Alexandra Kathryn Mosca — Exploring Life and Death: A Writer's Journey

I spend a lot of time in cemeteries–in both my capacity as a funeral director and writer, where I’ve found many a great story with rich historical context. But being in a cemetery after dark is a far different experience. I wouldn’t say it’s spooky, but it does give one a completely different perspective. That was the case last night when I attended Moonrise, an innovative experience at Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, with my best girlfriend, Doris. Moonrise was a two-mile stroll through the cemetery. with performance artists strategically positioned along the way. Our ties to Green-Wood run deep. Doris is the cemetery’s “go to” funeral director, and I wrote a book about the place. And while we have covered every inch of Green-Wood’s grounds over the years, it is something to behold at night.

The Gothic gates of Green-Wood welcomed us.

One of the many talented performance artists.

The monument of Nathaniel Currier of Currier & Ives fame looked otherworldly bathed in lilac.

With its contrast to the night’s sky, this monument captivated me.

Illuminated by candlelight, the memorial to 16-year-old Charlotte Canda looked positively ethereal.