Brewing on Books: Row Upon Row

4831 O'Hear Avenue,North Charleston SC 29405

03 August, 2022

Description

Delve into the fascinating history and practice of sea grass basketmaking with historian/author Dale Rosengarten and basketmaker Trudy Hicks Join us for a community discussion held on the Common Ground with Commonhouse Aleworks as part of our event series, Brewing on Books: A Community Book Club. This series focuses on local topics of interest for community members. In August, we're joined by both a local author and a local maker! Dale Rosengarten is the author of Row Upon Row, an in-depth look at the history of sea grass basketmaking in the Lowcountry. She will be joined by acclaimed basketmaker Trudy Hicks for a demo and further discussion of this iconic practice and tradition. Food and drink specials from Commonhouse forthcoming! Cheers! Books are available from Itinerant Literate:Row Upon Row: https://bit.ly/359AZhB You can also make a donation to support Pastor Hicks's work with your ticket purchase or in person the night of. About the BookAn in-depth, illustrated history of South Carolina's Lowcountry baskets Coiled grass baskets are icons of Gullah culture. From their roots in Africa, through their evolution on Lowcountry rice plantations, to their modern appreciation as art objects sought by collectors and tourists, these vessels are carriers of African American history and the African-inspired culture that took hold along the coast of South Carolina and neighboring states. Row Upon Row, the first comprehensive history of this folk art, remains a classic in the field. The fourth edition brings the narrative into the twenty-first century, with a chapter describing current challenges to the survival of the time-honored tradition. The artform continues to adapt to the changing consumer market, the availability of materials, economic opportunities, and most recently, the widening of the highway near the majority of basket stands. As globalization transforms the world, the coiled basket in all its iterations retains its power as a local symbol of individual identity and cultural distinction. A preface is provided by Jane Przybysz, executive director of the McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina. About the Author & ArtistDale Rosengarten is the founding curator of the Jewish Heritage Collection at the College of Charleston and coauthor of Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art. Pastor Hicks, one of the Charleston area’s finest sweetgrass basket makers, was taught this unique form of art at an early age and works to pass on the tradition to her own children, grandchildren and others in the community.