Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC, USA
23 – 27 October 2024
Charleston, SC
Charleston is an historic city in the state of South Carolina. Much of its centre has been preserved and so a walk around town is a ramble through 350 years of American history and architecture – the iconic single house, large colonial houses, grand civic buildings and many churches. (it’s known as the Holy City) It’s a port town with a deep harbour leading out into the Atlantic Ocean. This once made Charleston a major port in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade – a history that is explored in the excellent International African American Museum , built on the site of a wharf which was the disembarkation point for thousands of enslaved people. This history gave the show a special resonance – many of these people were forced to work on local rice plantations – and it was a history we were able to explore, using statistics gathered at the museum.
Our host The Gaillard Center is a multi-purpose venue with a performance hall and conference centre. They invited us to be part of their democracy season, in the build up to the presidential elections which were just two weeks away from our visit. We delved into the history of democracy, the history of the USA, the workings of the government, the power of protest and the power of the few over the many. We were in the venue’s foyer spaces which meant many people got to see the show (and some got to walk straight though it as they strided purposefully through, only to find their usual desire path interrupted by representations of first time voters, people on protests, the presidents of the USA, members of the Senate.
This was absolutely stunning. I was moved to tears several times at the stark visuals … (audience member)
The imminent election led to some interesting conversations and it was exciting to be in the country while it was having a vital and defining debate with itself about its future. While we were there, early voting opened in the library opposite and we were able to represent the record breaking number of people who voted on the first day. Many of those voters came to see the show after casting their ballot – and many suggested people should visit it before voting. Many were shocked by those who hadn’t voted at all in the last election. And for many the statistics took on a heightened relevance in light of the choice that the country was faced with.
This is a very powerful exhibit … to see oneself reflected in a number, represented by a grain of rice… (audience member)
Oh my goodness. I am forever changed from these images (audience member)
Credits
Installed and performed by: Craig Stephens, Elexi Walker and James Yarker
Producer: Michelle Smith
Administration: Beth Crossley