Brookgreen Gardens Near Pawley’s Island, SC, Offers Lecture by Joseph Opala – Jan. 21, 2017

Historian and anthropologist Joseph Opala will kick-off the 2017 “The Reign of Rice Lecture Series” at Brookgreen Gardens near Pawley’s Island, SC. The theme for the three-monthly programs, which provide information about the complexity of Gullah Geechee heritage through the production of rice, is “Shared Cultural Elements of Rice Heritage.” In recognition of Native American shared cultural vestiges, Opala will present “The Black Seminoles:  Gullah Freedom Fighters and the African Frontier in North America” at 1pm in the Welcome Center Conference Room on Jan. 21, 2017. The program is free with garden admission. Seating must be reserved at 843/235-6049.

Opala, of Harrisonburg, VA, is known for his research on the “Gullah Connection.” He has spent 40 years using historical discoveries to bring Sierra Leoneans, Gullahs, and Black Seminoles together in a series of homecomings along the entire migration route, from West Africa to Mexico.  His talk will relay how some Gullahs used their rice farming skills to win their freedom.

Other events about Gullah heritage include an educational exhibit and two Wednesday programs.

“Shine On, Gullah. Shine On.”, an exhibit of Story Quilts, Fabric Collages, and Prints by Fabric Chronicler Dorothy Montgomery of Charleston, will be displayed at Learning Lab I of the Wall Lowcountry Center from 12-4:30 p.m. daily from Jan. 9 through Mar. 12, 2017. Her art reflects Gullah history and culture and her Gullah experiences, including language and traditions. Each quilt uses a variety of mediums including fabric and acrylic paints, ink, crayons, embroidery floss, dye sticks, and appliqués.

The Wednesday “Gullah Geechee Program Series” will feature two guest presenters. On Jan. 18, Montgomery will present a lecture about her exhibit. On Jan. 25, Gillian Richards-Greaves, Ph.D., will present “Connections with Gullah Geechee and Caribbean/West African Cultures,” identifying Africanisms/African retentions in both.  Richards-Greaves is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Geography and the Assistant Director for the Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies at Coastal Carolina University.  Each program will be at 1pm, in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium and is free with garden admission. Seating must be reserved at 843/235-6049.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on US 17 between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, SC, and is open to the public daily.

For more information, consult our web site at (www.brookgreen.org) or call 843/235-6000.

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Brookgreen Gardens Near Pawleys Island, SC, Offers Two-Day Art Festival – June 6 & 7, 2015

On June 6 & 7, 2015, Brookgreen Gardens, located near Pawleys Island, SC, offers a two-day Art Festival, featuring a juried show of over 50 local and national artists who will exhibit and sell their works including some limited editions. The festival is from 9:30am to 4pm, both days and is included in garden admission.

Held within the backdrop of the beautiful sculpture garden, guests will have a rare opportunity to meet more than 60 artists whose works are sold in Keepsakes and other fine galleries across the country. There will be demonstrations of pottery throwing, glass blowing, hand loom weaving, and a chance to learn the processes used in making much of the work on display.

Whimsical items, new art for the gardens, hand-loomed fabrics, commissioned works of art, and exotic woodcrafts with nautical theme are just a few of the items available for sale.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on US Hwy. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, SC, and is open to the public daily.

For more information, visit our web site at (www.brookgreen.org) or call 843/235-6000.