From our Friends at South Carolina State Museum …
Esteemed artist Corey Alston at work
photo courtesy of SCSM
On Sat., May 23, 2026 at 11 am, you’re invited to join the good folks at SCSM for an artist talk featuring the beautiful basket weaving father and daughter team of Corey and Corren Alston.
According to the SCSM website, “Corey Alston is renowned Gullah Geechee Artist and is the maker of “Big Percy,” a nearly five-foot tall sweetgrass basket and one of the museum’s newest acquisitions. A fifth-generation basket weaver born and raised in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Alston is a direct descendant of enslaved Africans who helped shape the region’s unique cultural identity. His work continues the centuries-old tradition of sweetgrass basket weaving—a sacred and skilled artform passed down through generations. Mentored by legendary weaver Mary Jackson, Alston has emerged as one of the most respected stewards of Gullah Geechee heritage today.
Alston’s baskets have been commissioned by institutions including the Smithsonian, the Duke Endowment, the Charleston Visitors Center, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, and most recently, the International African American Museum (IAAM). By acquiring this new work, the State Museum reaffirms its commitment to celebrating contemporary artists whose roots and influence run deep in South Carolina.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Corren Alston has also carved out an impressive sweetgrass collection in hopes of keeping the tradition of weaving sweetgrass baskets alive.
This artist talk series highlights artists featured in From the Vault: Art from the Museum’s Collection, currently on view in Lipscomb Art Gallery. These programs will give artists the opportunity to discuss their work and offer visitors a chance to hear firsthand the ideas, experiences, and processes that fuel artists’ creative journeys.
Each conversation will center on the artist’s practice, the themes that shape their work, and what it means to create in South Carolina today. Some talks may include mentor and mentee pairings or collaborative discussions, while others will focus on individual artists sharing their stories and perspectives.
Above all, the series is designed to create an open and engaging space where artists and audiences can connect, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of the work on view.”
Jasper is delighted by this series of talks from our friends at SCSM and we look forward to seeing you there!
