Garden Conservancy's Documentary Film "Earth, I Thank You" Debuts In 2 Locations On Long Island's East End
Landcraft Gardens in Mattituck on Saturday, August 1
The Church in Sag Harbor on Saturday, August 29
The Garden Conservancy’s documentary film Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer, which explores the historic sanctuary of Harlem Renaissance poet, civil rights advocate, and gardener Anne Spencer, will premiere on the East End of Long Island this August. The film had its world premiere at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture and its New York Premiere at The Frick Collection.
On Saturday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m., the film will be shown at Landcraft Gardens in Mattituck. James Brayton Hall, President and CEO of the Garden Conservancy, will introduce the film, which will be followed with readings by State Poet of New York Kimiko Hahn and Suffolk County Poet Laureate Chip Williford. For more information, visit https://www.landcraftgardenfoundation.org.
On Saturday, August 29, at 3 p.m., The Church in Sag Harbor’s presentation will include appearances by Brent Leggs, the President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the poet Kevin Young, 2026 Griffin Poetry Prize recipient and National Book Critics Circle Awardee, both of whom are featured in the film and who will reflect on the legacy and contributions of Anne Spencer as well as gardens in African American culture. For more information, visit www.thechurchsagharbor.org
The 37-minute documentary celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum in Lynchburg, VA. It is rare for a historic house and garden to survive intact—especially one belonging to an African American.
Spencer’s beloved garden was an oasis where she wrote much of her poetry, drawing inspiration and insights from the surrounding natural beauty. It was also a vibrant gathering place, welcoming luminaries and civil rights leaders including Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Thurgood Marshall, George Washington Carver, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Earth, I Thank You traces the evolution of the property from a personal retreat to a nationally significant cultural landscape. The home and garden are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register, ensuring their preservation for future generations. View the trailer at gardenconservancy.org/films.
The artist and Garden Conservancy board member Kate Cordsen is Executive Producer of the documentary. The documentary is made possible by the Suzanne and Frederic Rheinstein Fund for Documentary Films, a groundbreaking Garden Conservancy initiative envisioned by the late Suzanne Rheinstein to use film to capture the essence of gardens and their historical significance.
