Dedication of Gate of the Muses for Ray Charles at Dreamers Garden to be held June 1

Press release from Gate of the Muses Projects at Dreamers Garden

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Around 2006, we learned that Ray Charles had a brief stay in Gainesville before going to study at the Florida School of the Deaf and the Blind. This may be an urban legend among old-timers, especially within the Black community. Truth or legend, soon after, we began talking about this project following the completion of our very first Gate of Philip dedicated to the legendary blacksmith Philip Simmons, a Gullah man born on Charleston’s Daniel Island.

We thought this was appropriate for our garden because we were the first community garden in Northeast Florida that dedicated a special space for the visually impaired community of Alachua County. In fact, it was the Alachua County Council Of The Blind (ACCB) that first approached and became a life-long partner of Dreamers Garden. ACCB supported many of our early projects, and to this day we have fond memories of each of those ACCB members, at least one of whom has passed away.

Philip Simmons’ grandson AJANI ADEMIWA (Ade) OFUNNIYIN first came into Dreamers Garden in 2004 with Jody Berman, then a student at UF Department of Art History writing her Master’s Thesis on YAW OWUSU SHANGOFEMI. Yaw and Ade were lifelong friends and colleagues in blacksmithing. Ade, now affectionately known as “Dr. O,” also received his PhD in anthropology from UF and dedicated his life after graduation to empowering the Gullah culture and community in Charleston, South Carolina. After the passing of Dr. O on October 7, 2020, Dr. Jody Berman and Maria Huff Edwards (Founder of Dreamers Garden) began discussing dedicating the creation of this special GATE OF THE  MUSES FOR RAY CHARLES in his memory.

Both the Board of County Commissioners and Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr., have approved a PROCLAMATION declaring June 1, 2024, THE GATE OF THE MUSES FOR RAY CHARLES AT DREAMER GARDEN DAY.

As a special honor, Dr. O’s friend and fellow dreamer, Mr. Shangofemi—who created the Gate of Philip in 2007—also crafted the Gate of the Muses . Dedication of this most recent piece of blacksmithing artistry will take place at the Dreamers Garden on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 2 p.m.

Dr. Ofunniyin has seven children that celebrate this honor on his behalf: ADEOLU HARRISON (son); TOLU HARRISON (son); NZINGA HENDERSON (daughter); MSHINDE HARRIS (son); BABABI “AYA” OFUNNIYIN (daughter); ABENI OFUNNIYIN (daughter); and OLABISI (Ofunniyin) AJAO (daughter).(Unfortunately, Adeolu and Olabisi are unable to attend in person.)

Also attending the DEDICATION will be former Council Member and Mayor of Greenville, Florida, ELESTA PRITCHETT. Elesta Pritchett was a childhood friend of Ray Charles when Ray Charles and his mother Aretha Robinson lived in Greenville. ELESTA was instrumental in having the Ray Charles bronze statue created and installed in Greenville in 2006, and also for the reconstruction of Ray Charles’ childhood home in Greenville in 2008, where Ray Charles lived with his mother until age 7. Elesta will be 95 years old on August 31, having beaten Ray Charles senior by 23 days as Ray Charles was born on September 23, 1930.

Please join us for this historic and special event at Dreamers Garden on Saturday, June 1, at 2 p.m.

The post Dedication of Gate of the Muses for Ray Charles at Dreamers Garden to be held June 1 appeared first on Alachua Chronicle .