Dreamers Garden - 'Gate of the Muses' Fundraiser

While always staying true to its community garden roots, Dreamers Garden in the Grove Street Neighborhood of Gainesville, Florida has become a memorial and an art demonstration garden. In keeping with this tradition, Maria Huff Edwards and Dr. Jody Berman are raising money in order to have a Gate of the Muses installed. Inspired by the music of Ray Charles, the gate will be designed and created by Yaw Owusu Shangofemi in remembrance of their dear friend, colleague and fellow dreamer Dr. Ade Ofunniyin. 

Ade has been an integral part of the evolution of the garden since the spring of 2004, when he accompanied Jody to meet the founder of Dreamers Garden, Maria Huff Edwards. After casually conversing and walking about the garden together, Maria relayed that she knew of a famous blacksmith that she wishfully envisioned would one day produce a gate for that community site. Unbeknownst to her, the blacksmith she was referring to was Ade’s grandfather, National Living Treasure and legendary Gullah blacksmith Philip Simmons. Ade turned to Maria and said, “Your dreams brought me to your garden”, and, a few minutes later, “My brother and I will build a gate for this garden!”  Thus, began the special relationship between Ade, Jody, Maria, and, Philip’s apprentice, Yaw Owusu Shangofemi that culminated in the creation of the Gate of Philip for Dreamers Garden, dedicated to Ade’s grandfather, on May 31, 2007.  Attending the ceremony were then Mayor of Gainesville, Pegeen Hanrahan, other dignitaries, and friends and neighbors of the Grove Street Neighborhood.  

As Jody puts it, the series of events leading up to the creation of the Gate of Philip, “were magical!”  The Gate of Philip has since been showcased in the essay ‘Philip Simmons and Yaw Owusu Shangofemi: African influence in the work of two master blacksmiths,’ within the book Peace, Power and Prestige: Metal Arts in Africa by Dr. Jody Berman and Ade Ofunniyin and published by the Harn Museum of Art through the University Press of Florida in 2020.  At least one more gate, The Gate of the Muses, is planned for the garden to continue the presentation of metal artworks by Yaw and by extension, Philip Simmons’s hands.  In keeping with this tradition, Maria and Jody are also petitioning the U.S. Congress to extend the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor to Dreamers Garden in Gainesville, Florida. They believe that this important designation will underscore the enduring associations between Charleston, SC and Gainesville, Fl and bring recognition to Ade’s role as the Gullah ambassador that bridged the connection between his grandfather’s blacksmithing work and Yaw’s enduring artistic vision.

For those wishing to support this magnificent arts journey, donations can be made online via this site or addressed and sent to: KEEP ALACHUA COUNTY BEAUTIFUL, 211 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 1, Gainesville, Florida 32601. Please be sure to indicate in the MEMO section of the check: “DREAMERS GARDEN.”  

Maria Huff Edwards                                                 Jody Berman

Yaw Owusu at his Forge