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8 Upstate artists in the South Carolina State Parks 2022 Artist-In-Residence program

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Upstate Waterfalls Collection by artist KC Christmas | Photo provided by KC Christmas

This year’s South Carolina State Parks Artist-In-Residence program received nearly 100 applications. Out of the 20+ artists that were chosen, eight live in the Upstate.

Before we introduce the artists, let’s talk about the program.

Each artist will have the opportunity to be inspired by our state parks’ natural + cultural resources through a free, one-week cabin stay in one of 15 state parks:

  • Upstate: Devil’s Fork State Park, Oconee State Park, Table Rock State Park + Lake Hartwell State Park
  • Midlands: Barnwell State Park, Cheraw State Park, Chester State Park, Poinsett State Park, Dreher Island State Park + Hickory Knob State Park
  • PeeDee: Little Pee Dee State Park
  • Low Country: Edisto State Park, Givhans Ferry State Park, Myrtle Beach State Park + Santee State Park

In return, artists will produce an original piece of artwork for the park.

Here are the Upstate artists taking up residence in our state’s parks and the mediums they work with:

KC Christmas

Barnwell State Park, acrylic paint + paper collage

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KC’s work for Barnwell State Park will be similar to her Upstate Waterfall series. | Photos provided by KC Christmas

Sarah Mandell

Dreher Island State Park, needle-felt + jewelry

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Sarah’s experienced four consecutive residencies and her fifth will be in October at Dreher State Park. | Photos provided by Sarah Mandell

Margaret Vetter

Cheraw State Park, mosaic

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Margaret’s mosaic work features small, colorful glass cuttings. | Photos provided by Margaret Vetter

Casey Shoub

Edisto Beach State Park, photography

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The @upstateoutdooradventurer is leaving the mountains for the beach for his residency in Edisto SP. | Photos provided by Casey Shoub

“There is nothing I love more than spending a day in South Carolina’s nature capturing a new place while still taking the time to mentally enjoy my surroundings... and that’s exactly what I plan to do on this Residency. — Casey Shoub

Ellen Richardson Conner

Lake Hartwell State Park, photography

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While Ellen’s business, Belle Terre Studios, focuses on photography, she also dabbles in mixed media.

Esther Gambrell

Chester State Park, photography and digital painting

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Esther’s unique technique involves digitally hand painting over photos she has taken. | Photos provided by Esther Gambrell

Michael Gambrell

Devil’s Fork State Park, astrophotography

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Michael Gambrell (and his wife, Esther) both shoot a variety of landscapes, but Michael will be shooting the stars at Devil’s Fork SP. | Photos provided by Esther Gambrell

Greg Hammond, Givhans Ferry State Park, photography

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Greg is an SC native who took to photography after retiring from mortgage banking. | Photos provided by Greg Hamond

See the work of 2021’s Artist-In-Residence program here + the artists taking part in this year’s program here.

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