A Natural State explores how people express a love for nature by shaping, twisting, carving, and weaving materials collected from the landscape. Some of the arts and crafts featured in A Natural State reveal the cultural heritage of South Carolina, while others employ concepts from the world of modern art. For more about this project, visit the credits page.
TO GET STARTED: Click on a landform region below to learn more about these artists and how they use the uniqueness of their environment to enhance their artistic vision. To learn more about each landform region, visit the Where Am I? section.
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This State of the Arts segment examines Earthen Bridge, an installation created for Clemson's Nature-Based Sculpture Program. The work complements the ephemeral form and rammed earth technique of...
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A dress form provides an occupant for the "bedroom area" of "Visceral Realities," a temporary installation at the Upstairs Gallery in Tryon, North Carolina. The proud object presides over other...
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The three most common gourd types in North America are hardshells, ornamentals and luffas. Hardshells have woody, rot-resistant shells that can grow to an inch thick under ideal growing conditions...
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Many traditional Catawba pot designs are based on a basic "cooking pot" style, dating back to the Woodland period (1000 BCE - 1000 CE) of North American pre-Columbian culture. Widespread use and trade...
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Decoy makers use field guides, photographs, and duck mounts as references for painting their decoys. Tom mixes ordinary house paints to achieve the unique colors of many species of waterfowl. After...
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Exterior revisions to Crucible involved adding a sturdy, stacked stone layer to its dome and a covering of native plants such as ebony spleenwort and sheet moss. The following video features Clemson...
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Flattening. Brooms come in round and flat shapes. For our camera, Peter chose to create a flat , sweeping end that is more typical of a modern broom. Peter flattens the broom by jumping on it. A vice...
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Adesola Falade processes indigo and designs fabrics for Arienne’s studio and boutique, the Ibile Indigo House. Ibile (pronounced E-be-lae) is a West African word meaning, "those who are messengers...
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Sumter's downtown Mosaic Garden is the result of Pearl Fryar's inspiration and design, the guidance of dedicated teachers, and the imagination of over 400 students. While Pearl arranged garden paths...
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The finished paddle has three basic parts--the grip, the shaft and the blade. The grip is ergonomic, or designed to reduce a paddler's hand fatigue, and can be custom shaped to the user's hand. The...
