"you don't know what I got" Visits ORANGEBURG, S.C.

 artist: Leonard Edward Cave

My visit to Orangeburg was the most surprising I had on tour.   I knew it would be interesting to screen in a planetarium and I was looking forward to staying  in a "local's" home instead of the sterile Holiday Inn Express But I had no idea... The films looked and sounded amazing in the Planetarium!  I would personally travel back to Orangeburg just to screen in that space.  I was also impressed with the students at  SCSU. They were engaged and asked great questions, not to mention the excellent introduction I was given by a fellow student. 

But my surprises were far from over.  After a reception my host Ellen Zisholtz,  the Museum Director and a Professor at SCSU, took me to a delicious Thai restaurant.  We were joined by her other house guests - a visiting artist for Atlanta Donna Jackson and her son from California.  They were in town for the La Biennale 2012 Exhibit at the Stanback. http://scsucrash.blogspot.com/2012/04/current-exhibition-la-biennale.html A fabulous collection of art including works by Donna and Ellen. 

The night continued, as we all went back to Ellen's home for a celebratory glass of champagne and I shared my last remaining "Gimme Jimmie Lemon Bars" with the group.   Southern hospitality oozed out of ever inch of Ellen's northern soul.  A transplant from the big apple/New Jersey she was a wonderful host and brought a very rich experience to my stay in Orangeburg, one I will not soon forget.

Ahead of Time shows in Orangeburg, SC

Today we screened "Ahead of Time" at the Museum and Planetarium at South Carolina State Unversity, home of the Bulldogs!

The museum is currently showing a fascinating exhibition on Lorenzo Dow Turner, the first African American linguist, and his discovery of the language of the Gullah people of South Carolina and Georgia. He discovered that they spoke a Creole language, with African ancestry.

We visited the Edista Memorial Gardens and their noted rose gardens and huge live oaks with Spanish moss.

I enjoyed the hospitality of Museum and Planetarium director, Ellen Zisholtz, in her beautiful home. She was very generous with her time and her friends!

-Zeva Oelbaum