Successful "Journey"

The opening reception and exhibition of Journey From Africa to Gullah was a huge success!

SCSU President Dr. George E. Cooper and IP Stanback Museum and Planetarium Director Ellen Zisholtz welcomed the crowd of about 300. The Ujiima Dancers performed, Aunt Pearlie Sue (Anita Singleton Prather) imparted words of wisdom, and everyone got a chance to enjoy authentic Gullah cuisine, provided by Singleton Catering, Sallie Ann Robinson, author of Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way, and Joy from The Yard, located on the campus of SCSU.

Journey From Africa to Gullah begins with Bunce Island, in honor of the bicentennial of the end of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and explores the connection between Africa and the Gullah community of South Carolina. The exhibit showcases the unique relationship between African art and artifacts and those of the Gullah community. Contemporary artists who are inspired by the Gullah culture have their art showcased - including Arianne King-Comer, Al Davis, Charles Desaussure, Sam Doyle, Diane Britton Dunham, Dr. Tolulope Olugbenga Filani, (SCSU's Chair for Visual and Performing Arts and the Arts Education Coordinator), Allen Fireall, Cassandra Gillens, Floyd Gordon, Jonathan Green, Alyne Harris, Hank Herring, William Johnson, Alan Laird, Richard Law, Judy Mooney, Geraldine Smith, Helen Stewart, Jery Bennett Taylor, Dr. Leo Twiggs, Luther Vann, and Richard White. Planetarium Manager Dr. Elizabeth Mayo conducted a planetarium show that explored how the stars were incorporated in Negro Spirituals and used as a navigation tool aiding the escape of slaves via the Underground Railroad. Loans of art and artifacts are by the artists, Penn Center, Red Piano Too Gallery, The Gallery, the Charleston Museum, College of Charleston and Mary Inabinett Mack. An African Elephant safari tent used for hunting, donated by the Starnes Family, along with slave shackles from the James Brown Estate, are also available for viewing.

A series of lectures, workshops and performances titled The Journey Continues began at the opening reception and continues on Thursday evenings in October and November. These will include discussions on Priscilla’s Story with Joseph Opala and Thomalind Martin Polite; screening of the film, Family Across the Sea, the Journey Back to Sierra Leone, with Emory S. Campbell; performances by Ronald Daise, Aunt Pearlie Sue and the Gullah Kinfolk, and workshops in Indigo by Arianne King-Comer and basket making by Jery Taylor.

Journey from Africa to Gullah was curated by the Stanback’s Director, Ellen Zisholtz, and will be on exhibit until January 12, 2009.