“LIVE OAK LIGHTS: Illuminating Our Heritage”
~ A Celebration of the Gullah Culture ~
Sunday, April 24, 2016, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m
Daniel Island Children’s Park
101 River Landing Drive, Daniel Island S.C. 29492
(RAIN LOCATION: Daniel Island School Multi-Purpose Room)
Presented by The Daniel Island Historical Society
It’s back for the second year! Prepare to be dazzled as we take to the streets to raise awareness about our majestic Live Oaks, while celebrating the Gullah culture!
Please join us in making this free, community-wide event a success. We have a wonderful array of festive activities planned for the whole family, including sweetgrass basket-making, Gullah storytelling and singing, a drumline performance from The Music Battery, art in the park, history walks led by local author Herb Frazier, a poetry workshop, and much, much more!
Here is a Schedule of Events:
Ironworks Demonstrations by the Philip Simmons Foundation – 4 to 7 p.m.
Gullah-inspired music and storytelling by The Plantation Singers – 6 to 7 p.m.
“Crossing the Rivers” History Walks along the Wando with local author Herb Frazier – 4:15 & 5:15 p.m.
Join local author Herb Frazier for a walk down to the Wando River as he explores the important role our Lowcountry waterways played in the lives of the Gullah people. From transporting goods grown on the Cainhoy Peninsula to places beyond, to providing sustenance for families through fishing and the harvesting of oysters, to offering spiritual refreshment, water was a life spring for those in the close-knit Gullah communities who called this land home. Mr. Frazier currently serves as the public relations and marketing manager for Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and is the author of the book Behind God’s Back: Gullah Memories of Cainhoy, Wando, Huger, Daniel Island, and St.Thomas Island.
Rag quilting and Gullah doll-making with Sharon Cooper Murray – 4 to 7 p.m. (This program is sponsored by South Carolina Humanities, a not-for-profit organization; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage).
Arts & Crafts for Kids presented by the Academy of Rightbrain Technology – 4 to 7 p.m.
Kids are invited to join A.R.T. in creating beautiful Textured Rice Paintings! Rice will be dyed vibrant colors and arranged in a unique design. Rice was a major staple of the Gullah diet, and knowledge of rice farming helped inform many of the cultural traditions so specific to the Gullah/Geechee people. Come and make a bright, beautiful masterpiece to remind you of the rich cultural Gullah heritage!
Art in the Park – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“If these trees could talk, what stories would they tell?”
Join us for a day of fun and creativity as we honor Daniel Island’s beautiful and majestic Grand Live Oaks! This special event is being held as part of the Daniel Island Historical Society’s Live Oak Campaign. We invite you to come and create your own rendition of an Oak Tree near Children’s Park and the River Landing Drive “Oaks Allee” using any medium you would like. There is no charge to participate, but artists are asked to bring their own supplies, including a chair and easel (if needed), as well as art materials. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, please send an email with your name, age (if under 18), address, email and phone to Karol Skelly at k_skelly@bellsouth.net. There will also be opportunities to Adopt A Live Oak!
Gullah-style food offered by Cainhoy Chef B.J. Dennis (fee) – 4 to 7 p.m.
“History & Haikus” workshop for writers of all ages, presented by author Crystal Klimavicz – 3:15, 3:35, & 3:55 p.m.
Gullah Fashion Show presented by Cainhoy Seamstress Janet Wright of Clements Ferry Alterations – 5:15 p.m.
Burial customs and home-going practices of the Gullah people, presented by Veronica Gerald – 4 to 7 p.m.
Music Battery Drumline performance! – 4:30 p.m.
A variety of local artisans will also be on hand selling items for purchase – 4 to 7 p.m.
Adopt a Live Oak! – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Click on the flyer below for all the details!
An Evening with Jonathan Green!
Please also make plans to join us for a not-to-be-missed ticketed reception event at the Daniel Island Sales Center featuring internationally acclaimed Gullah-inspired artist Jonathan Green, Chairman of the Lowcountry Rice Culture Project and Visual Designer of the 2016 Spoleto production of “Porgy and Bess.” Joining Jonathan for the program will be Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, founder of the annual Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival and supporter of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
The program will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm and will feature hors d’oeuvres, beverages, prize drawings, and live musical entertainment. Reception guests will be the first to have an opportunity to purchase a signed or unsigned limited edition print of Jonathan’s Rice Plantation, created especially for this occasion and one of only a select few in his acclaimed Rice Harvest series to be offered as a poster print.
Rice Plantation, 2013 – Acrylic on Arches Paper © Jonathan Green
**** UPDATE ****
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR “EVENING WITH JONATHAN GREEN” RECEPTION IS NOW SOLD-OUT AND TICKETS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. If you are interested in purchasing Mr. Green’s commemorative poster for the event (pictured above), please email DIHS President Brenda Thorn at bthorn711@aol.com.
In addition, we are asking all Daniel Island residents and business owners to light up any Live Oak trees they have on their properties on the evening of April 24. What a sight it will be to see our Grand Live Oaks lit up in all their glory!
Interested in helping to sponsor our event? Please let us know! Email us at dihistoricalsociety@gmail.com or call our event coordinator Lee Ann Bain at (843) 822-5248.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LIVE OAK LIGHTS SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS!
Header image by Peter Finger of Peter Finger Photography