachusetts natives, the Gravestone Girls, comprising of Melissa Anderson, Maggie Phillips, and Sullivan, create decorative artwork using the beautiful and primitive images carved on olde New England gravestones; give lectures and tours on cemetery art, history and symbolism as well as teach gravestone rubbing classes.

"Each year we do 20-plus of these types of programs, working with many libraries, museums, historical societies and social clubs," said Sullivan. "They bring the Gravestone Girls in to educate and entertain their community on the spaces that are in almost every New England town."

Together and separately the Gravestone Girls have been traversing cemeteries near and far for the majority of their lives.

"What we do today is born from growing up around these spaces, a love for art and history and the desire to share what we have in New England which is unique to the rest of the country," Sullivan said.

Registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but not required. For more information, visit lunenburglibrary.org or call 978-582-4140. For more information on the Gravestone Girls, visit gravestonegirls.com.

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