Vernal Equinox Celebration at the Naval Cemetery Landscape

Join us as we celebrate the arrival of spring and longer hours at the Naval Cemetery Landscape (NCL)!

The schedule for this event is as follows:

5:00 pm: Gardener-led walk

5:30 pm: Qi Gong

6:00 pm: Celebration

NCL Gardener, Kelly, will lead a walk where attendees will tune into natural, cyclic time by observing phenological indicators in the native meadow. What is happening in plant and animal life cycles with the seasonal changes? We’ll notice swelling buds, leafing out, and any early blooms, and we’ll talk through horticultural practices of note this season, including spring cutbacks.

This walk will guide you in making your own observations–in the landscape and within yourself. As we tune into the rhythms of the natural world, we will invite you to notice how your own energy may be shifting with the season. What is calling you to grow, bud, and bloom?

Qi Gong is the centuries old energetic movement practice developed alongside Five Element Theory and Traditional Chinese Medicine.This somatic form moves harmoniously within the seasons of the year, and with the coming of Spring we invite in the element of Wood.Wood is humid, expansive, creative, decisive; we are inspired and see the beginning of a project or journey form in our minds. We're expanding,blooming, reaching up and out towards the warmth of the sun, and the Spring/Wood practice will help support this expansion in our bodies. We'llwork gently with stretching, activating the spine, breathing in Compassion, and shaking off the deep winter stillness. This is an open-level practice:all bodies and ages are welcome to join!

Following Qi Gong, we will invite you to celebrate with us! This marks the first day when NCL hours extend to 7 pm. Process your observations, reflections, and movement practice in community with us. A refreshing seasonal drink will be offered, or bring your own light snacks and refreshment.

We hope this program will develop observation skills, ground your relationship with the landscape, and establish an open invitation to return again and again. May we continue to notice how the landscape changes throughout the season and seasons to come and think through how we may act to mitigate ecological and societal consequences in the face of climate change.

Please note: there is no indoor space at the Naval Cemetery Landscape-please bring layers and dress appropriately.

About The Naval Cemetery Landscape:

Before or after this event, speak to our gardeners and learn about the Naval Cemetery Landscape (NCL) and the Greenway and what goes into maintaining their beauty and accessibility for everyone! The Naval Cemetery Landscape is fully operated, made open as a public space and able to provide free public programs like this solely by Brooklyn Greenway Initiative through the generosity of our supporters.

About the Walk Leader

Kelly Mill is a gardener at Naval Cemetery Landscape. She is passionate about improving our relationships with the natural world and aims to remain humble and curious in the process.

About the Qi Gong Instructor

Laurel Atwell has been performing and building performance-driven work since graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 2008. Her work and collaborations have been presented at MoMA PS1, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Danspace Project, Movement Research at Judson Memorial Church, Center for Performance Research, Gibney Dance, Abrons Arts Center, Dixon Place; as part of Sundays on Broadway, Performa ’11, CATCH, Offerings; have shown in Los Angeles, CA, Marfa, TX, Minneapolis, MN, and New Haven, CT. She has worked with luciana achugar, Phoebe Berglund, Kim Brandt, Camilla Carper, Barnett Cohen, Milka Djordjevich (for which Atwell received a 2018 Bessie nomination for her performance in ANTHEM), Beth Gill, Ursula Eagly, Nikima Jagudajev, Melanie Maar, and Melinda Ring, among others. Atwell participated in the 2022 Maumaus Independent Study Program in Lisbon, Portugal, beginning corresponding live and video projects that attempt to decipher the new perceptions of reality, desire, and mortality thanks to the internet as well as merge the necessities and benefits of the organized group (towards policy, agenda, legible accomplishment) with the disorganized group (towards intuition, pleasure, the self maintained). She is a qi gong facilitator and Reiki practitioner.

Location

Naval Cemetery Landscape. Enter at 61 Williamsburg St West between Kent and Flushing Avenues. Note there is no parking on site.

Public Transit

B57/B62Bus to Flushing Av/Classon Av (2 min walk)

B48 Bus to Wallabout St/Wythe Av (5 min walk)

J/M/Z Train to Marcy Ave (11 min walk)

G train to Flushing Ave (13 min walk) or Classon Ave (10 min walk)

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Host or Publisher Brooklyn Greenway Initiative