Reflection Spaces
Our Reflection Spaces are living installations where festival attendees can reflect, process, and connect with supportive resources between and during performances and workshops at the festival.
● TAKE SPACE to draw, sit, read, and write at our reflection walls, altar spaces, and group mandala. Or to lie down, to remember, to dream, to move in response to how the space nurtures and/or inspires you.
● TAKE TIME to connect with other audience members, get support from rotating death workers, or be alone and away from the performance area.
We know that festival-going is a big physical and mental commitment and hope you can use these spaces to be with yourself, with others, and with the beyond, in silence, in song, in celebration.
Ongoing Installations
Grief Couch with a Death Worker: Laurel Hill West and Laurel Hill East
A “grief couch” where rotating professionals working in varying fields across death work will provide space and support for festival attendees. Death workers may also facilitate a specific group activity. Death workers include Rebecca Maury, Naila Francis, Lauren Silver, Eva Johnson, Nefertiti Moor, Mel Srolovitz, Ree, Mieke D, Kim Schmucki, Narinder Bazen, ShaEureka Davis.
Altar: Laurel Hill West → Conservatory back porch
A reflective space. Sit and write letters to loved ones and add them to hanging string installation. Altar created by Rebecca Maura in conversation with ShaEureka Davis
Death Related Resource Tables: Laurel Hill West and Laurel Hill East
Located at both Laurel Hill East and Laurel Hill East are tables to get connected with resources, services, information, and literature related to the workshops and practices explored throughout the festival.
Betz Mausoleum: Laurel Hill West, directly behind the Conservatory
A sunny spot to sit, rest and reflect in 360°. Attendees are encouraged to draw, write and interact with our reflection questions using personal or communal writing materials.
The Thread Installation: Laurel Hill West, Betz Mausoleum (on the right)
The Thread is a rotating public art installation in Philadelphia where any and all grievers can use a disconnected rotary phone to speak to someone who is unreachable to them. IG: @TheThreadPhilly https://www.thethreadphilly.org/
Reflection questions and spaces: Laurel Hill West and Laurel Hill East
Comfy areas with seating. Cards with printed reflection questions are there for you to reflect and expand on throughout your visit either personally or by adding to a collaborative writing installation.
Accessibility Resource Tents: Laurel Hill West and Laurel Hill East
A tent where you can ask questions, ask for support, and get FREE access resources like:
● Water
● KN-9 masks and rapid Covid-19 tests
● Earplug/noise-cancelling headphones
● Requested mobility aids
● sunscreen/bugs pray
● Large print programs
● Magnifying glasses
● Adaptive writing devices
● Stim toys
● Request use of shuttle services
● Request mobility or sighted guide (when available!)
● Ask for extra seating/cushioned seating
Scheduled Installations
Mandala
Create a group mandala in the grass. Facilitated by death workers Lauren Silver and Rebecca Maury. Grabbers, seats and tables will be available to support those with limited mobility.
5/29 from 6:30pm-8:30pm → Laurel Hill West Picnic Area
6/1 from 4:00pm-6:30pm → Laurel Hill West Picnic Area
Friends of Green Burial
5/30 from 5:00pm-8:30pm → Laurel Hill West
Talk Death Daily
Sit with folks from TalkDeath in generative conversations around death and dying.
5/30 from 3:30pm-7:00pm → Laurel Hill West
5/31 from 2:00pm-7:30pm → Laurel Hill East
“Ask a Hospice Nurse”
Sit with a hospice nurse and discuss end of life support.
5/31 from 2:00pm -7:30pm → Laurel Hill East receiving vault