In the Greenhouse Ruins

Friday, October 9, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta. Cooper Sanchez will present his fifth body of artwork since 2004 in the ruins of Atlanta’s first public greenhouse from 7-10 p.m. This one night only event and showing of Sanchez’s work, along with live music, food and wine will benefit restoration efforts of Oakland Cemetery, one of Atlanta’s enduring gems.

After working in the cemetery over the past year as part of the tornado recovery and restoration gardening installation, Sanchez developed this body of work not only from an interest specifically in Oakland Cemetery but also from a general interest in things forgotten, past, and in a state of ruin.

“I’d like to help generate interest in this beautiful Atlanta space and all the history surrounding it. The tornado of 2008 took down over 95 oak trees. Those cannot be replaced in our lifetime, but I’d like to help continue the garden tradition of the cemetery and make investments that our descendants can enjoy as we have.”

Sanchez is particularly interested in the beautification of Potter’s Field. ”I plan on donating a percentage of any profits from this show to plantings in this area of the cemetery which has so many unmarked graves that are gone but not forgotten. I’d like to honor the memory of those buried with flowers and gardens, as the cemetery with it’s functioning greenhouse was historically designed to do.”

The Oakland greenhouse was Atlanta’s first public greenhouse. It was leveled in the 1970′s during a storm and was never restored. All that remains is the surrounding brick walls and toppled cement tables.

Over the past six months, with the permission of Sam Reed, Oakland cemetery’s sexton, Sanchez has been improving the site in preparation for his showing in October. Cooper’s involvement with Phase 1 and 2 restoration has been through Atlanta Fine Gardens and the Historic Oakland Foundation.

Sponsors for the event include Six Feet Under, Atlanta Fine Gardens, Ryan Gainey & Company, Bobo Intriguing Objects and Greg Fricks Wine Provisions.

Cooper Sanchez is a native Georgian currently living in Clarkston, an old farming community outside Decatur. Born in Rome, Georgia, he has also lived in Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; and New York, NY. He moved to the Atlanta area after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 1999. He began his career as a collage artist and has since developed a painting style based on classical aesthetics with a raw/gut approach inspired by sentimental and nature themes. Over the past 5 years, and with the help of honey bees, he has cultivated a drought tolerant meadow and a small edible garden in his own yard.