Book Synopsis
Stroll through three centuries of American cemeteries through photographic images, historic poetry, and memorable prose.
Over the past decade Jane Hopkins has photographed over 200 cemeteries in the eastern US and Canada. She finds cemeteries a treasure trove of art created from stone by the carver's tools. These sacred places represent the essence of someone's life on earth and the loving memories of those left behind. Looking for a way to verbalize feelings evoked by these headstones and statues, Jane researched poetry, prose, hymns and epitaphs, choosing quotations that eloquently express the grief of those left behind and the wonder of death, adding personal reflections from her own family's experience. The book is designed in a free-flowing manner, similar to what one would experience on a cemetery stroll, or when leafing through family memories and documents.
It will appeal to art lovers and those interested in the role of cemeteries as the final repository of so many hopes and dreams, and as a meeting ground of the living and the dead. Those who have lost loved ones will recognize the consolation in its message. During this time of the pandemic, it can be a thoughtful resource for those who are grieving.
Author Bio
Jane lives with her husband Tom in Webster, NY on the shore of Lake Ontario . To her surprise she has found kindred souls among all age groups as she wanders among the tombstones. She enjoys sharing these experiences as a member of the Friends of Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY, and the Association of Gravestone Studies in Greenfield, MA. Jane's educational background includes degrees in Psychology and Social Work, augmented by several years of coursework in digital photography at Rochester Institute of Technology. Her fine art photographs have been exhibited and sold since 2002 at venues such as the Fingerlakes Exhibition (Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY), the Dyer Arts Center at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester's Image City Photography Gallery, and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts.
Cemetery Reflections was a finalist for the 2023 Eric Hoffer Small Press Awards and the National Indie Excellence Awards for Photography.