As you found out from my last post, I don't (yet) have a part-time job here, and any research/writing I do while here isn't mandatory--I'm on unpaid leave, so I can do what I want (as long as I'm ready to jump back into my job when I return)! I'm already working on a few research projects, and am still looking for some kind of part-time work, paid or unpaid, that will get me connected to the community, but I'm also enjoying the freedom we have to just get out and see things.
I don't want this blog to become a brag blog, filled with lists and descriptions of all the fun things I'm doing while away from Cedar Rapids. I don't find that kind of writing enjoyable to read--or enjoyable to write. There's not enough opportunity for depth and reflection in a simple recounting of a vacation, little opportunity to grapple with important issues. I'll put "vacation photos" of visits to fun places on Facebook, but probably won't write too much more about them here.*
But maybe I'll occasionally share some posts here of things we've done and seen in the couple weeks we've been here, things that I found especially satisfying or intriguing or worth thinking about. Today, I'll tell you about a couple of lectures I attended this past week.
On Friday, I attended a free lecture at the Folger Shakespeare Library's Theatre. It was called "Flowers, Fashion, and the 18th Century dining room." I learned all about how British interest in plants from around the world showed up not only in what was served at meals, but also in fabric design. The lecture included lots of wonderful slides of beautiful silk with botanical patterns designed by a woman designer, Anna Maria Garthwaite, women designers being unusual in the 18th century. Garthwaite combined a deep scientific interest in botany with her professional skills of silk designing and created beautiful silks that allowed other women to show their interest in botany as well.
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| This dress (photo from Museum of London site) has hops and barley on it! It was worn at a ball the Mayor of London put on to promote local brewers. . . |
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| This Garthwaite silk design almost looks like a scientific botanical print--you can even see some roots. Women were discouraged from most scientific pursuits, but botany was one area thought appropriate for women to study. |
The next day, I attended another lecture, this one at the National Arboretum. It was pouring down rain that day, so I didn't get to walk around the Arboretum, and I was glad I had the car so I could drive there. This lecture was called "Reordering the Landscape: Science, Nature, and Spirituality at Wye House." I couldn't resist that title!
It turns out that Wye House Plantation is the place where Frederick Douglass was born and grew up--how timely as I'd just finished reading his (first) autobiography!
The archaeologist who gave this talk discussed the work of finding traces of the enslaved people on this plantation and learning how they "reordered" their landscape through planting (their own plants, not the slaveowners') and through spiritual practices of burying objects around buildings for spiritual protection.
Again, this lecture had excellent slides, and I loved the archaeologist's passion for both archaeology and racial justice. A big part of the project was talking with people who lived in the area who were descendants of the enslaved people who lived on the plantation. The project started with questions those descendants had about their ancestors, like how did they live? what was their religious practice? The results of the dig were shared with them in travelling exhibits that came to local churches and community centers.
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| Enslaved people buried these circular items under a house as spiritual protection |
* I'm also keeping a list of places I/we visit here (including restaurants) so contact me if for some reason you want a more comprehensive list!
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