Charleston Currents #13.41 | Aug. 30, 2021
CHARLESTON AT SEA. At top, the USS Charleston, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, received fuel in the Philippine Sea during an Aug. 20 at-sea fueling from the USS America, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship. Cmdr. Joseph Burgon, commanding officer of Charleston Gold Crew, emphasized the value of quick alternative refueling options within the strike group, which enables the ship to focus on commander’s missions and tasking. “This evolution highlights the logistical agility of the force and the operational flexibility of the LCS,” Burgon in a Navy press release. “The ability to refuel within the ESG extends Charleston’s time on station and increases the capability and reach of the blue-green team and joint forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Thomas B. Contant). See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along.
FOCUS: Time to vote for new Rescue Beer winners
COMMENTARY, Brack: Let’s score victories for America, not just political points
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SC Clips
NEWS BRIEFS: GOP leaders ignoring pressure for special session on pandemic
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Tough photo
CALENDAR: Art by Washington, Ayiku-Nartey on display in September
Time is now to vote for new Rescue Brew Beer winners
Staff reports | More than 670 dogs and cats wait for your votes to be spokesdog and spokescat for the Charleston Animal Society in its contest to put faces on labels of 2021 Rescue Brew Beer. If this year’s competition is like last year’s, picking the three finalist dogs and three finalist cats will be fierce, organizers say.
Voting continues through Sept. 17. Each $1 vote cast at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org supports the lifesaving programs of the Charleston Animal Society, including No Kill South Carolina 2024. From the three finalists in each category, one dog and one cat will be selected for grand prizes by celebrity judges to appear on the labels and will be announced Oct. 16. The winning dog and cat also will each appear on the labels for the special fall release of the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer.
“Rescue Brew 2021 is a golden ale that is crisp, clean and full bodied. You will love it no matter what time of year you are drinking it,” said Collin Clark, director of brand development for Palmetto Brewing. “All of us here at Palmetto are thrilled to be able to bring this beer back in support of Charleston Animal Society this year, and we’re sure all the dog and cat lovers out there will enjoy it as much as we do. Just like your pet, this beer is a welcome, cheerful friend at the end of the day.”
The 2021 Rescue Brew Beer will be available at the Palmetto Brewing Company Charleston Taproom this fall.
“We are telling everyone to vote early and often for the Rescue Brew Beer finalists because every $1 vote cast benefits the lifesaving work at Charleston Animal Society,” said Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore. “We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the unconditional love that animals bring to our lives.”
Sponsors of the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer Contest include Charleston City Paper, Palmetto Brewing Company, WCSC Live 5 News, and Cupcake DownSouth.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Let’s score victories for America, not just political points
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Throughout South Carolina’s history, there has been a streak of independence that morphed into an ingrained hard-headed reactionary reflex. It’s not uncommon for people on either side of the aisle — and people who don’t even care about politics — to react in one similar way: “Don’t tell me what to do.”
You can see it in the life of slave-holding patriot Christopher Gadsden before the Revolutionary War as he gathered like-minded people under an oak tree outside Charleston’s walled city to talk about liberty. He later designed the “Don’t Tread on Me” coiled snake flag that was appropriated by the modern tea party movement.
You can see it today in zealous people who get red in the face when told they or their children need to wear masks to protect themselves and others from getting COVID-19. They don’t listen to reason; they instinctively react on emotion, misinformation and the old “don’t tell me what to do” attitude.
The difference between now and 250 years ago is that people then believed governments could actually do something. And they did. They organized the nation’s economic system, provided for the common defense, built infrastructure, invested in public works, education and people. In short, a strong government created America as the world’s powerhouse and innovator.
Now, however, Americans are too susceptible to a discourse so coarse, so charged, so unwieldy that politics often is dumbed down to a word or phrase of two. And the nation suffers.
Someone who may be for government programs to help people is just a “libtard” or a “socialist,’ when, in fact, they’re not. Another who believes it’s important to rein in spending and maintain a moral backbone might be called a “right-wing nut” or “fascist” these days when, in fact, they might just believe in pinching pennies and following the teachings of the Bible.
For almost 50 years, political scientists — and the consultants who advise in our elections — have known something that most fail to believe — that Americans are relatively unsophisticated in how they approach discussions of policy and can be swayed pretty easily by manipulating language to charge political behavior. Hence, doctors who perform abortions are vilified as “baby killers” and abortion opponents are “right-to-life” nuts who hate women.
Jordan Ragusa, a political science professor at the College of Charleston, said the late Philip Converse described how most Americans have unstructured, unstable political views in a groundbreaking 1964 work, “The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics.”
“He found very few Americans have what we would describe as a meaningful belief system,” Ragusa said. “Instead, they had haphazard policy ideas that didn’t show any relationship with another.”
Part of the reason may be in the way we govern. Our founding fathers created a system of checks and balances with three branches of government that makes it tough for things to happen. Laws are passed with approval of two differing legislative chambers.
“You get a lot of watered-down compromises that govern our lives,” Ragusa noted.
But our democracy, which features a social safety net in things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, a strong national defense, is balanced by a capitalistic drive and structure for economic independence.
“It’s great to debate the role of government, but it’s unrealistic to say there should be no government,” said Ragusa’s colleague, political scientist Gibbs Knotts of Charleston. “What do you want to do — pave your own road? That’s ridiculous.”
For too long in recent years, Americans have been hearing that government is a problem. It may not always provide the best solution, but it’s not an enemy. What we need today are Republicans and Democrats and independents who want to make it work, not just score points daily at everyone else’s expense.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
SC Clips
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GOP leaders ignoring pressure for special pandemic session
Staff reports | Lawmakers are feeling pressure to hold an emergency session to revise a law that prohibits mask mandates in schools as COVID-19 gets deadlier in the Palmetto State but GOP leaders so far are mum about returning to Columbia. More than 10,400 South Carolinians have died in the coronavirus pandemic with thousands of new cases reported daily as the delta variant rages.
Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland, said an emergency session is unlikely to work. Members of the House and Senate GOP leadership that controls the legislature didn’t respond to inquiries last week.
“I do not see us revisiting the budget,” said Richland County GOP Rep. Nathan Ballentine on the possibility of overturning a budget proviso prohibiting mask mandates. “That would take a two-thirds vote of both bodies and any changes would also require that amount of support. Additionally Governor [Henry] McMaster is likely to veto any efforts to allow districts to decide.”
Ballentine said the General Assembly voted in the budget to give control to parents about their children’s health and safety. “Masks can still be worn to protect individuals and others. The science shows our kids are at the least risk. Not no risk. But least risk. Teachers and other adults (and many kids) can be vaccinated to do their part.”
Other lawmakers say urgent action is needed.
“It’s hard to admit you did something wrong,” Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, said of the failure to call a special session. “But people are living in danger.” Howard, chairman of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. Read the full story in Statehouse Report.
In other recent news:
Top hotel, bars in U.S. Hotel Bennett, located on King Street at Marion Square, was named the top luxury hotel in the country in a new reader survey by USA Today’s 10Best 2021 Hotels Readers’ Choice Awards. The hotel’s Camellias champagne bar was named fourth best hotel bar, just behind the Bar at the Spectator Hotel on State Street downtown. Also awarded: Wentworth Mansion’s Circa 1886 was named fourth best hotel restaurant in the survey. Read more.
COVID-19 cases in schools. More than 500 students or staff with Charleston County School District reported testing positive for COVID-19 since the start of school Aug. 18, as district leaders say they are unable to enforce a face-mask requirement they passed as students were prepping for the new year. More.
Personal stories about the virus. If you missed Wednesday’s cover story in the Charleston City Paper, you missed three great stories on how the disease is impacting the community. Skyler Baldwin talked with a Summerville couple who became vaccine believers after being skeptics. Samantha Connors shares how more people have been getting vaccinated in a discussion with pharmacist Dottie Farfone. Baldwin also shares how Dr. Thaddeus Bell is having deep discussions to counter myths about the vaccine.
Big donation. Hats off to the Michelin Corporate Foundation for its generous gift of $120,000 to the American Red Cross of South Carolina for four new fleet vehicles that will support mission-critical services. “When disaster strikes, Red Cross workers climb into Red Cross vehicles and get to where our communities need us. Whether it’s providing food, water, and comfort to victims, or pulling up to a hospital with much-needed blood products,” said Rod Tolbert, the state’s regional executive. “Thanks to the generous support of the Michelin Corporate Foundation, we’ve been able to add four new vehicles that will help us reach even more people in need not only in South Carolina but across the country.”
Preview of 2022 gubernatorial election. Almanac of American Politics senior editor Louis Jacobson last week shared why he expected McMaster to run for governor in 2022 in this piece published by Statehouse Report.
Send us your thoughts by email
We love hearing from readers. Comments are limited to 250 words or less. Please include your name and contact information. Send your letters to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. | Read our feedback policy.
Tough photo
The reader who sent in this tranquil Lowcountry photo said it might be too hard to identify as few people have seen the building from this angle. But let’s give it a try — what and where is it? Send your best guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live. And if you’ve got a clever mystery photo for our readers, send it to the same address (Try to stump us!)
Our previous Mystery Photo
Our most recent past mystery, “Where are these columns?” proved to be easy to several readers. It showed columns outside the Dock Street Theatre at the corner of Queen and Church streets in Charleston that remind us of some columns in Turkey.
Hats off to these photo detectives — including some new guessers — who correctly identified the photo: Jim McMahan, Paige Williams and Craig Bennett, all of Charleston; Don Clark and Bill Segars, both of Hartsville; Christel Newton of North Charleston; Justin White of James island; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Pat Deussing of Apex, N.C.; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; Bud Ferillo and Jay Altman, both of Columbia; and Esther Jones and Barry Shear (please share your hometowns next time!)
- Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Art by Washington, Ayiku-Nartey on display in September
“Yemay” by Torreah “Cookie” Washington.
Staff reports | The “Sisters Across the Sea” exhibit of art quilts by local artist Torreah “Cookie” Washington and Ghanaian artist Eunice Maku Aiyku-Nartey will be on display throughout September at Park Circle Gallery, the city of North Charleston announced.
A free reception will be held at the gallery 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 10. The artists will have a Zoom conversation about their works and artistic processes at 6 p.m.
“Sisters Across the Sea” is an exhibition of fiber art celebrating the Motherline through dialogue between African American artist Torreah “Cookie” Washington and Ghanaian artist Eunice Maku Ayiku-Nartey. For the past 15 years, Washington has been curating the annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition presented at North Charleston City Hall as a component of the North Charleston Arts Fest. This Park Circle Gallery exhibition was originally planned as a solo show of her work, but later became a collaborative effort when she extended an invitation to Ayiku-Nartey to debut her artworks in North Charleston. Introduced by a mutual friend, both artists create work that celebrates common themes of African history and heritage, celebrating community, and stories from their own lives.
Though the artists live on different continents, their artistic journeys are similar. Both women have been sewing since early childhood and are daughters of dress makers who encouraged them to obtain economic autonomy and joy through pursuit of their craft. Washington launched her bridal design and soft accessories business, Phenomenal Women Designs, in 1991. Ayiku-Nartey established Eunimak Fashion in 1993. Each woman embeds their intricate textile works with spiritual, cultural, and historical transmissions.
Washington is an award-winning master art quilter and curator. A fourth-generation textile artist, she has been creating with textiles for more than a quarter of a century. Washington was born in Rabat, Morocco, but has lived in the South Carolina Lowcountry for 30 years and has played an integral role in the local arts community.
“I have a passionate urge to create art that is ‘way-showing,’” says Washington. “I seek to make art that challenges people, art that makes your spirit soar, makes you think and feel, or that agitates and annoys; art that challenges you to learn more about the subject and to find your own feelings about it.”
Her wish is to keep the tradition of quilting brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans alive and, through her work, validate their culture by weaving stories of the African or African American experience into her quilts, just as her foremothers did almost 400 years ago. Learn more about Washington and her work at cookiesewsquilts.com.
“In the Village” (Kope lƐ Mli) by Eunice Maku Ayiku-Nartey (Eunimak Fashion)
Ayiku-Nartey, a Ghanaian dress designer and textile artist, has been passionate about sewing since childhood. Although she studied textile design and production at various institutions in the United Kingdom, her heart remained in Africa. After taking several entrepreneurship courses in Ghana, Eunice launched Eunimak Fashion at Adabraka, which has developed into an international brand through trade fairs and now makes custom made clothes for distinguished ladies and the American, Zimbabwean, and Canadian embassies. View her work on Instagram at @eunimak_fashion.
Park Circle Gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston. Admission is free and free street parking is available on Jenkins Avenue. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information about PCG, call 843-637-3565 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org.
Also on the calendar:
Party at the Point continues. Gates open Fridays at 5 p.m. through Sept. 10, Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, 20 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant. Party at the Point, a Charleston-area happy hour Friday concert series that sold out five July shows, will continue with tickets for $10 each:
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- Sept. 3: Labor Day Bash with The Midnight City
- Sept. 10: Rattle & Hum, a tribute to U2
Wine Down Wednesday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 1 and Sept. 15, Old Towne Creek Park, WeSt Ashley. Come Wine Down your Wednesday and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, one of West Ashley’s hidden gems. Guests will enjoy wine and live music from a local Charleston performer, while experiencing the beauty of this natural site. A commemorative wine glass is included with your admission. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Fee: $20.
New opening date for “Bright Star”: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 11 to 26 with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m., Dock Street Theatre, Charleston. Charleston Stage rescheduled the opening performance of this bluegrass Broadway musical from the comic mind of Steve Martin and musical prowess of Edie Brickell in a month of exciting shows. New COVID-19 safety precautions are in place. Tickets are $36 to $75 for adults with other pricing also available. More.
Lowcountry Jazz Festival: Sept. 3 to Sept. 5, Gailliard Center, Charleston. On Friday: Nick Collionne and DJ Nyce at the All White Party Affair. Saturday: Willie Bradley, Najee and Peabo Bryso. Sunday: Lindsey Webster, Adam Hawley, Kindred Family Soul, and Richard Eliott and Rick Braun. Friday tickets are $113 and tickets Saturday and Sunday are $63, available through Gaillard Center.
Toast Under the Oaks: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, Johns Island County Park, Johns Island. Enjoy Toast Under the Oaks while exploring Johns Island County Park. Guests will enjoy wine, beer, and live music, while experiencing the beauty of this 738-acre park. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Tickets: $20.
Ongoing
“Tidal Futures” exhibition: Through Sept. 11, Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., Charleston. Tidal Futures: Friends of Gadsden Creek is an exhibition that aims to highlight the organization’s outreach program to challenge viewers’ preconceived notions of what contemporary art is. It also seeks to guide them to discover and investigate how social justice work is conceptualized and executed, and to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about the intersection of creative practice and cultural impact.
The Lawn Party exhibition: Through Sept. 19, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street, Charleston. The Charleston Museum is pleased to present The Lawn Party: From Satin to Seersucker, the latest offering in its Historic Textiles Gallery. In an “unprecedented” era when large gatherings have been discouraged and fashion has trended towards leisurewear, this exhibition is a celebration of getting dressed up for an outdoor party. Bringing a hint of glamour to a trying time, the garments on display were selected with the grand idea of “after” in mind. This is a perfect opportunity to come see what to wear for your next outdoor event as we head toward the new “normal.”
Reviving photos. Through Oct. 31, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street. The museum is exhibiting The Lowcountry in Living Color: Making Historical Photographs Come to Life as the latest offering in its Lowcountry Image Gallery. Colorizing black and white pictures allows viewers to see components that otherwise might be overlooked. Buy tickets.
Birds of Prey flight demonstrations: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, Center for Birds of Prey, 4719 Highway 17. Awendaw. The center has reopened its doors to visitors after closing due to the COvID-19 pandemic, inviting people to once again come and explore the world of raptors through an outdoor program and flight demonstration. Tickets: . $20/adult; $15/children age 3-17.
Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry. The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants. Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders. Open to all ages. More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
Farmers markets
Here’s a look at a bunch of local farmers markets where you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, crafts and more. If you know of others, send us a note at: feedback@charlestoncurrents.com.
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market: 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Tuesday, Market Pavilion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Check here for more.
Holy City Farmers Market: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Holy City Brewing, North Charleston. vendors rotate weekly to provide shoppers with a tiny but mighty shopping experience. vendors will be selling a range of products from specialty foods, home and body care to arts and crafts. More info.
West Ashley Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Ackerman Park, 55 Sycamore Avenue, Charleston. More.
North Charleston Farmers Market: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Thursday, Felix Davis Community Circle in Park Circle. The market offers fresh, locally grown produce as well as arts-and-craft vendors, specialty foods and live music. More.
Charleston Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, Marion Square, 329 Meeting St., Charleston. More.
Summerville Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, First Citizens Bank parking lot near Town Hall, 200 S. Main Street, Summerville.
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors. More info.
- If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line. Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.
- ORDER NOW: Copies of our new book, 350 Facts About Charleston, are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online today.
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