Garden Conservancy New York Film Premiere: Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer

Tuesday, January 20, 2026, The Frick Collection

On January 20, 2026, at the Frick Collection, the Garden Conservancy held the New York premiere of the documentary film that explores the historic sanctuary of Harlem Renaissance poet, civil rights advocate, and passionate gardener Anne Spencer. Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum in Lynchburg, VA.

The documentary short film traces the evolution of Spencer's beloved garden from a personal retreat to a nationally significant cultural landscape. The garden was an oasis where she wrote much of her poetry, drawing inspiration and insights from the natural beauty surrounding her. It was a vibrant gathering place that was an important satellite location of the Harlem Renaissance. The Spencers housed and entertained 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. The home and garden are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Spencer's garden is one of the most significant examples of a preserved African American garden in the United States. A modest and deeply personal space, the garden is imbued with stories of civil rights advocacy, literary genius, and the many historic figures who walked its paths. The garden features a sculpture given to Spencer by W.E.B. Du Bois.

The garden's design blends original plants and sculptures with found objects that reflect both Anne and Edward Spencer's artistry and creative spirit. In the 1980s, the garden underwent a thoughtful restoration, initiated by Anne Spencer's son, Chauncey Spencer, led by the Hillside Garden Club, which worked to preserve its unique character and connection to Spencer's literary legacy. The Garden Conservancy advised on a second restoration of key garden elements in 2008 including the pergola, arbors, and pond.

The film 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. The film was created by filmmakers David and Michael Udris, Producer Pamela Governale and Executive Producer Kate Cordsen.

The Garden Conservancy would like to thank the evening’s distinguished panelists: Brent Leggs, Strategic Advisor to the CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation; Maeve Turner, Head of Gardens and Horticulture, the Frick Collection; and Filmmakers Michael and David Udris.

Our sincere thanks to Chuck and Deborah Royce for making this evening possible and to Ritchie Battle, Shelley Belling, Camille Butrus, and Christabel Vartanian for their generous support of this event.