Vernie Singleton- History Cards
Vernie Singleton grew up on Hilton Head Island with her family where she loved the values and way of life. Early on, she had an appreciation for the place and culture she grew up in. Vernie set out to make forgotten or diminishing cultures, such as the Gullah one, come to life again through writing and photography.
Vernie believes she got the “photography bug” from her mother. She often found old photos of her childhood (or even slides) that her mother had put together. She hadn’t realized how much that impacted her until later on. Her writing side came from her father who always wrote letters to the editor of the newspaper or magazines. She remembers him being an astounding writer. He was coined “the philosopher” by her family.
Vernie says that although bad experiences rise, making something beautiful out of the bad can be so powerful and healing. As the beautiful side of the Gullah culture starts to become forgotten, Vernie wants to use her photos that would otherwise collect dust, and put them into the world for an informative, yet inspiring lesson on culture and old tradition.
These cards are important to Vernie, not only because of what they signify, but because greeting cards hold such a grasp on her. She’s always loved them! The “old fashioned way” of sending mail — checking up on people or keeping in touch — has never lost its charm. She used her photography abilities and turned the photos into amazing notecards and greeting cards. The cards bring light to the old ways of living that were so instrumental and influential on Hilton Head Island.
Dirt roads and clothes drying on lines were their way of life and forgetting that would a tragedy. Though the Gullah culture has since been slightly lost with time and “progress,” at least one similarity from those old traditions still follow suit in this modernized Hilton Head Island. Vernie says, “Community was important to Hilton Head Island. People stuck together and took care of each other…there is so much to be appreciative of.” Community is still such a huge part of Hilton Head and it’d be a shame to forget where that virtue came from in the first place. This is the intention of her cards.
“There are so many cultures around the world that we don’t know about, native cultures of people, with so much value in their lifestyles. Like the amazon that is being destroyed with the environment, that’s why it is important to maintain their habitat. People and cultures are messed with as the environment is harmed. Appreciate Gullah, appreciate cultures…”
Visit Binya Hilton Head to see Vernie’s cards in the store. Pick one up and send to friends or family to remind them of native cultures and where we came from. Vernie’s intention is that we will not forget our roots!
