Holy Cross Home
 
SearchSite IndexDirectionsWeb ServicesCalendar

 

 

News & Recent Developments

Overview

History of the Project

The Jesuit Connection to Japanese Gardens and Tea Ceremony

Background

The Proposal

Marc Keane's Design

Benefits to Holy Cross

References and Resources

 

 


RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Winter, 2006:

Steering Committee meets, welcomes new members, charts study plans, future events, fund raising possibilities.

Read Minutes from February 13, 2006 meeting (pdf file)

Fall, 2005:

Trustees approve the formal presentation of the Garden Initiative, with the estimated cost calculated by the College architect and Marc Keane as 3.7 million dollars. Development Office approved to send garden brochures to potential donors.

Spring, 2005:

College administration commissions Marc Keane to return to Holy Cross for meeting with college architect and physical plant staff to determine more precise cost estimate for garden as designed. ADA issue resolved. Process defined for submitting proposal to College trustees, perhaps in September, in meeting with College Vice President Michael Lochhead.

Garden Initiative and Keane Design presented to Vice President Jacqueline Peterson and Hogan Center Advisory Board

Fall, 2004:

Boston-based Urasenke Tea teacher Glen Periera visits campus to lecture for Prof. Mark Lincicome's class; expresses strong support and interest in developing future tea ceremony classes on campus.

New additions made to Steering Committee: Head of Chaplin's Office, Kim McElaney; Leila Philip, Professor, English Department

April, 2004:

Urasenke tea master Jennifer Anderson does day-long tray form tea ceremony workshops, assisted by Holy Cross tea students. Over ninety faculty, students, and staff participate

Marc Keane's Design is presented in the lecture series, in booklet form to the college administration, and published on the Garden Initiative Web Site. Design wins support by faculty, students, staff. Issues regarding access for handicapped raised.

February, 2004:

Proposal for Campus Garden site Commissioned

Holy Cross administration hires architect Marc Keane to prepare a Garden complex prospectus on a site close to the hillside between stein Hall and Carlin dormitory. This will be unveiled at Keane's campus lecture on April 15th.

Spring Semester, 2004:

Faculty-Student Seminar "Cultural and Historical Backgrounds of the Japanese Garden" will bring experts from around the world for campus lectures

December, 2003:

On-Campus Consultation with Marc Keane, Architect and Scholar of Japanese Gardens

  • Well-attended and received lecture in Rehm
  • Day-long consultation with Lewis, Lincicome, Hoffmann, J. Hogan; afternoon meeting added C. Weiss and S. Merrill
  • Separate Summary of findings written

October, 2003:

Todd Lewis, George Hoffman and Jim Hogan make presentation for the Development Office staff

August, 2003:

NEH focus grant funding awarded; Faculty lecture series planned for Spring term

June, 2003:

  • George Hoffman, Mark Lincicome, and Todd Lewis survey campus with Scott Merrill, Head of Physical Plant and Steering Committee Member; identify most promising site: behind the screen in the field east of Hart and in the woods.
  • Prof. Mark Lincicome visits Kyoto to make contacts with Kyoto Arts University and Urasenke Tea Institute
Spring Term, 2003:
  • Steering Committee met for Sushi Dinner and discussions on plan to proceed
  • Proposal for NEH Focus Grant Cultural and Historical Backgrounds of the Japanese Garden submitted
  • Prof. Lewis meets with the Director of the Holy Cross Development Office to begin fund raising initiative
  • End of term reception held in Dinand Library to examine new library acquisitions
  • First donation for the garden received ($500)
September, 2002:
  • Japanese Garden Steering Committee formed.

Summer, 2002: Library Acquisitions Underway Head Librarian Jim Hogan agreed to institute an immediate and rapid upgrade of College holdings on Japanese and Chinese gardens, Japanese houses, and Tea Ceremony. At present over one hundred new titles have been ordered, some from used book suppliers. These resources will be helpful during the grant writing process.

Winter 2002: Proposal Accepted by the College!!

At a meeting held on February 14th, Holy Cross President Michael MacFarland, Provost Frank Vellaccio, Vice President Stephen Ainlay, and Todd Lewis, the administration agreed to accept the proposal that would lead to building a garden on campus.

The general principles presented in the proposal were affirmed; these include integrating the garden with academic and contemplative programs, seeking the widest possible involvement among students and faculty across disciplines, and community-based development of the garden siting/design.

The question of where to put the garden remains open and must wait on major campus decisions on where to site new dormitories and the new College entrance to Highway 146. Siting the garden is an issue that will obviously be central to future group studies and expert consultations.