WELLS GALLERY
1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455, (843) 576-1290 kiawah@wellsgallery.com www.wellsgallery.com
Located on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, Wells Gallery will host The Basket Makers, a new series from E.B. Lewis, on October 26 and 27 for a live painting event. The artist will be in the gallery from 1 to 6 p.m. both days to paint and discuss the new work. The pieces explore the deep history of the sweetgrass baskets, the people who make them and how they have impacted the history of Charleston and the Lowcountry.
As the gallery explains, “The Gullah/Geechee tradition of weaving sweetgrass baskets is bound with nature, history and artistry. The Gullah are descendants of enslaved Africans that predominantly settled on the barrier islands of South Carolina. The art of basket making came from the west coast of Africa, specifically from tribes like the Mende and the Temne, and these enslaved Africans were brought to the Charleston area to farm rice. West Africa resembles South Carolina in both climate and landscape, and rice had long been cultivated there.”
The materials to create their baskets, such as sweetgrass, bulrush, pine needles and palmetto palm, were found in the Lowcountry. These fanner baskets, which they used in winnowing rice, were created for utilitarian purposes as opposed to the decorative baskets we see today. The tradition of basket making is passed down through the generations. A popular tourist destination in Charleston is the Market, where many basket makers sell their wares and demonstrate their craft. In Lewis’ latest watercolors, he wanted to explore the more intimate and historical view of the tradition.
With Charleston seeing new tourists and residents year after year, the gallery has welcomed new clients and the opportunity to share its artists with a larger audience. “As Charleston, South Carolina, continues to grow, the art market grows right along with it,” says Emily Wagner, director of Wells Gallery. “The Lowcountry is a popular tourist destination, making the summer months the busiest time in the gallery, but as more people visit, more and more decide to stay. The growth Charleston has experienced in the last few years has contributed to a year-round growth in our business.”
“The growth Charleston has experienced in the last few years has contributed to a year-round growth in our business.”
— Emily Wagner, director, Wells Gallery