The Reign of Rice Lecture Series Is Informative and Fascinating

The Reign of Rice Lecture Series Kicked-off with a Sold-out Program

Sweetgrass basket maker Corey Alston of Mt. Pleasant drew rave reviews for his lecture at the first 2019 “The Reign of Rice Lecture Series” on January 19.  Following this year’s theme of “Rice Heritage beyond Enslavement,” he addressed “Gullah Sweetgrass Baskets Past and Present.”  He explained how the art form has been handed down from West Africans for generations and primarily through families. Alston is a 5th-generation basket maker who can be seen at the Charleston Market.

 Comments included:

“Very informative – Very knowledgeable – Great speaker”

“Fascinating and honest”

“Excellent – one of the best!”

Alston’s basketry is displayed in the “Frum We Ownt Yeye” Exhibit in the Wall Lowcountry Center Complex, from Noon to 4:30 p.m. daily throughout March 17.

Upcoming “Reign of Rice” lecturers, topics, and dates are:

Sophia Jackson, Public Historian, Georgetown, SC, will present "Perpetuity to Progress: Exploring the Accomplishments of Rice Working Descendants from South Carolina" on Saturday, February 16

Sara Makeba Daise, Public Historian, Atlanta, GA, will present “Mo Fa We Fa Nyam: How Lowcountry Rice Landscapes & Culture Present an Afrofuturist Blueprint for Transformational World-Building” on Saturday, March 16

Programs are at 1:00 p.m. in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium and are free with Garden admission.  Seating must be reserved at 843-235-6049.