On September 10, 2001, Steven Vincent was an art critic, living in the East Village. But the next day, September 11, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked, and the world changed. And so did Steven’s world. Steven decided that he had a new calling in life: he would go to Iraq to … Read more
Since soon after its founding in 1838, Green-Wood Cemetery has been a popular place. It has been painted and photographed. It has been filmed and videotaped. It has appeared in movies and on television shows. Now, it is about to get its very own theatrical production, courtesy of the Artful Conspirators: “Brooklyn Underground: Theatrical Stories … Read more
One of the most rewarding aspects of our Civil War Project has been the information we have gotten from descendants of Civil War veterans who are interred at Green-Wood. Sometimes they contact us with bare bones information: my great grandfathers name is —- and he served in the Civil War. Can you help me find … Read more
Two permanent residents are tied for the most asked about by visitors to Green-Wood Cemetery: Leonard Bernstein and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Both were fascinating figures. Now a new movie has been released on the Brooklyn-born Basquiat, graffiti artist and Andy Warhol protege who died in 1988. The movie, “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child,” is reviewed in … Read more
Just last week, I heard from Jane, the second great-granddaughter of Leon Javelli (or Giavelli). Jane had done a great deal of research on him, and she generously shared that with me. It turns out that Leon is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery. And, just as good, he has a very interesting story. Javelli was born … Read more
Green-Wood has 561,000 individuals interred across its grounds. Some are fascinating; some, not so much. Of the many characters I have come across in my research on Green-Wood’s permanent residents, few can compete with Isaac Hull Brown when it comes to fascinating lives. Brown was featured in an article this past Monday in The New … Read more
I have been a collector my whole life. I started with baseball cards, then moved on to stereoview photographs of New York City. In fact, that’s how I wound up at Green-Wood the first time. Like all collectors, I would sometimes go to a show and not find what I was looking for. It then … Read more
Several weeks ago, Klaus-Peter Siegloch, correspondent and New York bureau chief for ZDF German Television, came to Green-Wood for a visit. And was he impressed! I showed him around for several hours, said a few things on camera, his cameraman shot some great video across the grounds, and the results are now in. Here’s their … Read more
One of the best sculptures at Green-Wood Cemetery is the Valentine Angel by Adolfo Apolloni (1855-1933). I’ve taken many photographs of it, and it is still an honor to do so. It never fails to impress, front or back. I recently got an e-mail from Cara, one of our Historic Fund volunteers, who had just … Read more
The Green-Wood Historic Fund was honored on June 23 to receive a Municipal Arts Society award for its collaboration with Dance Theatre Etc. on “Angels and Accordions,” the site-specific music and dance performance that has been staged gloriously across the cemetery grounds for the last six years as a part of openhousenewyork. Presenter Alison Tocci, … Read more