Join us on Thursday, May 15 for an evening of art, conversation and community as we celebrate Lakewood’s inaugural Artist in Residence program. Our new initiative highlights the power of art in supporting grief and healing, inspired by our beginnings as a garden cemetery. Before the Minneapolis Institute of Arts came to be, Lakewood served as an open-air museum where visitors came both to pay respects and to admire the artistry of our memorials and sculptures. Today, art continues to be an integral part of our space as we reimagine the role of a cemetery in modern life by welcoming our first cohort of artists.
Our talk and Q&A in the chapel, beginning at 6 PM, will be followed by a reception in the Welcome Center.
Meet the Artists
Diana Eicher
Recycling and Repurposing the Flowers of Lakewood
Diana Eicher faced a beautiful dilemma: each week, her boyfriend brought her a bouquet of flowers, but she found the blooms too meaningful to discard after they wilted. Around that time, her wide-ranging career in the arts—spanning fiber, ceramics, painting and printmaking—led her to a new passion: papermaking. The flowers became the perfect addition to her budding papermaking collection, a craft she finds both mysterious and magical.
Currently Director of Printmaking at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), Diana explains that printmaking offers a clear vision of the final product, while papermaking allows for unexpected and enchanting results. Diana is also passionate about repurposing natural materials. She collects banana peels, iris leaves and now Lakewood’s discarded flowers to make handmade paper—some sheets as large as 4-by-6 feet. These tactile surfaces are beautiful in their own right or as a surface for drawing or painting, adding literal and figurative layers to her work.
Diana’s role as Artist in Residence at Lakewood holds special meaning for her because she grew up visiting cemeteries with her father. “Dad and I would spend time together walking through cemeteries, and he would point out our relatives’ memorials. I helped him clean gravestones, too.” These experiences influenced Diana’s project by both honoring the symbolic nature of flowers in grieving and providing a tactile connection to the community.
Diana’s final exhibit will feature hand-printed and drawn works on these papers. Additionally, she’ll lead two workshops, inviting participants to learn block printing and create their own art on handmade paper. Diana hopes these sessions will spark creativity and connection.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity,” she says. “It’s so rare to find support and funding for artistic work.”
R.J. Kern
Ethereal Echoes: A Journey of Light
Internationally exhibited and widely acclaimed for his evocative photography, R.J. Kern describes himself not just as a photographer, but as a visual artist. His photos have been displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London, and he was named one of PDN’s (Photo District News) “30 New and Emerging Photographers” in 2018, but during his residency at Lakewood, he’s looking forward to the opportunity to experiment beyond photography.
A student of world religions, R.J. will merge Buddhist concepts of impermanence and rebirth with a unique photographic technique called Chromoskedasic printing. Using expired silver gelatin prints, this alchemical process creates oxidized, mirror-like surfaces that echo 19th-century daguerreotypes, a process used around the time of Lakewood’s founding. These meditative pieces invite viewers to contemplate the cycles of life—birth, community and mortality—through a new lens.
R.J.’s connection to Lakewood includes having many loved ones memorialized here. This personal, profound connection adds another layer to his art. As he turns his focus to abstract compositions that venture outside his usual sphere, he looks forward to taking joy in creativity and uncertainty, embracing the process of discovery. When talking about his work, R.J. told a story about famed chef Ina Garten. “She’s been working on baking the perfect Boston Cream Pie for decades. But as she says, there’s always room for more creativity.”
Andrew Grum Carr
An Opening
A transformative moment in Andrew Grum Carr’s teaching career came about after a scheduling snafu. A planned field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts transformed into a visit to Lakewood’s historic Memorial Chapel. Moved by that sacred space and the unparalleled beauty of the chapel’s Byzantine mosaic art, Andrew and his students reflected on the recent death of a classmate by suicide. The group’s conversation was raw, profound and unforgettable—and it stayed with Andrew long after.
A painter and writer, Andrew’s work is rooted in stillness and reflection. Whether through words or watercolor, he seeks quiet moments and gentle rhythms. That day at Lakewood inspired him to explore the intersection of grief, memory and community—an exploration he continues through this residency.
Andrew’s project will include an extended narrative essay about that chapel experience, along with a series of nine large watercolors that will capture Lakewood throughout the changing seasons. Influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, these meditative landscapes will accompany the essay.
Throughout his residency, Andrew will be a visible presence on the grounds, sketching and painting in real time. His nine-month project will include a new set of seasonal paintings completed every three months, along with public readings in the chapel.
Andrew says, “I hope the community will join me in taking time to slow down, observe, and contemplate the cyclical nature of grief and time.” Andrew feels that Lakewood is the perfect spot; “Lakewood is more than a cemetery—it’s a place of openness, memory and quiet beauty.”
Sarah M. Greer
Giving Voice to Grief
Sarah Greer (she/they) will tell you that everyone can sing. And, most important for her project, singing can be a pathway to healing. As a composer and recording artist, Sarah’s work has evolved in response to significant events such as the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. These traumas influenced their approach to music, prompting them to explore how to use singing as a tool for processing grief. Through community sessions, they facilitate public grieving and healing, using musical prompts sourced from the sounds of distress and grief.
Before fully embracing music, Sarah worked in a rape crisis center and at a woodworking magazine—experiences that deepened their understanding of resilience and the power of creativity. About 15 years ago, they returned to school to earn a vocal performance degree and have since built a career as a singing artist.
One of their long-standing contributions is Songtaneous, a song circle launched in 2006. This monthly gathering provides a space for singing and improvisation, allowing participants to explore their voices (and themselves) in a supportive environment. Despite challenges including the pandemic, the circle continues to meet.
Through an innovative approach to singing and community building, Sarah continues to inspire and support individuals in finding their voices and using them to navigate the complexities of life. Sarah’s work is a testament to the power of music to bring people together, heal wounds, and create lasting connections.
Meet the artists in person
Join us on Thursday, May 15 from 6 – 8:30 PM, for a free public talk and reception to learn more about our artists and their projects. This event will include a talk and Q&A in the chapel, followed by a reception in the Welcome Center. Chapel seating is limited, so RSVPs are requested.
