<b>By Lanier Laney</b>

There was a CD and book launch signing party for singer and actor Ron Daise and local historical fiction author, David Grim, this past weekend.

Ron Daise, famous for his TV show “Gullah Gullah Island,” was signing his wonderful new CD of songs and stories from Gullah and West African tradition called “Gullah Tings fa Think About.” The CD was produced through a grant from the SC Arts Commission, and is available at local stores and online at rondaise.com.

Author David Grim was also signing his new novel, “Swift Currents.” In it, he blends his interest in the Civil War and his deep respect for African American tenacity through periods of deep despair, to tell a story of slavery’s end and freedom’s joyous beginning. The event took place at Geddes Dowling’s lovely historic family home on Bay Street, The Edward Barnwell House.

Stephanie Austin Edwards, founder of Novel Ideas by SAE, which provides consulting and marketing services to authors, put together the event. Four members of the SC Arts Commission from Columbia attended: Ken May, executive director; Sarah June Goldstein and Susan Duplesis, program directors; and Doug Peach, program coordinator. Here are some pics for you:

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[caption id="attachment_17831" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2067.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17831" alt="SC Arts Commission Program Director Sarah June Goldstein and Ervena Faulkner" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2067-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> SC Arts Commission Program Director Sarah June Goldstein and Ervena Faulkner[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17830" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2056.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17830" alt="Ron and Natalie Daise" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2056-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Ron and Natalie Daise[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17832" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2057.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17832" alt="Author David Grim" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2057-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Author David Grim[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17844" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2069.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17844" alt=" SC Arts Commission Program Coordinator Doug Peach and Geddes Dowling" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2069-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> SC Arts Commission Program Coordinator Doug Peach and Geddes Dowling[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17845" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2065.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17845" alt="Barbara Banus, Jennifer Rhodes, Beverly Heles" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2065-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Barbara Banus, Jennifer Rhodes, Beverly Heles[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17846" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2068.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17846" alt="SC Arts Commission Program Director Susan Duplesis and Ken May, SC Arts Commission executive director" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2068-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> SC Arts Commission Program Director Susan Duplesis and Ken May, SC Arts Commission executive director[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17851" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2055.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17851" alt="Stephanie Edwards and Geddes Dowling" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2055-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Stephanie Edwards and Geddes Dowling[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17852" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2062.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17852" alt="Randy and Barbara James" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2062-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Randy and Barbara James[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17853" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2072.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17853" alt="Jayanti Harrison and Ifetayo White" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2072-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Jayanti Harrison and Ifetayo White[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17854" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2063.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17854" alt="Paul Coffman and Larry Meisner" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2063-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Paul Coffman and Larry Meisner[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17855" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2066.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17855" alt="Mary Joe and Terry Herron" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2066-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Mary Joe and Terry Herron[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17856" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2070.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17856" alt="Lynn and Martha " src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2070-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Lynn and Martha[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17857" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2071.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17857" alt="Lolita Watson and Paul Cooper" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2071-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Lolita Watson and Paul Cooper[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_17858" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2074.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17858" alt="Barbara Maurer and Beth Moon" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2074-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Barbara Maurer and Beth Moon[/caption]

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