Coastal Plain | A Natural State

Ranging from slightly hilly to flat, the Coastal Plain landform is the result of millions of years of rising and falling sea levels. The area's rural landscape is a combination of farmland, wetland, and forests with population centers are in Florence, Sumter and Orangeburg. Fishing at Lake Marion is one South Carolina's largest tourist attractions. Hydropower from Lake Marion and other lakes and rivers in the Coastal Plain greatly impact the economy and environment of the region. 

Meet artists from the Coastal Plain area of South Carolina below. Please note many of the web videos include transcripts.  The artists are trained professionals who often use tools not considered safe for inexperienced users. Please review the safety disclaimer.

A Natural State
Episode 1

Video

Jimmie is a self-taught craftsman, who initially picked up the art of fashioning vines and branches into wreaths and baskets while caring for an ailing parent. He honed his art and moved into the...
Spotlight
Episode 1

Video

The city of Sumter invited artists to experiment with nature-based art during its the Art in the Park event. Nature-based art is sculpture that uses natural materials, often materials found on-site...
Spotlight
Episode 1

Video

Is topiary an attempt to control nature or a form of expression using a nature-based medium? The word topiary is derived from the Greek root word, topias, meaning ornamental garden. An account by...
Spotlight
Episode 1

Video

A typical Phil Greene canoe is a Spotlight of exotic and indigenous woods that were cut, sanded, carved and refined for six months or more. The canoes combine sculptural details with practical design...
A Natural State
Episode 2

Video

Jimmie’s upbringing fostered creativity and resourcefulness. His joy in his family history is palpable. In his world, nothing is wasted. Every simple thing is treasured for the value of its inherent...
Showcase
Episode 2

Video

The sculptures of Art in the Park ranged from the whimsical to the sublime. Nearly all sculptures involved pine needles, one of the most abundant materials on the landscape. Constructions included a...
Topiary Garden
Episode 2

Video

Pearl Fryar, a local gardener in Bishopville, South Carolina describes the kind of trees and bushes he grows in his topiary garden. Most common topiary plants are evergreen and have small, dense...
Wood Canoe
Episode 2

Video

In June 2002, an 18th century Cherokee canoe was found in the cold clear water of the Chattooga River. Early Cherokee canoes called dugouts were burned and scraped out of single tree trunks. The...
A Natural State
Episode 3

Video

Jimmie’s upbringing fostered creativity and resourcefulness. His joy in his family history is palpable. In his world, nothing is wasted. Every simple thing is treasured for the value of its inherent...
Leslie Rech
Episode 3

Video

Leslie Rech's multimedia installation, "Echo," was based on shapes and forms of the landscape as seen in an aerial photograph. The representation was also a key to materials most abundant in the park...