The last year has led many of us to roam our environs and experience special moments of discovery close to home. Here in the Lowcountry, our coastal home is filled with abundant beauty, from stunning sea horizons to greeny marsh views. With all the picturesque nature around us, there is much to discover and that has become the inspiration for the Gallery at Sweetgrass’s first exhibition: Let’s R O A M
This new exhibition features eight local artists who were tasked with creating new pieces of work inspired by their own Lowcountry explorations. Like one of our artists, Rachael Nerney found her inspiration for the collection in the peace and solace she finds at Folly Beach. “Whether it’s a sunset walk after work or a day with my toes in the sand, there is something about the ocean that allows me to rest,” Nerney said about her inspiration.
Being on the coast, the ocean is the number one attraction for guests both local and traveling in to come and enjoy, so it’s no wonder it also inspired artist Karen Hewitt Hagan’s work. In creating her masterpieces, Hagan enjoyed getting to bask in the ebb and flow of the ocean. She says, “studying the waves is mesmerizing, energizing, and fascinating. Trying to see in the blink of an eye what makes the waves work and then trying to capture that on canvas is a joy.”
The ocean isn’t all the South Carolina nature scene has to offer as inspiration for our artists, but the wildlife is just as majestic. Artist Amanda McLenon went that route with her artwork as the coastal wildlife is close to her heart since she is also a marine biologist. One species in particular she had been searching for on her “bucket list” were white pelicans, as she never had gotten a chance to see them up close. Little did she know, this opportunity would present itself to her in the Charleston area while exploring Pawley’s Island. She named the animal that motivated her work for this collection as “Pawley” the pelican, and in her recollection of this moment of inspiration she recalls that, “it was evening, so there was a halo of warm light on them, and this particular pelican just had so much personality and I loved the light cascading over his shoulder.”
Other artists featured in this exhibition are: Barbara Montgomery, Emil Hristov, Fallon Peper, Gret Mackintosh, and Katie Libby. The exhibition’s opening reception will take place at the Gallery on Thursday, November 4th from 5:00 – 7:30 PM. This special exhibit is open for a limited time only, closing on December 6th.
Visit the Gallery at Sweetgrass, located in the heart of Wild Dunes Resort on the Sweetgrass Plaza, open daily from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM to check out all these fantastic works. Click here to learn more.