ARLINGTON, UNITED STATES

People, Plants & Revolution Town Hall Exhibit

Curious what life was like in colonial Arlington?  You are in the right place to learn about people, plants, and revolution!

Welcome to the audio component of a multimedia public art project created by ArtsArlington to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Arlington, MA. You can listen any time and anywhere.  Each recording – developed to complement a banner image – features an audio essay and an interview exploring the role of plants in colonial life and today. The banners are pictured with each of the essays here. They are also on exhibit (through September 30) at the second floor of Robbins Memorial Town Hall, located at 730 Mass Avenue in Arlington.

The American Revolution in Arlington

On April 18 & 19, 1775, royal troops marched through Arlington – then a farming village known as Menotomy – on their way to seize rebel stores in Concord, MA.  A rustic landscape of farms, pasture, woodlots, and orchards became a battle ground, and people were swept up in the violent start of a historic rebellion against an autocratic English King and Parliament.

Banners, Audio Essays, and Interviews

Twelve banners, designed by Liz Shepherd and Suzanne Moseley, inspired the topics explored in the audio pieces. A researched essay about the evolution of the Arlington landscape and ecosystem, colonial use of plants, 18th century history, and Revolutionary lore is followed by an interview with a local expert – scientists, authors, activists, and historians. Interviews connect events from our past to contemporary life, sharing stories about the hunt for heirloom apples, foraging in Arlington, the role of trees in the climate crisis and more. A 13th banner carries a land acknowledgement and is complemented by an interview with Faries Gray, Sagamore (War Chief) of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag. Faries provides an essential perspective on the way indigenous people in this region viewed the land and the impact of colonial settlement.

Interviews:

The Original People: Faries Gray, Sagamore, Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag

Farm & Wheat: Miranda Lachman, Lexington Community Farm

Wood lot & Oak: William Moomaw, Ph.D., climate scientist & tree advocate

Orchard & Apple: Sarah Lohman, culinary historian

Kitchen Garden: Russ Cohen, foraging expert

Comfort & Soapwort: Patrice Todisco, landscape historian & garden writer

Delight & Hollyhock: Cecily Miller, public art curator

Medicine & Ajuga: Molly Edwards, Ph.D., plant biologist & science communicator

Flax & Protest: Liz Shepherd, artist, banner designer with Suzanne Moseley

Voyage & Tea: Crystal Haynes Copithorne, journalist & Arlington volunteer

Cultivate & Corn: Faries Gray, Sagamore, Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag

 

 

Credits and Thanks

The audio tour was developed by Cecily Miller, Curator of Public Art for ArtsArlington and Molly Edwards, Ph.D., a plant biologist, science communicator, and founder of Science IRL Productions. Cecily did most of the writing and Molly did all of the editing; they collaborated on the interviews. Faries Gray (Sagamore/War Chief of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag) contributed much wisdom as a key advisor, as did Patrice Todisco, combining the skills of the landscape historian and garden writer with the perspective of Executive Director of Freedom's Way. Many thanks to Heather Leavall (Executive Director of the Cyrus Dallin Museum) for connecting us with Faries; we are grateful to both for for insight and encouragement. Many many thanks to historians Michael Ruderman and Doreen Stevens for generously reviewing/correcting/providing content and narrating essays, and to Crystal Haynes Copithorne for narration, an interview, and inspiration.  And finally, to all our wonderful interview contributors, who have much more to say than we were able to capture in these short pieces! 

Visit ArtsArlington.org/plants-and-people to download a PDF of the tour. Questions or comments: plants.people.revolution@gmail.com

This project was made possible with generous support from the Town of Arlington and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Enjoy the Tour!