Warren Dashe
If you happen to know Warren Marcus Dashe, you should consider yourself lucky. Dashe is a Gullah Geechee native of African descent who came to the Isle of Palms from Awendaw. A sweetgrass artist, Dashe represents the Gullah Geechee journey here in North America and beyond.
Every piece in Dashe’s collection features a signature symbol that reflects the heritage and strength from which he hails. “We survive” is the meaning of the artist’s continuous sweetgrass circle with tails. “The culture, language and people go on no matter where we are,” asserted Dashe. “It is called ‘eternity.’”
All his pieces remain unnamed to allow the viewers to formulate their own interpretations of what the work means to them, which is a small but telling reflection of Dashe’s humble and generous spirit. His artwork is not for sale but can be leased for staging, art shows or exhibitions.
When asked how he came to live in our beautiful island community, Dashe explained, “I am the live-in companion/caregiver for Katherine Magruder, ‘Mama.’” Katherine and her daughter Katherine Marley Magruder share not only the same name, but also a love for the island and the community.
Dashe continued, “Mama will be 105 years old in September. I have been her caregiver for nearly nine years. Mama and I love to ride around the island on the golf cart and we love giving treats to our neighbors’ dogs. We enjoy barhopping together too because we love the people here. I like to say that I’ll never come back when leaving any of our fine island establishments and I always get the same response of ‘see you tomorrow!’ Most people on the island know me for saying ‘one love’ and even our mayor calls me ‘the mayor’ because I love everyone and everything about this island. I love cooking, fishing and gardening, but mostly I love helping people whenever I can.”
Another of Dashe’s favorite pastimes is wearing t-shirts with crazy sayings on them. “Things that make you think hmmm,” said Dashe.
Warren, we thank you not only for calling trivia at Lawrence’s Seafood Company on Tuesday nights, but also for your generous, giving spirit, your kind heart and your sweet, creative nature that makes you a true gift to our beautiful island community.
By Laura Fogarty
Pet of The Month: Pickles The Precious Terrier Princess
Pickles isn’t your average canine companion. This spunky 15-year-old rescue defies expectations with her zest for life and adventurous spirit. Orphaned at just 8 weeks old, Pickles was found along the roadside, bald from mange, covered in ticks and anemic.
Her future seemed bleak, but fate intervened when her dog mom, Carol Powers’ niece, a veterinarian who had rescued Pickles, lamented, “We’ll never find her a home.” As if on cue, Powers arrived for a visit and Pickles, with a wagging tail and a joyful greeting, stole her heart. “As I drove up, she ran out of the house, gave me a big smile and said ‘isn’t life glorious!’ I was instantly in love,” said Powers.
Pickles, a charming rat terrier mix, lived up to her name in her first year, constantly finding herself “in a pickle.” With love and care, she blossomed into a picture of health. Now, Pickles is a cherished companion that thrives on an active lifestyle.
Whether she’s accompanying her human to the barn for a trail ride, playfully interacting with the resident turtles in Powers’ pond, feeding the ducks or enjoying walks on the beach, Pickles is always up for an adventure. Even motorcycle rides that end in hikes are part of her exciting repertoire!
By Isabel Alvarez Arata
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