The Charleston Gaillard Center will present a series of programs in partnership with the Slave Dwelling Project and Historic Charleston Foundation on January 11-13, 2019 (This event has been rescheduled from September 14 – 15, 2018 due to Hurricane Florence). The main event is an evening of original, commissioned arrangements of African American spirituals titled “Still We Rise: A Spirituals Celebration,” that will be the opening production in the Gaillard Center’s 2018 – 2019 season. Additionally, there will be a photography exhibit from the Slave Dwelling Project that will be on display in the lobby; and an educational program for middle school students that took place in December 2018. South Carolina Humanities supported this project with a Mini Grant.
“Prints in Clay” was developed as a multi-media program that honors the contribution of African-Americans to the region’s culture through music, architecture, and cuisine. The event will begin with a day for 6th- 8th grade students in December 2018 that included a lecture by historian Joe McGill, founder of The Slave Dwelling Project; a guided tour of the photography exhibit; a tour of the Aiken Rhett House slave quarters courtesy of The Historic Charleston Foundation; and a lesson with The Charleston Museum on “Dave Jars,” pottery created by David Drake. This educational day is currently at capacity.
A photography exhibit will be on display at the Charleston Gaillard Center from Monday, January 7 – Friday, January 18. Hours to view the exhibit are:
Monday – Friday, 9AM – 6PM
Finally, there will also be a concert on Sunday, January 13 at 5:00 p.m. Honoring music spanning the 18th and most of the 19th centuries this powerful concert inspired by African-American Spirituals will be sung by mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, with piano, an instrumental septet and highly acclaimed The Lowcountry Voices featuring arrangements by Musical Director Wycliffe Gordon. This event is ticketed, and more information can be found here.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 21-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
Photo Credit: Josh Benser
