This February, experience Southern art, poetry, and stories from local artists
Daniel Island Library knows how to celebrate Black History Month. This February, hear original poetry from Marcus Amaker, Charleston’s first poet laureate and experience the beautiful Wadmalaw Island preserved in the art and storytelling of artist Bernadette Cali.
Marcus Amaker, Charleston’s first poet laureate
Marcus Amaker has a varied and celebrated career. After working for the Post and Courier as an editor by day and writing poetry by night, he took the turn to become a self-employed poet, musician, videographer, and graphic designer. He has written prolific amounts of poetry and been featured on the PBS HewsHour, the Huffington Post, and A&E. Charleston applauded him in 2016 by making him the city’s first poet laureate. Mayor John Tecklenberg said of Amaker, “Marcus is a well-known artist in our community who has the drive, passion and talent to make poetry accessible to everyone.” The Art Magazine calls Amaker the “Renaissance man of Charleston.” Amaker will lead the poetry reading, consisting of his own works, on Tuesday, February 7th, at 10:30 am.
Bernadette Cali developed a passion for South Carolina’s sea islands after a trip to West Africa. The same African culture that inspired Cali is richly entwined in the African culture
in the rural islands. She settled in Wadmalaw Island in 1977. Her paintings illustrate the beauty of her home and especially the vanishing Gullah culture. Her artwork hangs in places from Virgin Islands to New York City. She will present her art and Gullah stories on Thursday, Feb. 23rd, at 1 pm.
Poetry, painting, and stories, and more – Come experience the arts at Daniel Island Library this February.
Bernadette Cali’s “Down by Hope Plantation”
