A Brief History of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The former president of Arts Britannia, Ltd., Marjorie G. Rosen has helped to shape the global state of horticulture by participating in the work of numerous boards and committees in the U.S. and England. For many years, Marjorie G. Rosen held a position on the Friends and Foundation Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, also known as Kew Gardens.

Located in London, the gardens trace their roots to 1759, when Princess August, the mother of King George III, established a botanical garden in what is today the Kew grounds. Great explorers like Captain Cook and others reaching other worldwide destinations furnished rare seeds from distant places such as Jamaica, South Africa, and Tahiti.

In 1840, the gardens were opened to the public, and in 1853, the Herbarium, which today holds more than 7 million plant species, was built. In 1896, women joined the Kew workforce for the first time, and, in 1952, a breakthrough scientific discovery in DNA was made by Watson and Crick, its findings still utilized today.

More recently, Kew became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2009. Today, the gardens continue as among the most popular tourist attractions in London.

Defining Features of English Gardens

Noted garden design enthusiast Marjorie G. Rosen has been a prominent figure in horticultural circles in New York and the UK as a longtime board member of the Royal Oak Foundation, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the New York Botanical Garden. Marjorie G. Rosen, who presided over the British company Arts Britannia, Ltd., for nearly 25 years, first fell in love with gardens while living in London in the 1970s and ‘80s. 

Beautiful traditional English-style gardens can be found across London and other cities in the UK. Some of the defining features of an English garden include:

-Man-made lakes: Larger English gardens planned in the naturalist style often include water features in the form of artificial small streams, ponds, and lakes. However, the water elements have organic borders and blend in naturally with the landscape. 
-Climbing plants: In the cottage-style English garden, climbing plants such as ivy, rose, and jasmine can be found growing on the side of a house or along structures made from wire or wood. Climbing plants can also be used to camouflage wear and tear on an exterior wall. 
-Herbs: During the Victorian Age, home gardens were the primary source of medicinal herbs. Today, culinary herbs, such as oregano, mint, and thyme, are commonly found in English gardens. Experts advise to grow these plants in separate pots or plant them along paved footpaths.

ICP Infinity Honoree Jess T. Dugan Explores Identity and Intimacy

As a philanthropist and supporter of the creative and visual arts, Marjorie G. Rosen has held several leadership positions with public service organizations based New York City, including the New York Botanical Garden and Friends of the Costume Institute. Marjorie G. Rosen is also deeply involved with the International Center of Photography (ICP) and has played a key role in the organization’s Infinity Awards Committee.

For more than three decades, ICP has held its annual Infinity Awards to celebrate artists and photographers in multiple areas of visual art, including fashion photography and photojournalism. The 2019 Honoree for the category Emerging Talent is 32-year-old photographer Jess T. Dugan, who is renowned for her raw and sensual portraits. 

In her 2015 exhibition, Every Breath We Drew, Dugan explored the overlapping experiences between deliberately constructed masculinity and seeking intimate connection with others. Her subjects are posed in normally personal settings, such as their bedrooms, conveying vulnerability and closeness. 

The collection also includes several self-portraits, which symbolize the artist’s own desire to internalize traits she associates with gentle masculinity. Every Breath We Drew will be shown at Truman State University from January 21 to February 28, 2020.

The International Center of Photography's Annual Infinity Awards

Marjorie G. Rosen is the former president of Arts Brittania Ltd., a private company in London, United Kingdom. The organization was co-founded by Mrs. Rosen and provided private or group tours for the decorative and fine arts. Today, Marjorie G. Rosen lives in the United States and is a member of an array of professional organizations relating to her interests, such as the International Center of Photography.

The International Center of Photography (ICP) is a global institution dedicated to the art of photography and visual culture that is based in New York City, New York. The ICP was founded in 1974 in order to keep “Concerned Photography,” or photography concerning social activism or humanitarian documentation, alive in the arts. Today, the ICP has a school, museum, library, collection and media center, and a plethora of programs and community outreach in order to create awareness about the role of visual art in the contemporary world’s culture.

Along with continuous workshops, exhibits, and other programs, ICP also hosts an annual awards event, called the Infinity Awards. The Infinity Awards celebrates the outstanding artists each year who work in photography and the visual arts, while also serving as ICP’s premier fundraising event for its multitude of programs and educational outreaches. The awards were established not long after ICP itself, with the first ceremony in 1985, and has since recognized professionals across the visual arts, such as photojournalists, fashion photographers, publishers, and more. Notable past recipients include Anne Leibovitz, Sebastiao Salgado, and Berenice Abbott.

Research Initiatives at the New York Botanical Garden

A longtime horticulturalist based in London, Marjorie G. Rosen spent nearly 25 years as the president of Arts Britannia Ltd. Marjorie G. Rosen has also been a member of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) since 2002 and has served as the vice chairman of the board since 2013. 

An international leader in plant research and conservation, the NYBG sponsors a broad range of research initiatives around the globe. Core research projects at the NYBG include New York City EcoFlora, which is dedicated to protecting the diversity of plants, animals, fungi, and ecosystems in the New York City metropolitan area. Drawing on data from natural history collections and institutions, the project attempts to shield the region’s biodiversity from the impact of development and climate change. 

On a broader scale, the NYBG sponsors conservation assessments of plants located throughout the Americas. Thanks to a streamlined assessment method for plant conservation, the NYBG hopes to complete initial assessments for all plant species in the Western Hemisphere. Using this data, international agencies such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature can prevent trafficking of protected species.

The ICP’s Infinity Awards

After having served as the president of her company Arts Britannia in both the UK and the US, Marjorie G. Rosen is now the vice chairman of the New York Botanical Garden and chair of its horticulture committee. She is also a co-chair of the International Center of Photography (ICP) acquisitions committee. In that role, Marjorie G. Rosen contributes to putting on the organization’s yearly Infinity Awards, which are held in New York City. 

Founded in 1974, the ICP works to promote and support photography and other visual media that engage with social issues. The Infinity Awards have been held every year since 1985 to highlight visual work in the fields of fashion photography, art, photojournalism, and publishing. 

Celebrities like models Naomi Campbell and Karlie Kloss attend the New York City awards, and past winners have included photographer Annie Leibovitz and National Geographic photojournalist Lynsey Addario. The proceeds from the event support the ICP, including its museum, library, and photography school.