Efforts in Preserving the S Sweetgrass Basket C Culture within t tthe e South Carolina Lowcountry Jerome R. Clemons, Jr. The Citadel Graduate College Charleston, South Carolina ,
South Carolina Lowcountry
FOLKWAYS ~ ARTISTC ENJOYMENT ~ SURVIVAL
FOLKWAYS ~ ARTISTC ENJOYMENT ~ SURVIVAL
Atlantic Slave Trade
Carolina Gold Rice Economics
Gullah Culture Language Food Folklore Art M i Music
Ingredients for Sweetgrass baskets
Kiawah Island Ocean Course
Conservation Research
The Art of Basket Making
Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Views & Practices of Basket Makers • Sweetgrass g has been purchased from out of state collectors • Residential development is a reason for the unavailability of sweetgrass t • The dedication of local g land to sweetgrass cultivation would help make more available • Outside assistance would help make sweetgrass more available
• Educational outreach would help make sweetgrass more available • Basket makers express no preference regarding sources of assistance • Basket makers are willing to donate time to restoration efforts
Recommendations • Protect artisans work through authenticity • Encourage sustainable growth of sweetgrass • Create an environment that is responsible for sharing and teaching the trade • Copyright/trademark “lowcountry y sweetgrass g basket” • Model – The Indian Arts and Crafts Board
LINKS • www www.sweetgrassfestival.org sweetgrassfestival org • www.africanart.org/exhibitions • http://www.cofc.edu/sustainability/sweetgrass% http://www cofc edu/sustainability/sweetgrass% 20brochure.pdf • http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b htt // f d / it / lkLXJ8MQK H/b .4537265/ • http://www.doi.gov/iacb/mission.html htt // d i /i b/ i i ht l Jerome Clemons, Jr. ‐ jeromeclemons@gmail.com