Last week was quite a memorable one at the Bluff as we welcomed our first 2022 Artist in Residence, Shannon Whitworth, and celebrated the launch of The Arts Initiative at the inaugural FLOW FEST.
Shannon, a painter and musician, traveled here from her hometown of Brevard, North Carolina and was greeted with open arms by Bluff residents and guests alike. Her tenure as Artist in Residence kicked off on a beautiful spring evening at a welcome reception in the courtyard of FLOW Gallery + Workshop. Guests mingled and chatted with Shannon, snack and sipped, and perused her incredible collection of art showcased at the gallery.
For the following two days, burgeoning artists set up their canvases and easels beneath FLOW’s signature live oak while participating in Shannon’s painting workshops. Adults and children were charmed and put at ease by her supportive teaching style as she led the groups through their own mixed media artistic explorations. The very best was saved for last as Shannon and 12 young artists played with bright colors and stencils of Lowcountry birds, crabs, and mermaids on a breezy Friday afternoon at her final workshop.
On Saturday evening, Shannon and her husband, Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers, harmonized together at an intimate private concert at Moreland Landing. The event was the perfect mix of the duo singing some of their favorite songs while sharing stories and quips with the audience and each other.
The five-day celebration of Palmetto Bluff’s Artist in Residence and Arts Initiative culminated on Sunday along the May River at FLOW FEST. Natty Grass and Town Mountain jammed on stage throughout a sun-filled afternoon complete with delicious food from local food trucks and tasty samples from Austin Eastciders and Fatty’s Beer Works. Additionally, an artisan market showcased pieces by artists from FLOW Gallery + Workshop, the Artists of Palmetto Bluff, and the Society of Bluffton Artists, and much more.
