Ossabaw, Beginnings

Ossabaw has been central to my photography as it was my introduction to the Southern coast. These photographs were made in 1979 with an antiquarian 5×7 field camera and contact printed in palladium-platinum. I carried my camera and film holders equipment in a backpack and carried the wooden tripod. I walked the landscapes and photographed every resident at the project during my residency of a month.

Ossabaw Island’s Middle Place, off the Georgia coast, is situated on Buckhead Creek. The island has had many occupations–a Native American site, a plantation, a lumber mill–but in the early 1970s through early 1980s, it was the location of an experiment in developing research and art practice while living sustainably. This “back to the land” idea was the brainchild of Sandy West, who founded the Genesis Project. Up to 10 residents were accepted after submitting a project proposal making use of the island environment. Stays were at least two weeks with longer stays of weeks or months encouraged. Each resident had their own small primitive dwelling. These dwellings were built in the first year of the project by members, using lumber from the defunct mill. My house, called “the Tabby” was made from the foundation of a tabby wall of the overseer’s house from the plantation era. It was one room with two windows. It still stands since last used in 1982. Other houses were River House, the Stable, Kenner Shack, A-Frame, The Treehouse and Longhouse. There was one house in a nearby field called Horse Pear house, if I remember correctly. There was no electricity. Light was from oil lanterns. Meals were cooked in the cookshack, a holdover from the lumber yard time. The cookshack was the meeting place in the evenings. There was a huge vegetable garden, two milk cows, gas stove and gas refrigerator and a hot shower. There was no telephone or television. An old pickup truck was used by the project directors to get to the North End of the beach. Residents had free time to pursue their projects with the idea that the act of experience was most important even if the results diverged from the original project intent. Residents took turns, gardening, cooking and taking care of cows and chickens. It was expected that residents would come together for the evening meal, but otherwise your day was your own. Ossabaw is a powerful place. It is said to be situated along ley lines and that whatever one brings, whether good or not, is magnified.