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Strawberry Fields (memorial)

January 01, 1970

40°46′32″N 73°58′30″W / 40.77556°N 73.97500°W / 40.77556; -73.97500

Strawberry Fields
Notable buildings and structures of Central Park. Click on the map and then on the points for details.
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Strawberry Fields is a 2.5-acre (1.0 ha) landscaped section in New York City's Central Park, designed by the landscape architect Bruce Kelly, that is dedicated to the memory of former Beatles member John Lennon. It is named after the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever", written by Lennon. The song itself is named for the former Strawberry Field children's home in Liverpool, England, located near Lennon's childhood home.

Description edit

 
Strawberry Fields with The Dakota in the background

The entrance to the memorial is located on Central Park West at West 72nd Street, near where John Lennon was murdered outside his home, the Dakota. The memorial is a triangular piece of land falling away on the two sides of the park, and its focal point is a circular pathway mosaic of inlaid stones, with a single word, the title of Lennon's most famous song "Imagine". The mosaic, in the style of Portuguese pavement, is based on a Greco-Roman design. It was created by Italian craftsmen and was donated as a gift by the Italian city of Naples.[1][2]

A "floral border" surrounds Strawberry Fields.[3] Along the borders of the area surrounding the mosaic are benches which are endowed in memory of other individuals and maintained by the Central Park Conservancy. Along a path toward the southeast, a plaque on a low glaciated outcropping of schist lists the nations which contributed to building the memorial. Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, who still lives in The Dakota, contributed over a million dollars for the landscaping and the upkeep endowment.

The mosaics at the heart of a series of open and secret glades of lawn and glacier-carved rock outcroppings, bounded by shrubs and mature trees and woodland slopes, all designated a "quiet zone". A woodland walk winds through edge plantings between the glade-like upper lawn and the steep wooded slopes; it contains native rhododendrons and hollies, Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), viburnums, and jetbead. Wild shrub roses and a mature pink Magnolia × soulangeana flank the main walk. At the farthest northern tip of the upper series of lawns enclosed by woodland are three dawn redwood trees, which lose their needles but regain them every spring, an emblem of eternal renewal. The trees can be expected to reach a height of 36 metres (118 ft) within 100 years, and eventually they will be visible from great distances in the park.

History edit

 
The caption "Imagine" on the memorial mosaic
 
On the 30th anniversary of Lennon's death

Creation edit

In April 1981, a patch of land in Central Park, near the Dakota Apartments where Lennon lived with Ono, was officially named "Strawberry Fields" in his memory.[4] That August, it was announced that Strawberry Fields would be completely renovated and landscaped, since at the time, Strawberry Fields was located in an isolated median between West Drive and two slip roads of 72nd Street.[5][3] Yoko Ono requested that the rebuilt memorial be a "living memorial" rather than a statue; according to NYC Parks landscape architect Arne Abramowitz, Ono believed that "there are enough statues in Central Park".[3]

The memorial was designed by Bruce Kelly, the chief landscape architect for the Central Park Conservancy.[6] Construction on the project started in April 1984.[7] Strawberry Fields was dedicated on what would have been Lennon's 45th birthday, October 9, 1985, by Ono and mayor Ed Koch.[8] Speaking on behalf of the United Nations at the dedication was Marcela Pérez de Cuéllar, the UN first lady.[9]

The "Imagine" mosaic was not placed on sufficient foundation and began to noticeably sink in 2007.[10]

Usage edit

The memorial is often covered with flowers, candles in glasses, and other belongings left behind by Lennon's fans. On Lennon's birthday (October 9) and on the anniversary of his death (December 8), people gather to sing songs and pay tribute, staying late into what is often a cold night. The tributes usually run all night, but for a period through the late 1990s and early 2000s, mayor Rudy Giuliani enforced a curfew, which prohibited people from being inside Central Park after it closed each day at 1:00 a.m.[11][12] Gatherings also take place on the birthdays of other Beatles. Impromptu memorial gatherings for other musicians, including Jerry Garcia and George Harrison, have occurred at the memorial. In the days following the September 11 attacks, candlelight vigils were held at the Imagine Circle to remember those killed.

On weekends, musicians often play for the enjoyment of thousands of fans from around the world who visit the site. These musicians formerly conflicted frequently with each other, but since at least 2016, had adhered to an informal code of conduct.[13]

Strawberry Fields, an opera by Michael Torke to a libretto by A. R. Gurney, takes place at the memorial. Act II of a trilogy entitled Central Park jointly commissioned by Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, and Great Performances, it was premiered by the Glimmerglass Festival on July 24, 1999, and was later produced by New York City Opera.[14][15][16]

"Mayor of Strawberry Fields" edit

 
Gary Dos Santos (center) in July 2009

One of its best-known visitors was Gary dos Santos, a devoted Beatles fan who decorated the memorial in circles of different flowers and objects, often in the shape of a peace symbol.[17] Born Ayrton "Gary" Ferreira dos Santos Jr.,[18] he was a performance artist who for 19 years installed flower designs around and within the "Imagine" mosaic here.[19] His work has been documented in The New York Times. Dos Santos' income came from the tips he received from tourists as a result of his work, and the three-minute monologue he delivered to tourists describing his work and the life of John Lennon and his family.[19][20] Santos was the subject of a documentary film, The Mayor of Strawberry Fields, directed by Torre Catalano and distributed by Nehst Studios.[20]

For almost 20 years, he daily attended the memorial with his girlfriend of 15 years, Lisa Page, and their dog, Mary Jane, and was well known by many long-time local residents. In September 2013 Santos was diagnosed with leukemia. After spending about nine weeks in the hospital, he died in November 2013.[21]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Strawberry Fields". centralpark.com. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  2. ^ "Strawberry Fields". Central Park Conservancy. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, John (August 30, 1981). "A living memorial for Lennon". New York Daily News. pp. 246, 254 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ "The City; Central Park Section To Honor Lennon". The New York Times. April 17, 1981. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  5. ^ Krebs, Albin; Thomas, Robert McG. (August 22, 1981). "NOTES ON PEOPLE; Strawberry Fields Is in for a Restoration". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Dunlap, David W. (January 23, 1993). "Bruce Kelly, 44, Architect of Strawberry Fields". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Anderson, Susan Heller; Bird, David (March 22, 1984). "NEW YORK DAY BY DAY; Ground Is Broken For Strawberry Fields". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  8. ^ Dowd, Maureen (October 9, 1985). "STRAWBERRY FIELDS 'GARDEN OF PEACE' OPENS TODAY". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Memorial to Lennon". The New York Times. New York, New York. October 9, 1985. p. A11. from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Astor, Maggie (September 13, 2007). "'Imagine' Mosaic Sinking in Park". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  11. ^ Kilgannon, Corey (December 5, 2002). "Strawberry Fields Not Forever As Fans Protest a Curfew". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  12. ^ Rose, Derek (December 8, 2000). "No all-night Lennon vigil". New York Daily News. p. 981. Retrieved April 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com  .
  13. ^ Kilgannon, Corey (May 1, 2016). "At Strawberry Fields, Feuding Musicians Give Peace a Chance". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  14. ^ "Strawberry Fields". MICHAEL TORKE. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  15. ^ Kozinn, Allan (July 26, 1999). "OPERA REVIEW; Playwrights As Librettists For a Trilogy Set in a Park (Published 1999)". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Holland, Bernard (November 15, 1999). "CITY OPERA REVIEW; Park Bench Habitues Play Out Life in Song (Published 1999)". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Chiaramonte, Perry (April 14, 2008). "Strawberry Jam". New York Post. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  18. ^ "Conheça lugares frequentados por John Lennon em Nova York" [Discover places frequented by John Lennon in New York]. Jornal Hoje (in Portuguese). October 9, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Kilgannon, Corey (December 8, 2009). "Devotee of Lennon Haunts Strawberry Fields". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  20. ^ a b Miers, Jeff (August 23, 2009). "Buffalo native's documentary explores art, film and homelessness in 'The Mayor of Strawberry Fields'". Buffalo News.
  21. ^ "Mayor of Strawberry Fields in Central Park dies at 49". PIX 11. November 27, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strawberry Fields memorial.
  • Official site March 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  • NYC Parks Department Historical Sign

January 01, 1970
strawberry, fields, memorial, 77556, 97500, 77556, 97500, strawberry, fields, notable, buildings, structures, central, park, click, then, points, details, this, viewtalkedit, strawberry, fields, acre, landscaped, section, york, city, central, park, designed, l. 40 46 32 N 73 58 30 W 40 77556 N 73 97500 W 40 77556 73 97500 Strawberry Fields Notable buildings and structures of Central Park Click on the map and then on the points for details This map viewtalkedit Strawberry Fields is a 2 5 acre 1 0 ha landscaped section in New York City s Central Park designed by the landscape architect Bruce Kelly that is dedicated to the memory of former Beatles member John Lennon It is named after the Beatles song Strawberry Fields Forever written by Lennon The song itself is named for the former Strawberry Field children s home in Liverpool England located near Lennon s childhood home Contents 1 Description 2 History 2 1 Creation 2 2 Usage 3 Mayor of Strawberry Fields 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp Strawberry Fields with The Dakota in the background The entrance to the memorial is located on Central Park West at West 72nd Street near where John Lennon was murdered outside his home the Dakota The memorial is a triangular piece of land falling away on the two sides of the park and its focal point is a circular pathway mosaic of inlaid stones with a single word the title of Lennon s most famous song Imagine The mosaic in the style of Portuguese pavement is based on a Greco Roman design It was created by Italian craftsmen and was donated as a gift by the Italian city of Naples 1 2 A floral border surrounds Strawberry Fields 3 Along the borders of the area surrounding the mosaic are benches which are endowed in memory of other individuals and maintained by the Central Park Conservancy Along a path toward the southeast a plaque on a low glaciated outcropping of schist lists the nations which contributed to building the memorial Lennon s widow Yoko Ono who still lives in The Dakota contributed over a million dollars for the landscaping and the upkeep endowment The mosaics at the heart of a series of open and secret glades of lawn and glacier carved rock outcroppings bounded by shrubs and mature trees and woodland slopes all designated a quiet zone A woodland walk winds through edge plantings between the glade like upper lawn and the steep wooded slopes it contains native rhododendrons and hollies Carolina allspice Calycanthus floridus mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia viburnums and jetbead Wild shrub roses and a mature pink Magnolia soulangeana flank the main walk At the farthest northern tip of the upper series of lawns enclosed by woodland are three dawn redwood trees which lose their needles but regain them every spring an emblem of eternal renewal The trees can be expected to reach a height of 36 metres 118 ft within 100 years and eventually they will be visible from great distances in the park History edit nbsp The caption Imagine on the memorial mosaic nbsp On the 30th anniversary of Lennon s death Creation edit In April 1981 a patch of land in Central Park near the Dakota Apartments where Lennon lived with Ono was officially named Strawberry Fields in his memory 4 That August it was announced that Strawberry Fields would be completely renovated and landscaped since at the time Strawberry Fields was located in an isolated median between West Drive and two slip roads of 72nd Street 5 3 Yoko Ono requested that the rebuilt memorial be a living memorial rather than a statue according to NYC Parks landscape architect Arne Abramowitz Ono believed that there are enough statues in Central Park 3 The memorial was designed by Bruce Kelly the chief landscape architect for the Central Park Conservancy 6 Construction on the project started in April 1984 7 Strawberry Fields was dedicated on what would have been Lennon s 45th birthday October 9 1985 by Ono and mayor Ed Koch 8 Speaking on behalf of the United Nations at the dedication was Marcela Perez de Cuellar the UN first lady 9 The Imagine mosaic was not placed on sufficient foundation and began to noticeably sink in 2007 10 Usage edit The memorial is often covered with flowers candles in glasses and other belongings left behind by Lennon s fans On Lennon s birthday October 9 and on the anniversary of his death December 8 people gather to sing songs and pay tribute staying late into what is often a cold night The tributes usually run all night but for a period through the late 1990s and early 2000s mayor Rudy Giuliani enforced a curfew which prohibited people from being inside Central Park after it closed each day at 1 00 a m 11 12 Gatherings also take place on the birthdays of other Beatles Impromptu memorial gatherings for other musicians including Jerry Garcia and George Harrison have occurred at the memorial In the days following the September 11 attacks candlelight vigils were held at the Imagine Circle to remember those killed On weekends musicians often play for the enjoyment of thousands of fans from around the world who visit the site These musicians formerly conflicted frequently with each other but since at least 2016 had adhered to an informal code of conduct 13 Strawberry Fields an opera by Michael Torke to a libretto by A R Gurney takes place at the memorial Act II of a trilogy entitled Central Park jointly commissioned by Glimmerglass Opera New York City Opera and Great Performances it was premiered by the Glimmerglass Festival on July 24 1999 and was later produced by New York City Opera 14 15 16 Mayor of Strawberry Fields edit nbsp Gary Dos Santos center in July 2009 One of its best known visitors was Gary dos Santos a devoted Beatles fan who decorated the memorial in circles of different flowers and objects often in the shape of a peace symbol 17 Born Ayrton Gary Ferreira dos Santos Jr 18 he was a performance artist who for 19 years installed flower designs around and within the Imagine mosaic here 19 His work has been documented in The New York Times Dos Santos income came from the tips he received from tourists as a result of his work and the three minute monologue he delivered to tourists describing his work and the life of John Lennon and his family 19 20 Santos was the subject of a documentary film The Mayor of Strawberry Fields directed by Torre Catalano and distributed by Nehst Studios 20 For almost 20 years he daily attended the memorial with his girlfriend of 15 years Lisa Page and their dog Mary Jane and was well known by many long time local residents In September 2013 Santos was diagnosed with leukemia After spending about nine weeks in the hospital he died in November 2013 21 See also editList of music museumsReferences edit Strawberry Fields centralpark com Retrieved July 20 2012 Strawberry Fields Central Park Conservancy Retrieved October 17 2019 a b c Lewis John August 30 1981 A living memorial for Lennon New York Daily News pp 246 254 via Newspapers com nbsp The City Central Park Section To Honor Lennon The New York Times April 17 1981 Retrieved April 14 2019 Krebs Albin Thomas Robert McG August 22 1981 NOTES ON PEOPLE Strawberry Fields Is in for a Restoration The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2019 Dunlap David W January 23 1993 Bruce Kelly 44 Architect of Strawberry Fields The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2019 Anderson Susan Heller Bird David March 22 1984 NEW YORK DAY BY DAY Ground Is Broken For Strawberry Fields The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2019 Dowd Maureen October 9 1985 STRAWBERRY FIELDS GARDEN OF PEACE OPENS TODAY The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2019 Memorial to Lennon The New York Times New York New York October 9 1985 p A11 Archived from the original on January 14 2024 Retrieved January 16 2024 Astor Maggie September 13 2007 Imagine Mosaic Sinking in Park Columbia Daily Spectator Retrieved September 22 2009 Kilgannon Corey December 5 2002 Strawberry Fields Not Forever As Fans Protest a Curfew The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2019 Rose Derek December 8 2000 No all night Lennon vigil New York Daily News p 981 Retrieved April 15 2019 via Newspapers com nbsp Kilgannon Corey May 1 2016 At Strawberry Fields Feuding Musicians Give Peace a Chance The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2019 Strawberry Fields MICHAEL TORKE Retrieved December 8 2020 Kozinn Allan July 26 1999 OPERA REVIEW Playwrights As Librettists For a Trilogy Set in a Park Published 1999 The New York Times Retrieved December 8 2020 Holland Bernard November 15 1999 CITY OPERA REVIEW Park Bench Habitues Play Out Life in Song Published 1999 The New York Times Retrieved December 8 2020 Chiaramonte Perry April 14 2008 Strawberry Jam New York Post Retrieved September 16 2009 Conheca lugares frequentados por John Lennon em Nova York Discover places frequented by John Lennon in New York Jornal Hoje in Portuguese October 9 2010 Retrieved December 8 2020 a b Kilgannon Corey December 8 2009 Devotee of Lennon Haunts Strawberry Fields The New York Times Retrieved April 14 2013 a b Miers Jeff August 23 2009 Buffalo native s documentary explores art film and homelessness in The Mayor of Strawberry Fields Buffalo News Mayor of Strawberry Fields in Central Park dies at 49 PIX 11 November 27 2013 Retrieved March 5 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strawberry Fields memorial Official site Archived March 10 2014 at the Wayback Machine NYC Parks Department Historical Sign Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Strawberry Fields memorial amp oldid 1222027949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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