Daily Archives: June 22, 2024

Through October, 2025 – Going to Ground, 2024

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Going to Ground is an upcoming site-specific project on the Rose Kennedy Greenway by artist LaRissa Rogers that responds to and invites viewers to engage with the history of Zipporah Potter Atkins. In 1670, Potter Atkins became the first Black woman to own a home in Boston, which she kept for almost thirty years until selling it in 1799. Potter Atkins’ home rested on land now cared for by The Greenway at Cross and Hanover Streets in the North End. This history was brought to light in 2010 by Dr. Vivian Johnson, Professor Emerita of Boston University, after 6 years of archival research.

For Part 1 of this project, Rogers is hosting an Open Call for Soil – an open invitation to Boston’s communities to gather and contribute soil from spaces meaningful to them. The artist will then use the collected soil to build Part 2 of this project, a sculpture honoring Zipporah Potter Atkins.

The final sculptural artwork – Part 2 of this project– will open on The Greenway in August 2024 via a performance and community picnic. Throughout the project’s lifetime, collaborating artists Jackie Amézquita and Zalika Azim will activate the sculpture with performances and interventions. 

For details on how to contribute soil, visit https://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/larissarogers

Wednesday, July 10 – Deadline for Mayor’s Garden Contest

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Mayor Michelle Wu has announced the Annual Mayor’s Garden Contest highlighting the hard work of Boston’s urban gardeners. The competition provides the perfect opportunity to recognize the skills of all Boston residents who contribute to the beauty of the city’s landscape.

Boston’s green thumbs have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, to submit their gardens for award contention. The contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.

Gardeners or those nominating their favorite gardeners may find printable and online nomination forms HERE. The preferred method of entry is to submit photos through the online application. Alternatively, contestants may request an application by emailing their name and address to gardencontest@boston.gov. Paper applications are also available in English and ten additional languages.

Judges will fan out across the city visiting finalists in late July. Once the votes are tallied, first place winners will receive the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Wu while second and third place winners will be awarded certificates. The traditional awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Boston Public Garden in late August

Gardeners who have won three or more times in the last ten years will be automatically entered into the Hall of Fame. These distinguished Hall-of-Famers are not eligible to enter as contestants but are invited to return as judges.

First place winners are eligible for a drawing for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of round trip flights for two to any nonstop destination from Boston. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply. In addition, Mahoney’s Garden Centers will provide gardener’s gift bags to the top three winners in each category, as well as gift certificates for the 2024 Hall of Fame winners.

For details and to enter the contest, visit the website.