"Rooted: An Ecology of Gullah Geechee Memory Along the Coast" Launches August 3
New virtual exhibit explores the enduring connections between people, place, and memory along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
The Park Institute of America (PIA) is happy to announce the launch of Rooted: An Ecology of Gullah Geechee Memory Along the Coast, a digital exhibit created in partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
Launching August 3 at rootedexhibit.com, Rooted brings together photography, interviews, and storytelling to illuminate the relationships between people and the coastal landscapes they call home. The exhibit invites audiences to consider how memory, culture, language, and place are intertwined—and how these connections continue to shape the future of the coast.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor stretches from North Carolina to Florida and encompasses communities whose history and traditions are deeply connected to the coastal environment. Rooted highlights over fifteen interviews that showcase the knowledge, experiences, and perspectives of people whose relationships with these landscapes have been sustained across generations.
“Rooted is ultimately about recognizing that the southeastern coast is more than a physical landscape—it is a place full of important stories and memories,” said Ariel Kimberley, Executive Director of the Park Institute of America. “By centering the voices and experiences of Gullah Geechee communities, we hope to create a space where people can encounter these stories and better understand the connections between communities and the coastal environments that sustain them.”
Photography is central to the exhibit, offering an intimate visual record of the people and places featured throughout Rooted. Karen Kasmauski’s photography for this project has already received national recognition: the Communication Arts Photography Annual selected both a photo essay and an individual image from Rooted for inclusion in its annual publication.
A selection of Karen Kasmauski’s award winning photography.
Rather than presenting Gullah Geechee history as something confined to the past, Rooted explores a living cultural landscape shaped by memory, change, and ongoing relationships with the environment. The exhibit offers audiences an opportunity to learn from these stories while reflecting on what it means to care for places that hold both ecological and cultural significance.
Rooted: An Ecology of Gullah Geechee Memory Along the Coast is available to explore beginning August 3 at rootedexhibit.com. This project was made possible with support from the National Park Foundation.
About the Park Institute of America
The Park Institute of America is a Duke-affiliated nonprofit that connects and convenes communities, organizations, researchers, and park leaders to advance the value of parks for people and the planet. Through education, collaboration, and storytelling, PIA works to deepen understanding of the landscapes, histories, and experiences that shape parks and protected places.
Media Contact
Ariel Kimberley
Executive Director, Park Institute of America
ariel.kimberley@parkinstituteofamerica.org
919.229.9554
https://www.parkinstituteofamerica.org/