As a class of Beech Hill fifth-grade students played West African drums in the music room, a group of third-graders down the hall weaved sweetgrass to make baskets, trinkets, coasters and medallions. Not far away, another class of students learned about Scottish history.
It was not a coincidence that students in various Beech Hill classes were learning about cultures from around the world; rather, the students were enjoying the school’s annual Cultural Arts Week, which featured lessons from half a dozen artists-in-residence.
In the music room, Hawk Hurst, a musician trained in West-African style drumming, gave each student a gourd – the dried shell of a fruit related to pumpkin and squash – for the students to hollow out.
Hurst told the students that gourds – which are shaped like bowling pins but are wider – were originally used to carry water; however, when holes are carves in their sides, they can be used to create music.
The students decorated their gourds by drawing various things on them such as butterflies, birds and abstract shapes.
Hurst taught the excited children how to play traditional West African and Native American songs with their drums and songs they could sing while playing.
“I like giving the kids an opportunity to learn something new and to gain respect for a culture they’re unfamiliar with,” Hurst said.
Henrietta Snype, another guest artist, introduced the students to the art of sweetgrass, which is prominent in the Lowcountry.
Snype has been working with students for nearly 20 years and has taught sweetgrass classes around the world.
“Many of these students have seen sweetgrass art but don’t know its history,” Snipe said. “To them this is new.”
The chance to learn about unique cultures through hands-on activities is a wonderful opportunity for the students, said Susan Wiley, Beech Hill teacher.
“We’ve done the cultural arts program for a number of years and I think it’s great we’ve managed to keep this going,” Wiley said. “It’s like an in-house field trip that the whole school participates in.”

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com