As part of my Artist Residency with The Coastal Discovery Museum, I created a recent exhibition which utilizes historical photography and other reference material to show a small portion of the incredible contributions of the Gullah people to the culture of Hilton Head. It is showing in the Culture HHI Gallery at the Island Rec Center for the Mini-Crescendo Art Festival during the month of May 2021. I am so honored to have the opportunity to share this work and to have had the opportunity to learn more about the culture of this group of residents through interviews and research. Please check out this short video showing some of the pieces and the curatorial statement that goes with the exhibition.

Curatorial Statement:

This exhibition is inspired by the contributions of the Gullah Geechee population of Hilton Head. They are a cultural resource that should be honored and protected along with the natural resources of the island. I recognize that I am an outsider creating this exhibition, and thus, I am creating this work with respect and with guidance from Gullah leaders on Hilton Head with the goal of shining light on contributions that have positively influenced life in the region. My hope is that these paintings will be a celebration and a reminder so we can build conservation of heritage and nature into the future. The work is created as a partnership with the Coastal Discovery Museum and will contribute to a larger exhibition in 2022, Lowcountry Soil. This project is supported by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

This exhibition speaks to the soul of the work I create – utilizing artifacts to tell a personal story, which the viewer can relate to, and find joy and understanding through. In this time of rapidly changing lifestyles of modern communities, my art reflects the need to explore what it means to be human, what mark we leave for current and future generations through daily rituals and interaction with nature.

Narrative which shows with the exhibition:

Faith, Family & Foundation has been a joy to create and also an opportunity for me to learn more about the Gullah people, their contributions to the region’s culture, and how the story of the island is not complete without recognizing their impact. As I researched and learned through videos provided by the Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice, I heard themes repeated from elders, contributors and researchers. These themes were of the importance of faith in God to the Gullah people above all others, and the anchor of family, and lastly how the land was the foundation, creating a place to stay in communion with the other two. I was honored to have spoken to Ms. Louis Cohen, founder of The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head and had the opportunity to ask her a few questions.

If you could share a special memory of growing up Gullah, what would it be?

One of my special memory of growing up Gullah is the Love of family, and the respect we had and still have for the Elders in our community!

 Is there a tradition, tool or skill that you are particularly proud of that was passed to you from your family?

I'm so happy that my family celebrated the holidays. Christmas and New Year's in particular. The Ring Shout was preformed in my family. They thought we wasn't paying attention to them, as they skillfully performed the shout. They died not knowing that I learned it by listening, watching and memorizing their performance. Today, I can proudly say, "Thank you, I got it".

If you could share with a stranger something you would want them to know about the Gullah people, what would it be?

I would tell them that we are human beings, fearfully, and wonderfully made by God, like everyone else. He chose to make us His People of Color. When we get happy, we will laugh like everyone else! When we are hurting, we will cry like everyone else! If  we are cut, we will bleed like everyone else. We are a loving, trusting people, but if you destroy that trust,  everybody in the community will know who you are,  what you did and that you can't be trusted!

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We all strive for meaning in life. I have been fascinated by history and personal stories that are their own record of history. I believe that we all have ancestors from our lives that left beautiful and positive marks on the world, as we hope our progeny will remember our marks. My work reflects this by utilizing the mundane as an artifact of proof that each life makes an impact and should be remembered. I began exploring ways to emphasize the meaning of mundane objects by reflecting on my personal attachment to small, personal antiques and my thoughts of the limitations of time. These paintings utilize new and historic photos for reference as well as a still life that features objects from the past that made the culture of the island richer and were contributed by, improved upon and utilized by the Gullah people. Whether it is the indigo and cotton that was farmed and processed, the sweet grass baskets that were integral to the cultivation of rice or the seafood that was harvested as a natural God-given bounty, the Gullah culture has touched it and made it better.

I am proud to have created this exhibition and I would like to thank these people for their help and contributions:

The Coastal Discovery Museum, The Office of Cultural Affairs of Hilton Head Island, The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island and Ms. Louise Cohen, The United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, The North Carolina Arts Council, The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists, Galen Miller, John Parsons, McGeath, Emery Bennett and Wyndham Freeman, and God.

This work is created as a partnership with the Coastal Discovery Museum and will contribute to a larger exhibition in 2022, Lowcountry Soil. This project is supported by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Photo reference utilized:

Art – Photo reference courtesy of John Parsons

Ancestors, New Life – Photo reference attained from The Library of Congress

The Gullah Musuem – Photo reference courtesy of Ms. Louise Cohen

Oystering – Photo reference courtesy of The Coastal Discovery Museum