Burnin’

“Home Place” by Jonathan Green

Noted art critics and reviewers consider Jonathan Green one of the most important painters of the southern experience. He was raised by his grandparents in the Gullah culture of coastal South Carolina. Having received formal training at The Art Institute of Chicago, Green has made his living as an artist since the early 1980s. His limited edition prints now go for $4000+, so I guess I’ll content myself with his postcards, magnets and such. He also has a coffee table book available, Gullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green, with an introduction by Pat Conroy, care of the University of South Carolina Press.

Last Friday night, we had the pleasure of seeing Green’s work come to life in three dimensions, as the Columbia City Ballet performed Off the Wall & Onto the Stage…Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green at the historic Lucas Theatre in downtown Savannah. I didn’t know I liked ballet– having been previously exposed only to The Nutcracker–but I can honestly say the graceful presentation of this show was stunning in its execution and originality.

For a great write up on Green and the event, see this Naples Daily News piece (registration required).

Palmetto Bluff Moonrise by West Fraser

Palmetto Bluff is a 22,000 acre luxury development on the May River on the outskirts of Bluffton. In 2001, the developers–Crescent Resources, a subsidiary of Duke Energy–commissioned Lowcountry artist, West Fraser, to capture the area on canvas. Several of his paintings can be viewed on the site.

The Bluff is also home to the first East Coast property from Auberge Resorts, the Mill Valley-based small hotel proprietor. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff features 50 riverfront cottages and “is the embodiment of all that is graceful, comforting and romantic about the South,” according to the Inn’s web site. Cottages start at $600 per night in season, putting it in a category well beyond exclusive. The Inn also features a fine dining restaurant, meeting space, a spa, and guests are welcome to play the new Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course (green fees are $175).

Hunter S. Thompson shot and killed himself at his home in Woody Creek on Sunday. He always did love guns, so in some ways I suppose his route out is not a big surprise. Whatever the cause, the world is short one brilliant writer this morning and that is a shame. He was 67.

Here’s a nice write up from the San Francisco Chronicle, a newspaper Thompson regularly contributed to.

Darby and I are both reading autographed copies of books by Lowcountry authors.

I’m reading The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy. It’s an autobiographical novel about Conroy’s year teaching on a remote coastal island he calls Yamacraw. In real life it’s Daufuskie Island, reachable only by boat to this day, but no longer the sleepy backwater Conroy depicts. Despite Conroy’s considerable fame as a writer, I’ve never read anything by him. After only two chapters, I must say I’m impressed.

Darby’s reading Behind The Moss Curtain by Murray Mendel Silver, Jr., a fifth generation Savannahian. It’s a collection of Savannah stories that exposes the history and bevy of wayward characters native to this fascinating American city.

Darby arrived in the Lowcountry Monday night. Yesterday morning while walking the beach, a photographer from the local paper captured her image. Today she’s on the front page of the paper.

photo by Jay Karr of The Island Packet
Darby Strong, who just moved to the area from Chicago, explores a fog-shrouded beach on Hilton Head Island on Tuesday. “I like it,” she said, “it’s kind of surreal.” Today’s forecast calls for fog, with sunshine later in the day.

Colleton River Marsh

This lot in Bluffton is currently for sale. I’d love to buy it or one like it. Someday.

Yes, I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one.

I’m a new resident of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. In fact, I arrived just hours ago. There’s a lot to draw one to this place. For me, it was the chance to get back to work. But there’s also the weather, the beach, the slower pace and the relative affordability. The area is also dripping with history, as Indian wars were fought here, plus the War for Independence and the Civil War.

One fascinating aspect of the local history, and the various cultures born of that history is the Gullah community of native islanders, who happen to be celebrating their heritage this month. In fact, on “Super Bowl Sunday” I can opt out of the commercial extravaganza in favor of a literary festival, should I be so inclined.

Celebration of African American Authors
Sunday, February 6th: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Schultz Park-Bluffton
Goethe Road & Buckwalter Pkwy
843-689-9314
Admission: Free
Authors include: Pauline Brown, Lynn Bryant, Walter Dennis, Oscar Frazier, Susan Madison, Betty Miller, Johnnie Mitchell, Gloria Polk, Dot Law, Queen Quet and Sallie Robinson.

Authors will do readings and be available to sign purchased copies of their books.