PROJECT STATEMENT
This year-long project simply came about by my ongoing wanders through local cemeteries. These walks became times of quiet and reflection for me. I began to think about the lives of those who were buried there, but also of my own life. As I looked at the names on the stones and saw the dates and the ages of the people, and especially the children, oh so many children, I was forced to face my own existence. I was alive and they were not. I was someone walking this earth, right now. How could I bring attention to these stranger’s lives and souls who were now just names and dates on a stone? As I wandered, I felt these lives, the energies of these people who do not want to be forgotten. A simple wander seemed to stir up these energies and, as I wandered, I became happier and happier. I saw the beauty that surrounded me; I found play in the light and the shadow, in the contrast between life and death, the moss and lichen on the stones. The time that had passed could be seen in a physical form. To me, these were places of continuation, not endings. The more I wandered through the cemeteries, the more they began to feel like an embrace. They became familiar to me, a joy to be in. Every time I pass one when I am driving to or from somewhere else, I always smile.
My goal for this project is to capture the beauty and the life of these quiet places and encourage more people to wander through cemeteries. From my 22 cemeteries visited, I encountered only 6 people, 2 of whom were caretakers. It made me think about how our culture has lost its connection to our own ancestors and to strangers who lived and walked the same lands as we do. What are we missing out on by removing this ancient bond of reverence? It seems that only by honoring the past, will we feel truly grounded in the present.
-Kathryn Wyatt
Lincoln, Vermont
This year-long project simply came about by my ongoing wanders through local cemeteries. These walks became times of quiet and reflection for me. I began to think about the lives of those who were buried there, but also of my own life. As I looked at the names on the stones and saw the dates and the ages of the people, and especially the children, oh so many children, I was forced to face my own existence. I was alive and they were not. I was someone walking this earth, right now. How could I bring attention to these stranger’s lives and souls who were now just names and dates on a stone? As I wandered, I felt these lives, the energies of these people who do not want to be forgotten. A simple wander seemed to stir up these energies and, as I wandered, I became happier and happier. I saw the beauty that surrounded me; I found play in the light and the shadow, in the contrast between life and death, the moss and lichen on the stones. The time that had passed could be seen in a physical form. To me, these were places of continuation, not endings. The more I wandered through the cemeteries, the more they began to feel like an embrace. They became familiar to me, a joy to be in. Every time I pass one when I am driving to or from somewhere else, I always smile.
My goal for this project is to capture the beauty and the life of these quiet places and encourage more people to wander through cemeteries. From my 22 cemeteries visited, I encountered only 6 people, 2 of whom were caretakers. It made me think about how our culture has lost its connection to our own ancestors and to strangers who lived and walked the same lands as we do. What are we missing out on by removing this ancient bond of reverence? It seems that only by honoring the past, will we feel truly grounded in the present.
-Kathryn Wyatt
Lincoln, Vermont
ExHibition dates in vermont:
Lincoln library, lincoln
october 1st-november 30th
ilsley library, middlebury
october 1st-october 31st
opening reception saturday, october 5th 1:30-3:30pm
the ilsley photos will then be moving on to:
bixby memorial free library, vergennes
2nd floor balcony
november 1st- January 3rd
'meet the artist' gathering friday, november 8th 4:00-5:00PM
Lincoln library, lincoln
october 1st-november 30th
ilsley library, middlebury
october 1st-october 31st
opening reception saturday, october 5th 1:30-3:30pm
the ilsley photos will then be moving on to:
bixby memorial free library, vergennes
2nd floor balcony
november 1st- January 3rd
'meet the artist' gathering friday, november 8th 4:00-5:00PM
All images from this series are for sale.
15 x 20 giclee prints are $90.
FRAMED PIECES WITH archival mats and UV glass are $350.
please contact me for purchase or more information: studioroji98@gmail.com
15 x 20 giclee prints are $90.
FRAMED PIECES WITH archival mats and UV glass are $350.
please contact me for purchase or more information: studioroji98@gmail.com
Cemeteries of Addison County INFORmation (if you're interested in visiting)
this list will continue to be updated as i visit more cemeteries around the county.
ADDISON
Grand View
Rt 22A
Gorgeous views and an intimate setting, despite being right on 22A.
BRIDPORT
Bridport Central
Next to Bridport Congregational Church. Middle Rd, off Rt 22A
Wins ‘The Most Lively Cemetery’ award. There is a lot happening around it, and the views are lovely, especially during fall foliage.
BRISTOL
Greenwood
Stony Hill Rd (Route 116)
Still my favorite cemetery. Rows of large and beautiful trees, a quiet and big cemetery that boasts 3 mausoleums!
Mt St. Joseph
Plank Rd
Open and empty feeling, but gorgeous gates, pillars and statues. Set among working farms and fields.
varney
hardscrabble road, on the bristol/starksboro line
sweet and small and tucked into cornfields. such a delight!
east middlebury
prospect (aka. east middlebury cemetery)
case street
quite a large but older cemetery on a beautiful, undulating piece of land. this is a well cared for cemetery.
FERRISBURG
Basin Harbor
Basin Harbor Club, Basin Harbor Rd
A surprise in the middle of The Basin Harbor Club! This little cemetery is surrounded by homes, and feels like you are stepping back in time.
Quaker Friends Burying Ground
Quaker St (off Rt 7 by Dakin Farm)
Old, small and well looked after. Old, large trees greet you along the fence.
Union
On the corner of Satterly Rd and Middlebrook Rd
Many interesting things to look at in this little cemetery. I loved the old stone walls that edge it along the quiet road. It was like combining the past and the present.
Gage
Little Chicago Rd, off Rt 7
Gorgeous, old, tall trees grace this cemetery. One large tree in particular anchors the whole cemetery. Medium sized cemetery, but tucked away.
LINCOLN
Old Quaker
Quaker St
Maple
West River Rd
These two cemeteries are connected to each other via a path and a walk up (or down) a hill. The very old cemetery is above, the newer one is down below. Within walking distance from my home, I wander here often, sitting and contemplating, visiting and strolling. It’s one of my favorite places to go, and it has one of the the best fences I’ve seen.
MIDDLEBURY
West Cemetery
St. Mary’s
Rt 30, near the entrance to the Art Museum, across the road.
Connected to each other, but separated by a gate, these cemeteries are in the bustling center of the Middlebury College campus. West Cemetery is a little unnerving because they are cleaning, or replacing some of the old headstones, so now they look brand new. The cemeteries are large and expansive, but are beginning to lack the old charm that once was, because the stones are no longer weathered with time.
foote street
foote street
lovely old cemetery with lots of charm. many graves are now in the woods, which makes the cemetery even more interesting. sap lines also run in the woods by the graves.
old town cemetery (aka. old middlebury cemetery)
washington street extension
a very old cemetery that has a lot of history in one little bit of space. this cemetery is narrow and long, and is worth a wander. it's surrounded by both fields and houses.
case street
case street
an intimate cemetery with new and old parts. a little overgrown which adds to its charm. lovely moss! parking for the cemetery is a little difficult on case st., so be careful.
NEW HAVEN
Evergreen
Town Hill Rd
Much larger than it looks from the road, this cemetery is a must stop and wander destination. There are also some interesting historical stories attached with some of the graves (in particular, Timothy Clark Smith).
Riverside
River Rd
A sweet farm setting cemetery, with horses as neighbors. You can’t get better than that!
RIPTON
cook
natural turnpike
an extremely quiet cemetery, even though there are houses nearby. there seems to be a distinct new and old part to it. not short on character and history. well taken care of.
Galvin
rt 125
this little cemetery is set on a fairly busy road (near breadloaf), but it retains an extremely intimate setting due to the large cedars growing in it (it was so inviting, i could have had lunch there). also well taken care of. (bravo to the town of ripton!)
SHOREHAM
Lake View
St. Genevieve
Rt 74
Across the road from each other, these cemeteries are big, with amazing views, but they lack something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. There seems to be a presence of melancholy.
Shoreham Village
Cemetery Hill Rd, between School St and 22A
Wins the ‘Party Central Cemetery’ award. This cemetery knows how to let loose, and you can feel it! Very relaxed, not showy at all, it welcomes you with open arms.
STARKSBORO
Green Mount
Cemetery Rd, off Rt 116
Great fences and gates. This is an old cemetery set along a quiet road, which is a delight to wander in.
VERGENNES
St. Peter’s
Between South Maple St and Green St
Tucked up and behind the road, a medium sized cemetery with some charming old stones and allée of trees.
Old Burying Ground
School St, but runs along Mt. View Ln
Sweet, old and charming. The tallest grave stones I’ve ever seen stand here and belong to the Strong Family.
Prospect
West Main St (Rt 22A)
Large, hilly and beautiful, it may take an hour to stroll through, but well worth the time. It’s worth a stop alone to see the magnificent gates.
WHITING
Whiting Village
Whiting Community Church, Rt 30
Wins ‘The Cemetery With The Most Character’ award. This little cemetery was a surprise, but what a winner! Great views, old stones and loaded with character.
this list will continue to be updated as i visit more cemeteries around the county.
ADDISON
Grand View
Rt 22A
Gorgeous views and an intimate setting, despite being right on 22A.
BRIDPORT
Bridport Central
Next to Bridport Congregational Church. Middle Rd, off Rt 22A
Wins ‘The Most Lively Cemetery’ award. There is a lot happening around it, and the views are lovely, especially during fall foliage.
BRISTOL
Greenwood
Stony Hill Rd (Route 116)
Still my favorite cemetery. Rows of large and beautiful trees, a quiet and big cemetery that boasts 3 mausoleums!
Mt St. Joseph
Plank Rd
Open and empty feeling, but gorgeous gates, pillars and statues. Set among working farms and fields.
varney
hardscrabble road, on the bristol/starksboro line
sweet and small and tucked into cornfields. such a delight!
east middlebury
prospect (aka. east middlebury cemetery)
case street
quite a large but older cemetery on a beautiful, undulating piece of land. this is a well cared for cemetery.
FERRISBURG
Basin Harbor
Basin Harbor Club, Basin Harbor Rd
A surprise in the middle of The Basin Harbor Club! This little cemetery is surrounded by homes, and feels like you are stepping back in time.
Quaker Friends Burying Ground
Quaker St (off Rt 7 by Dakin Farm)
Old, small and well looked after. Old, large trees greet you along the fence.
Union
On the corner of Satterly Rd and Middlebrook Rd
Many interesting things to look at in this little cemetery. I loved the old stone walls that edge it along the quiet road. It was like combining the past and the present.
Gage
Little Chicago Rd, off Rt 7
Gorgeous, old, tall trees grace this cemetery. One large tree in particular anchors the whole cemetery. Medium sized cemetery, but tucked away.
LINCOLN
Old Quaker
Quaker St
Maple
West River Rd
These two cemeteries are connected to each other via a path and a walk up (or down) a hill. The very old cemetery is above, the newer one is down below. Within walking distance from my home, I wander here often, sitting and contemplating, visiting and strolling. It’s one of my favorite places to go, and it has one of the the best fences I’ve seen.
MIDDLEBURY
West Cemetery
St. Mary’s
Rt 30, near the entrance to the Art Museum, across the road.
Connected to each other, but separated by a gate, these cemeteries are in the bustling center of the Middlebury College campus. West Cemetery is a little unnerving because they are cleaning, or replacing some of the old headstones, so now they look brand new. The cemeteries are large and expansive, but are beginning to lack the old charm that once was, because the stones are no longer weathered with time.
foote street
foote street
lovely old cemetery with lots of charm. many graves are now in the woods, which makes the cemetery even more interesting. sap lines also run in the woods by the graves.
old town cemetery (aka. old middlebury cemetery)
washington street extension
a very old cemetery that has a lot of history in one little bit of space. this cemetery is narrow and long, and is worth a wander. it's surrounded by both fields and houses.
case street
case street
an intimate cemetery with new and old parts. a little overgrown which adds to its charm. lovely moss! parking for the cemetery is a little difficult on case st., so be careful.
NEW HAVEN
Evergreen
Town Hill Rd
Much larger than it looks from the road, this cemetery is a must stop and wander destination. There are also some interesting historical stories attached with some of the graves (in particular, Timothy Clark Smith).
Riverside
River Rd
A sweet farm setting cemetery, with horses as neighbors. You can’t get better than that!
RIPTON
cook
natural turnpike
an extremely quiet cemetery, even though there are houses nearby. there seems to be a distinct new and old part to it. not short on character and history. well taken care of.
Galvin
rt 125
this little cemetery is set on a fairly busy road (near breadloaf), but it retains an extremely intimate setting due to the large cedars growing in it (it was so inviting, i could have had lunch there). also well taken care of. (bravo to the town of ripton!)
SHOREHAM
Lake View
St. Genevieve
Rt 74
Across the road from each other, these cemeteries are big, with amazing views, but they lack something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. There seems to be a presence of melancholy.
Shoreham Village
Cemetery Hill Rd, between School St and 22A
Wins the ‘Party Central Cemetery’ award. This cemetery knows how to let loose, and you can feel it! Very relaxed, not showy at all, it welcomes you with open arms.
STARKSBORO
Green Mount
Cemetery Rd, off Rt 116
Great fences and gates. This is an old cemetery set along a quiet road, which is a delight to wander in.
VERGENNES
St. Peter’s
Between South Maple St and Green St
Tucked up and behind the road, a medium sized cemetery with some charming old stones and allée of trees.
Old Burying Ground
School St, but runs along Mt. View Ln
Sweet, old and charming. The tallest grave stones I’ve ever seen stand here and belong to the Strong Family.
Prospect
West Main St (Rt 22A)
Large, hilly and beautiful, it may take an hour to stroll through, but well worth the time. It’s worth a stop alone to see the magnificent gates.
WHITING
Whiting Village
Whiting Community Church, Rt 30
Wins ‘The Cemetery With The Most Character’ award. This little cemetery was a surprise, but what a winner! Great views, old stones and loaded with character.