Woven in Tradition, Culture, and Ecology - Sweetgrass Basket Weaving

Sweetgrass basket weaving is a historical art form, and Lowcountry tradition passed down from generation to generation since the 1700s. Originating in West Africa as an agricultural tool, basket weaving was brought to South Carolina by slaves. Today, it is an integral part of the Gullah Geechee culture and history that has a vibrant presence in Mt. Pleasant, SC. However, urbanization along the coast is interrupting the availability of the plant materials needed for the baskets. In this Local Motives episode, we pay a visit to Marilyn Williams Dingle and her daughter Lynette Dingle Youson at the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Pavilion outside of Mount Pleasant, SC, where they share their life's passion for basket weaving with us and tell us more about its cultural significance. They even let Cody give it a try...
Ursimus College study cited in this video:
Hurley, Patrick T.; Grabbatin, Brian; Goetcheus, Cari; and Halfacre, Angela, "Gathering, Buying, and Growing Sweetgrass
(Muhlenbergia sericea): Urbanization and Social Networking in the Sweetgrass Basket-Making Industry of Lowcountry South
Carolina" (2013). Environmental Studies Faculty Publications. 4.
digitalcommons...
Local Motives showcases local perspectives on the challenges and solutions associated with climate change. It is the production of two friends, Nate Murray and Cody Pfister, traveling across the 50 states seeking to establish an authentic and relatable bottom-up communication stream.
Follow us
Instagram @localmotives.series:
► / localmotives.series
Facebook
► / localmotives. .
Twitter @localmotives_us:
► / localmotives_us
Website
►www.localmotiv...