Azalea Magazine Fall 2016

T H E A R T I S A N FA R M E R : S P A D E A N D C L O V E R G A R D E N S

THE SOUTHERN POP STAR / THE GARDEN HOUSE / D2 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION PADDLE MAKER JAMES HERNDON / HAIL TO THE CHEESEBURGER / M&G MICHAEL WRIGHT DESIGNER ERIKA LYNN MCKELVEY / FLIGHT ETIQUETTE / EDISTO ISLAND

Fall 2016~FREE

Modern Living in the Old South

Home Plate Chef BJ Dennis at his family garden in Charleston

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A Z A L E A

M A G A Z I N E

F E AT U R E S FALL 2016

80 62 THE GU L L A H CHE F

The flavors of childhood bring Chef BJ Dennis full circle, back to his home

GARDEN H OUSE

One of Summerville’s oldest homes has grown to be one of its grandest Full Bloom A fountain and potted plants on the back porch of the Price's home

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TH E SOUTH ERN P OP STAR David Boatwright is on a constant mission to keep the South creative

Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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CONT ENT S

/ Fall 2016

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32

35

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10 Editor’s Letter 14 Contributors FIELD GUIDE A brief look into our local culture 17 Seasonal Edisto Island 18 Q&A Michael Wright 20 Etiquette Flight SOUTHERN LIFE 23 Southern Spotlight - Food 28 Southern Spotlight - Education 32 Southern Spotlight - Art 35 Southern Spotlight - Design 39 Southern Spotlight - Food

COLUMNS 43 Natural Woman

by Susan Frampton 47 Kids These Days

by Tara Bailey

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O N T H E C O V E R : Chef BJ Dennis / Photograph by Dottie Rizzo 10 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

39 51 Life & Faith

by Will Browning

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THE GALLERY 55 Market Report We hit the flea market for a morning hunt.

Here's what we found.

88 THE VILLAGE POET - Finds

START YOUR DAY ON THE RIGHT FOOT. Or the left. Living here — with trails that take you to a new school, parks, the Swim Club, the office, and all sorts of destinations in between — you’ll rediscover the pleasure of leg-powered transportation. And who knows the connections you’ll make along the way.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Antique oil paintings

A Hunt for Buried Treasure

Vintage copper wall eagle

My wife, Dottie, and I love old things­­; architecture, books, furniture, art, cars, style, design, music­—whatever it is, in most cases we are drawn to the vintage. I am not going to go as far as to say that we feel like we were born into the wrong generation—nineteenth century healthcare, hygiene and air conditioning techniques leave a lot to be desired—but you get the point.

And we love to rummage. Antique stores, flea markets and thrift shops are some of our favorite places to explore. What's around the next corner?

What might be buried beneath that pile of mismatched knitting yarns? You never know what you're going to find, and that's the fun part. Some days we come home empty handed and other times, we fill the truck. It is the thrill of the hunt that keeps us looking. Here, get a glimpse of a few of our favorite finds from over the years, and check out Market Report, pg. 55 to see what we found on our most recent trip to the flea market.

Vintage antler mount

Set of 6 antique oak chairs with raw hide seats

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AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

Will Rizzo Editor in Chief

Vintage silk rug

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Will Rizzo Co-Publisher and Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Rizzo Co-Publisher and Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Susan Frampton Senior Editor Jana Riley Senior Editor Will Browning Faith Editor Charlie Sweeney Copy Editor Lewis Frampton Distribution Manager Contributors Tara Bailey Elizabeth Donehue Susan Frampton Ellen Hyatt Jessy Devereaux Mitcham Jana Riley Jason Wagener Paul Zoeller

Advertising

Susan Frampton susan@azaleamag.com 843.696.2876 Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com 843.568.7830 Dan Riley dan@azaleamag.com 843.709.2464 Tina Zimmerman tina@azaleamag.com 843.276.5084 Subscribe *Available for $16.99 a year (4 Issues). Visit azaleamag.com for details.

Azalea Magazine is published by

Azalea Magazine 114B E. Richardson Avenue Summerville, SC 29483 info@azaleamag.com www.azaleamag.com 843.478.7717

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AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

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CONTRIBUTORS

JANA RILEY / Writer

Jana Riley is a writer and editor living in Summerville. Her current favorite hobbies include having the world explained to her by her two year old daughter, Forest, and sharing warm snuggles with new baby Oscar.

JESSY DEVEREAUX MITCHAM /Writer

Jessy is a writer and the Social Media Coordinator for Azalea Magazine. Born and raised in Summerville, Jessy loves to spend her free time exploring the outdoors, hiking and kayaking around the Lowcountry with her husband and daughter.

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AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

SUSAN FRAMPTON / Writer

An accidental writer, Susan Frampton lives in Summerville, SC. Along with a fluctuating number of wiener dogs, chickens, turtles, snakes and the occasional pig, her husband and family provide endless material for her musings on life, love, laughter. Her life is full of adventure and comedy; and some days she contemplates having wine with breakfast.

ELLEN HYATT / Poet

Ellen is a fellow of the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, professor, columnist, and appointee to the Board of Governors of the SC Academy of Authors. Her works have twice been the recipient of what the Poetry Society of SC refers to as “the big one� (the Dubose & Dorothy Heyward Society Prize).

JASON WAGENER / Illustrator

Jason started his illustrious art career when he won a coloring contest in third grade, subsequently entitling him proud owner of a Mickey Mouse dry erase board. He moved to the Lowcountry in 1990, and attended The Savannah College of Art and Design.

TARA BAILEY / Writer

Tara is a writer and editor for SCIWAY.net. She is a Palmetto State native, and lives in Summerville with her husband and three daughters.

Always Ready

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No patient or family can be fully prepared for the ramifications of a trauma. If you or a loved one suffer a major fall, car accident or other devastating trauma, our commitment is to provide compassionate care and the clinical experience necessary to help both patient and family survive and thrive following a major trauma.

We hope you never need us, but if you do, we are here. Always ready.

TridentHealthSystem.com/Trauma

A B R I E F L O O K AT L O C A L C U LT UR E

Botany Bay is a 3,363 acre wildlife preserve on the island. Former owner John Meyer, who bought the property in 1968, illegally built a pond on the property. In order to avoid repercussions, he transferred the deed to the state. In 2008, the Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management area was born.

The Edisto River, one of the longest free flowing blackwater rivers in North America, completes its 206-mile journey to the Atlantic Ocean at Edisto Beach.

The Edisto Indians are the first known inhabitants of the island.

A Spanish Catholic mission was established to convert the Edisto Indians in 1569, but the effort was abandoned in 1570.

The first Africans came to Edisto Island around 1684 and were a key element in establishing the island’s planter class, many of whom amassed huge fortunes. Once freed, many former slaves remained on the island and contributed to Edisto’s rich cultural heritage.

Edisto Island’s “Mystery Tree” stands about 100 feet off SC 174, just across from the entrance to Botany Bay. While no one is quite sure who adorns it, the decorations change with the seasons and has become a beloved landmark.

Edisto’s 4.5 miles of beach are covered with well-worn sun bleached oyster shells of all sizes, making it a popular destination for beachcombers.

Edisto Island

Edisto Island is treasured for its rich history, shell-filled beaches, winding creeks, abundant wildlife and easy way of life Featuring: Edisto Island pg. 17 / Q&A with Coach Michael Wright pg. 18 / Flight Etiquette: How To Behave At 35,000 Feet pg. 20

Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Needless to say, teaching and coaching is fun and rewarding. I have had some wonderful times that I reflect on from time to time. I often think, wow that really happened. I am living out my dream job.

Is there a motto that you live by?

Not really. I tend to enjoy the moment as it comes. Each day is so unique unto itself. I like being flexible with the situation at hand.

Who or what are you a fan of ?

Authentic people who can have a laugh at themselves.

Coffee or tea?

You would think being from the South it would be tea. I am a Coca Cola drinker. I have always liked the taste and those iconic red and white cans.

Q& A

M ic h a e l Wrig h t

H e a d Fo o t b a l l C o a c h , Pinewood Prep

What is your favorite thing about living in the Lowcountry?

Living in the Lowcountry has a lot of meaning to me. I was born here therefore I have deep roots connecting me to the area. As I have matured, I have learned to appreciate the Southern lifestyle and the variety of activities in the South that escaped me in my youth. Being that my family is multicultural, living here allows us to enjoy so many activities and appreciate the nice hospitality of so many wonderful and supportive people.

From my various other travels, living in the Lowcountry has been a unique place to live.

What is your dream job?

I have a very special job currently at Pinewood Preparatory School where I have the opportunity to be heavily involved on an educational and coaching level to share my thoughts and experiences with students and student athletes. It is a special opportunity and one I have enjoyed for thirty years.

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What's one thing you've bought in the last five years that you couldn’t live without?

The Playmaker Football Application has been really enjoyable. I love acting as if I am an architect and drawing up different situations, making up scenarios and seeing what might work best in that situation. It allows for me to make time to gather my thoughts, draw and tinker with things.

What's one thing you've bought in the last five years that you could go the rest of your life without?

A tank top shirt that I thought looked good on me at the time. I forgot I had added a few pounds over the years. I got rid of it so fast I did not bother giving it to Goodwill.

What is your favorite music?

I love soft rock and the music from the 70’s era. Going off to boarding school in Connecticut really broadened my horizons, musically. I was introduced to a lot of terrific music from around the world. If it makes me tap my feet, I like the song.

Do you have a favorite Lowcountry getaway?

I love history so periodically I will visit plantations, beaches and downtown Charleston to connect with the voices of the past. I’m always coming away with great insight into the past and how America was shaped by a variety of situations. AM

They’ll remember this.

This is Summers Corner.

Memories just waiting to be made.

Dorchester District Two schools.

Beautiful architecture.

From the mid $200s–$600s.

Models open daily.

Homes available for quick move-in.

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FLIGHT ETIQUETTE; H O W T O B E H AV E AT 3 5 , 0 0 0 F E E T Dress Code There are no wardrobe requirements to fly, but minimal jewelry and shoes that you don’t have to lace, buckle or tie are helpful with security checkpoints. And, while I can certainly understand wanting to be comfortable, be mindful that you are not attending a pajama party or gym class.

Boarding You must wait your turn when boarding at the gateonly board in your zone/group/ row. Have your ticket ready. Get out of the aisle as quickly as possible once luggage is stowed.

Overhead Bins Stow your suitcase in the overhead bin closest to your seat. If you have two carry-on bags, keep the smaller one at your feet.

ELIZABETH DONEHUE

Armrests Middle seat passengers get the right to both armrests.

Always. Those to his right would get their right armrest, and those to his left would get their left.

Arbiter of social graces, with a heart for simple hospitality and a tendency for adventure, Elizabeth lives in Summerville with her husband Wesley, baby boy Harlowe, and yorkie Gucci.

I think it is a pity to lose the romantic side of flying and simply to accept it as a common means of transport.

- Amy Johnson

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AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

Reclining Seats Airline seats recline to allow passengers to sleep and relax, but it may cause discomfort for the person behind you. If you intend to recline your seat, do it gently or better yet, turn around and make sure you don't inconvenience the person behind you.

Etiquette

Up and Away Will you soon be traveling for busines or pleasure? Remember to pack your best travel manners. Here is a simple code of in-flight conduct.

by Elizabeth Donehue

Smells and Sounds Do your best to minimize odors and noise. Use headphones to listen to music or movies, keep calls brief and conversations to a low volume. Avoid perfumes and foods with strong smells that may bother your neighbors.

Deplaning At last! The plane touches down, the seat belt lights go off, and everyone jumps up.

Rather than grab your luggage and make a run for the door, allow those in front of you to disembark first. AM In general, be respectful of those around you, a little consideration can go a long way. Safe travels!

Explore Historic Summerville You will find charming shops, a vibrant night life, live theater, over 100 dining options, more than 35 pieces of public sculpture and the Birthplace of Sweet Tea. Something fun for everyone.

For info on Historic Downtown Summerville, visit summervilledream.org

Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Southern L I F E & C U L T U R E from O U R L I T T L E S L I C E of T H E S O U T H

Field of Dreams

John Warren on his Johns Island farm

The Artisan Farmer

An unlikely path to agriculture paved the way for Charleston’s most creative farmer to implement big ideas on a small scale

by Jana Riley

Featuring: The Artisan Farmer pg. 23 / DD2 Educational Foundation pg. 28 / Paddle On pg. 32 / Heart and Soles pg. 35 / Hail to the Cheeseburger pg. 39 / Columns

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The Artisan Farmer

J

ohn Warren is not a typical farmer. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Warren is not following a family tradition of farming; his parents made their livings in administrative assistance, teaching, and criminal psychology, though they both always loved to garden. Warren doesn’t own a large plot of land. At the time of this writing, he was still using a shared space at Dirt Works Incubator Farm in Johns Island.

Warren didn’t receive a standard education in anything related to agriculture; he graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with a major in Sculpture. Warren’s table at the farmer’s market does not resemble that of any other farmer, particularly locally, as it is stocked with uncommon produce, herbs, and flowers.

But Warren has the grit of a farmer, the determination, the scrappiness, and the ability to roll with any punches the weather or the land doles out. He has an untiring work ethic and a connection 26 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

Green Peace Clockwise from top left: The farm's vintage tractor; John Warren; inspecting the crops; walking the farm; Spade and Clover grows many rare varieties; the farm logo

with the land that only a truly successful farmer knows well. John Warren is not a typical farmer, but his unconventional pathway to the agricultural industry represents a growing trend in the sustainability movement, one that is a boon to the Charleston area.

As a child growing up outside of Columbia, John Warren visited the Charleston area regularly to spend time with grandparents, aunts, and uncles on Sullivan’s Island and the surrounding area. To Warren, Charleston was always a sort of second home, and even when he moved out of the state, he always assumed that he would end up back in the Lowcountry one day. In September of 2001, at the age of eighteen, he moved to New York City.

Two weeks later, he watched the towers of the World Trade Center fall, catapulting him into a reality that forced a rapid and somber maturation. He excelled at his art and sculpture studies at the Pratt Institute and went on to become a professional mold maker, casting

The Artisan Farmer

and fitting sculptural elements for some of Manhattan’s most famous buildings. Occasionally, Warren worked on rooftop gardens on the side, relishing the feeling of breathing life into a space and toiling over the soil. As the years went on, Warren began to experience respiratory issues from both living in the city and being in closed quarters with the sculptural materials used in his line of work, and he became weary with his struggle for good health amidst so many barriers.

He took a trip to Widbey Island, WA, in 2011, visiting friends who were well-established in a farming lifestyle. Inspired and “totally sold on it,” Warren quit his job and left New York City to become a farmer.

Warren immersed himself in research regarding his ideal type of growing operation: the small scale organic farm, consulting industry experts such as Eliot Coleman and others based in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. He apprenticed on a Block Island, Rhode Island farm for years, and then came to South Carolina to work at Joseph Fields Farms.

While working there, he noticed that many of the farming lessons he learned through books and his apprenticeship didn’t apply to the southern climate, and he began coming up with his own techniques, theories, and experiments. When he caught wind that Lowcountry Local First would be starting an incubator farm for new farmers, 28 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

he was the first applicant and waited patiently over a year for his spot to open up. When he finally moved in, he called his farm “Spade and Clover,” and immediately set to work making the 2-3 acres parceled out to him feel just like home.

Four years later, much has changed for John Warren.

Dirt Works Incubator Farm is shutting down this fall, though Warren is in talks with the owners of the land to stay on his allotted acreage and purchase some necessary equipment. Most importantly for Warren, he feels great; no longer does he suffer from the respiratory issues he faced in New York. And oh, how his garden blooms.

Utilizing his artistic passions and curiosities in his growing practices, Warren grows a dizzying array of unconventional produce: taro, white and black turmeric, ginger, heirloom kyoto eggplants, holy basil, jerusalem artichoke, all kinds of sweet potatoes, lemongrass, dwarf papaya, jicama, and togarashi, shisito, fushimi, ají dulce, paprika, and trinidad perfume peppers; and those are just the items that are currently striking his fancy. Warren is ever on the search to find new produce that is native to humid, subtropical climates like the Lowcountry, but may be something that people may not have a culture of eating locally.

Fresh Picked Clockwise from left: Heirloom kyoto eggplant; Ginger lounges in the shade; a mix of colorful cover crop

At that point, growing and harvesting the plant is the easy part—when they are native to this climate, they require minimal inputs and interventions.

The more lengthy part, for Warren, is the process of educating people on the unique fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and convincing many tried-andtrue Southern cooks with traditional Southern palates to be open-minded about newcomers to the market table.

Still, he has found rousing success with many of the more experimental chefs at downtown eateries including Edmund’s Oast, The Lot, McCrady’s, Two Nixons, and more, and has quite the following at Marion Square, the Sunday Brunch Farmer’s Market, and the online farmer’s market “SILO.” He sends much of his yield through Eastern Carolina Organics to be distributed across the region, and plans to start a CSA in the fall so locals can purchase subscriptions to receive regular boxes of Spade and Clover produce.

Concerning his place in the vast and ever-changing agricultural landscape of South Carolina, Warren says that he is here to stay and views himself as a steward of the land. In a perfect world, he says he would produce on a scale that allows sound decision making, specializing in medicinal foods and produce that does not have to be forced to thrive in the Lowcountry climate.

Most importantly, he hopes to expand the taste buds and interests of locals and visitors alike.

Ever the diligent artist, Warren’s farm has become his art career and an outlet for his earnest creativity, much to the benefit of the new Southern table. AM

CALLING CUSTOMERS BY NAME SINCE 1905 With over 100 years of service to the community, First National Bank of South Carolina has always been committed to excellence in banking and fostering genuine relationships with our customers. Our doors are always open, so stop by and experience the difference of banking with a neighbor.

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Goose Creek 843-553-0344

Boonehill 843-875-2100

Harleyville 843-462-7661

Ridgeville 843-871-9553

www.fnbsc.com Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Education Crusader Director of D2 Educational Foundation Jennifer Crosby, photographed at Rollings Middle School of the Arts.

SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT DD2 Educational Foundation:Education

Imagine the Possibilities Dorchester Two Educational Foundation’s goal of leveling the field for one of the State’s most outstanding school districts offers an opportunity to unlock unlimited potential.

by Susan Frampton

Ask any newcomer to what factors determined their relocation to Summerville, SC, and you will find one area consistently at the top of their considerations—Summerville’s school system has long been one of its major attractions, drawing families looking for the very best public education opportunities for their children. Dorchester District Two school district’s reputation is a source of civic great pride, with very good reason.

Serving 28,000 students, Dorchester School District Two (DD2) has been consistently rated one of the top five among South Carolina’s eighty-two school districts, receiving an absolute rating of Excellent on the state’s Elementary and Secondary Schools Report Card for three consecutive years. Seventeen of the district’s twenty-one schools received an Excellent rating, with an additional four taking home a rating of Good.

While a ranking of Excellent is impressive on any report card, to have met the requirements for the state’s highest rating for three consecutive years is exceptional. These report cards address and assess achievement, accountability and teacher quality in reading 30 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

and language arts, mathematics and science, evaluate performance, assist in addressing the strengths and weaknesses, recognize high performance, evaluate and focus resources for low performance, and meet federal report card requirements.

The district’s indomitable Superintendent Joe Pye sees a larger objective for his

outstanding district: “Dorchester School District Two desires to be recognized as a “World Class” school district, expecting each student to achieve at his/her optimum level in all areas, and providing all members of our district family with an environment that permits them to do their personal best.”

Dorchester School District Two (DD2) has been consistently rated one of the top five among South Carolina’s eighty-two school districts.

But DD2’s greatest accomplishment may be one that goes unrealized by the public. The Dorchester Two Educational Foundation is issuing a call to action to a community hugely impacted by the area’s education system. While there are districts in the state that receive funding of over $17,000 per pupil, DD2 receives a general fund per pupil expenditure of less than $8,000. According to Jennie Crosby, Executive Director of the 501(c)3 organization established in 2013, DD2 receives around half the funding of most districts, coming in close to the bottom of per pupil funding per year. Leveling that playing field would require an addition of over $200 million annually to DD2’s funding.

“It is a shocking reality. The state’s method of funding public schools is broken, inadequate, and unstable. Not only does it put schools at the mercy of fluctuating state resources, it also restricts their ability to make up the difference with local revenues.”

Crosby emphasizes that it is not an issue controlled by the local school system, but rather a complicated and tangled legislative and funding source issue that exists state-wide.

This issue has been argued and studied for decades by the SC School Board Association.

Creating a system that is simpler, more efficient, and fairer to all districts will take time that the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation doesn’t believe should be wasted.

Dorchester Two Educational Foundation believes that its mission to create and build Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Imagine the Possibilities

photos by Paul Zoeller

partnerships to support the advancement of education in the community brings hope for the successful implementation of its vision to produce world class students who are world ready. Already making great strides, the organization has raised just over $300,000 in the last year, helping to bridge the funding gap by providing opportunities for all segments of the community to actively contribute to public education, and to provide programs and opportunities essentially unavailable on a shoe-string budget.

Active Leaning Dorchester District Two student groups using new technology in the classroom; students using actionbased learning techniques

“We see a lot of technology requests,” Crosby says, “and technology is expensive. So we have created Innovation Grants for which any district employee can apply to us for funding for something they know would be impactful.”

scores of a low level reading class at one school, showing the merit of studies linking physical movement with the brain’s engagement for learning, while an art focused initiative at another school allowed students to participate in a school-wide hands-on art project.

This past school year, they provided $45,000 to fund twelve projects, impacting 8,515 students. Projects involve math and sciences, as well as reading and language arts.

Beyond the classroom, the organization looks to facilitate wider-scaled programs offering additional mechanisms for both corporate and community partnerships to assist the organization in bringing opportunities to learn new skills to the district. Among the initiatives currently in place, the foundation has an advisory board of community leaders

In addition to this funding, action-based learning programs that incorporate movement into the classroom have increased the test

to help identify and engage manufacturing partners willing to provide funding, equipment, or time to help create a program for high school students to offer skills training needed by area industries.

It is an important investment in the future that the local business community can make that will directly affect local students.

World class and world ready. With area shareholders and the business community behind it, Dorchester Two Educational Foundation can help make the innovative projects and hands-on learning opportunities of a fully funded school district a reality.

Imagine the possibilities. AM For more information, visit dd2foundation.org

These SC-made �lour sack towels bring a little sass to your time spent in the kitchen this holiday season. $12 - $15

Funny names, natural ingredients.

We can personally attest, these are some of the best soaps we’ve ever used. $6 each

Solmate Socks have been one of our holiday best-sellers for years! Treat your favorite people to these fun socks, gloves, coffee sleeves, and more. �inglerless gloves $35

m

a Very Merry gift guide

A wide selection of genuine Lowcountry sweetgrass baskets and accessories for all budgets.

4pc coasters $35

Four Green Fields

117-A “Short” Central Avenue, Historic Downtown Summerville fourgreenfieldsgallery.com | (843) 261-7680

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm & Sundays October ‘til Christmas

Show your Palmetto State pride with our etched glass tumblers, beer mugs, and ornaments. indigo palmetto tumblers $12.50

A Summerville-made favorite! Makes an excellent creative stocking-stuffer, or addition to holiday meals and appetizers.

8oz jar $15

These sweet little seaglass necklaces and scarf slides are some of the hottest new pieces in the shop for 2016. seaglass palmetto tree necklaces $25

Represent the Birthplace of Sweet Tea with gifts from the Charleston Tea Plantation and Savannah Bee Company.

Handcrafted soy candles in Lowcountry-inspired scents, plus Apple Maple Bourbon and Christmas Hearth for the holidays. tins $12.95

Charleston honey $15 First Flush tea $16 Tea & Honey sampler box $29.95

Wood and Water James Herndon; a hand-caned canoe seat

SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Carolina Custom Paddles:Art

Paddling On

A simple concept meets a beautiful application

by Jana Riley

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The wooden sheds behind James Herndon’s modest Walterboro home are unremarkable from the outside. To a passerby, they likely contain piles of tools, lawn equipment, hunting and fishing gear, and seasonal decorations, as is the norm for the typical southern outbuilding. The reality, though, is far more fascinating; behind the barn-style doors of Herndon’s simple sheds are some of the most artistically fluent wooden paddles the world has ever seen, in various stages of completion.

“A lot of people who see my work assume that I have a huge shop with computerized equipment,” laughs Herndon. “I always say, ‘Nope. It’s just me, my hands and tools, and a few simple sheds.’”

Born and raised in Walterboro, Herndon seems as much a part of the land out here as its native flora, fauna, and waterways,

the latter of which he has spent decades exploring.

He discovered his passion for boating and fishing at a young age, and his calling to build with his own two hands trailed right behind, destined to connect with his affinity for the water. He began building boats at the age of thirteen and spent years perfecting the art of the simple plywood jon boat, a no-frills, quick, versatile, and handy boat that boaters and woodworkers of every skill level can appreciate. Around 14 years ago, Herndon met a man who would change his life: Philip Greene of Woodsong Canoes in Round O, South Carolina. Thoroughly impressed by Greene’s abilities and his stock of hand-built canoes and paddles, Herndon set off on his own journey to elevate his woodworking skills and produce fully-functional art pieces. Nearly a decade and a half later, Herndon has carved out

Custom Striped Paddle from $380

Custom Sunburst Paddle from $650

his own niche in the Lowcountry artist community and beyond, as one of the only people designing and building show-worthy paddles anywhere in the world.

Inside his workshop in Walterboro, Herndon works comfortably surrounded by the unmistakable scent of cedar permeating the air, a few thousand epoxy drippings covering the floors, and a dozen or so hand-made paddles hanging on the wall, the beauty of these matched only by the massive hand-made canoe taking up the majority of the space.

The canoe, which took Herndon a year and a half to build, was a lesson in many things; diligence, patience, and dozens of various techniques learned along the way.

Using around 75 three-quarter-inch strips, Herndon built the canoe on a form, piece by piece, using a variety of exotic woods, minimal screws, an immeasurable amount of hand sanding, some fiberglass cloth, and a clear epoxy to seal it all in, eschewing paint or stains to let the true beauty of the wood shine. He even learned to do caning for the seats while working on the boat, and had to implement a rule to stop caning after an hour, as his laser-like focus made his eyes nearly cross after sixty minutes or so. When he didn’t know how to do something, he consulted books, videos, experts, and friends, and after eighteen months, the canoe was signed and finished, ready to be displayed or taken on the water; either application would suit her just fine.

With the canoe project behind him,

Herndon turned his attentions to perfecting his skills at designing and building custom canoe paddles. With a dedicated focus to both form and function, Herndon is as much interested in the shape, durability, and usefulness of each paddle as he is in the exotic hardwoods and unique designs he chooses for them. He favors sunburst and stripe designs, western red cedar, basswood, curly maple, and bloodwood, but is capable of creating any combination of design and woods.

While he specializes in canoe paddles, the woodworker regularly makes kayak and stand up paddleboard paddles. Each paddle is the product of nearly a month of dedicated focus and design, with minimal machine work and extensive hand sanding.

“I can run with my imagination or we can run with a customer’s imagination,” Herndon says.

The bulk of his sales come from art shows, where his paddles catch the eye of people from all walks of life, and Herndon says most customers who make a purchase have “never even been on a boat,” but appreciate the artistic skill and culture of the South enough to want to hang one of his paddles in their home as an art piece. Still, should they ever desire to spend a day on the water, Herndon is confident that his paddles can out-perform any fiberglass or wooden paddle on the market and, with the proper care, can last for generations.

With a process that he has whittled down to be as efficient as possible, Herndon’s paddles still take around four weeks to create.

“With these, you cannot cut corners,” remarks Herndon. “You have to do it step by step, the same way, the right way, every time.

That’s how you get as close to perfection as you possibly can.”

With his eye for design, skill for building, and heart for the water, James Herndon is quietly shaking up the art world by offering his paddle buyers the choice to display or play.

One can only hope that Herndon takes his dedication to building high-quality boating accessories and just keeps paddling on. AM To learn more, visit www.carolinacustomcanoepaddles.com Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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. . .

w e i v i s d #B ir www.

sc.Audubon

Audubon Center & Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest 336 Sanctuary Road Harleyville, SC 29448

Silver Bluff Audubon Center & Sanctuary 4542 Silver Bluff Road Jackson, SC 29831

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.org

photos provided

SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Erika Lynn McKelvey:Design

Heart and Soles

Following passions that have driven her since childhood, Erika Lynn McKelvey found the path to a successful career for herself, and a better life for others

by Susan Frampton

Erika Lynn McKelvey thought for years she wanted to be a doctor. With parents raising her and her brother to be aware and have hearts for the needs of others, it was not a

Exotic Leather Fish Leather Gold Foil clutch

Erika Lynn was a youngster with energy and creativity, two traits that served her well when she launched her first business.

She was twelve years old when she began sewing together fabric placemats with ribbons to make handbags surprising ambition for a young woman who spent every summer traveling to Romania for mission trips, working from the age of nine with orphans, street kids and the elderly.

Erika Lynn was a youngster with energy and creativity, two traits that served her well when she launched her first business. She was twelve years old when she began sewing together fabric placemats with ribbons to

make handbags, and was soon creating her own patterns for the fashion accessories she sold to friends and family and at local craft shows. She also channeled her energy into gymnastics, competing for 4 years as a level eight gymnast. It wasn’t until she was a senior in high school that the blue-eyed girl with the big smile decided that perhaps a medical career was not in her future. Her dad mentioned something in passing about Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Happy Feet This page: McKelvey constructing a pair of sandals; The Blue Moon Sandal. Opposite page: Acid Washed Hair on Cowhide clutch

A quick look at her website reveals just how well she has put to use the knowledge she gained both at SCAD and in her travels.

Each design embodies her signature combination of handmade tradition, quality, and contemporary style. Delicate handmade leather sandals detailed with semiprecious stones, flowers and other embellishments are available in a wide range of colors and textures.

From the workshop behind her James Island home, the talented artist creates tote bags, cross body bags, and clutches of cowhide, fish leather, ostrich and alligator that are beautiful and functional art pieces sure to draw attention, and cuff bracelets, as well as necklaces and earrings of exotic materials to add a unique finishing touch to any ensemble.

The Erika Lynn line of leather bowties gives gentlemen an option for a splash of color, as do python and fish leather cuff links.

studying fashion design.

“Wait! You can go to school for that?” she asked.

The lightbulb went on in her creative mind, and with her parents’ encouragement, she explored the curriculum of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). On a tour of the college, she learned about the relatively new Accessory Design Program and saw firsthand the possibilities the program opened up for her.

“Oh, my gosh! They’re making shoes!”

Four years later, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the prestigious design school with a BFA in Accessory Design. Traveling to southern Italy that summer, she was taken by the shoemakers in little shops on the 38 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

streets making leather sandals. Watching carefully to learn the styles of different artisans, she was soon designing her own Italian style sandals. When she brought those designs home to start her own business in Charleston, Erika Lynn Handmade Exotic Leather and Accessories was born.

Already, Erika Lynn’s brand is catching the eye of fashionistas everywhere. This May, she was a Top 6 Finalist in the Belk Southern Designer Showcase and in June, she placed in the Top 4 out of 1,000 entrants in Instyle Magazine’s Independent Handbag Awards. Locally, you can find Erika Lynn’s designs at Mt. Pleasant’s Henry and Eva, at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre’s Apricot Lane, and Grand Bohemian Gallery on Charleston’s Wentworth Street. Her work is also available at Asheville’s Biltmore Estate, and several other locations throughout the south. She also travels to festivals and events with her luxury leather accessories and can fulfill custom orders on site.

Though many advised her to follow a career path in high fashion that would take her to New York or Los Angeles, she strongly felt another, greater calling. “I felt the need to start my own business to eventually be able to use my passion to help those with

Heart and Soles

Erika Lynn’s brand is catching the eye of fashionistas everywhere. This May, she was a Top 6 Finalist in the Belk, Southern Designer Showcase, and in June, in the Top 4 out of 1,000 entrants in Instyle Magazine’s Independent Handbag Awards

less opportunity to learn a skill and become productive citizens in their own country.”

It was through her art that the young woman brought up with a heart for the needs of others found a way to make a difference, founding an international nonprofit called Universole; an entity that partners with organizations and vocational centers in impoverished areas around the world teaching the sustainable skill of shoemaking to at risk women, orphans aging out of orphanages, and survivors of human trafficking. The handmade leather products are purchased from the vocational centers, shipped back to the United States, then marketed and sold to help bring attention to the plight of women being sold into human trafficking.

The horrors of human trafficking have touched her personally. "A year ago I found out a dear friend, once an orphan in Romania, is now caught in the chains of human trafficking after she aged out of the orphanage,” tells McKelvey. "Through Universole, we can help these victims and one day find my friend and bring her out of this horrible cycle."

There is little doubt that Erika Lynn McKelvey is a young woman whose heart is in the right place, and whose soles may very well end up changing the world. AM Visit Erika Lynn’s website at erikalynn.com. For more information about the nonprofit Universole, universolehope.com.

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THIRD THURSDAY • MODERN ART SHOW & SALE • PUB CRAWL RUN/WALK • SWEET TEA HALF MARATHON FARMERS MARKET • LIVE MUSIC • OPEN MIC • FOOD TRUCKS • VENDORS • PAGEANT • SWEET TEA COMPETITION

SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT

CharlestonBurger Co.: Fo o d

Hail to the Cheeseburger

Charleston Burger Company’s Taylor Keene offers a candidate for every party, serving a winning ticket for diners

by Susan Frampton

It’s election time, and people are talking about the issues. Some topics are more important than others, but when talk turns to hamburgers, you need to realize you’re treading on dangerous ground. Debates over hamburger preferences can be as divisive and inflammatory as politics at a dinner party; often sending opponents of particular biases to very opposite sides. There are many issues on the table these days—condiment conundrums, pickle predicaments, temperature tantrums, and onion opposition running rampant.

But there is good news on Highway 61, where Charleston Burger Company has found a tasteful way to bring all parties together in one place, offering a ballot of menu choices that bring new hope for a united burger nation. Hail to the cheese! Cheddar, of course; named by food gurus at Zagat to be the preference of 82% of those polled in a national survey.

Yes, there is actually a poll about hamburgers. Since 50% of those polled in the Zagat survey reported that they prefer specialty burger restaurants, there was no better time for owner, Taylor Keene to put burger to bun. A familiar face in the area’s food and beverage industry, the Summerville resident could not have selected a betterloved object of American affection than the hamburger, a fact that Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Hail to the Cheeseburger

Good Eats The Carolina Riverdog; owner Taylor Keene

honey barbeque sauce. Hungry yet? Get ready for “Three Pickled Pigs”, a combination of griddled ham, Applewood smoked bacon, and pulled pork topped with barbeque sauce.

“The Inferno”, “Don’t Call Me Shirley”, “Sweet Carolina”—the list goes on!

With sharable sides like cornmeal fried pickles, mac and cheese bites or chili cheese fries, kids meals, and early to late dining hours, there is no doubt that Taylor Keene has struck a chord with people across the Lowcountry. It’s time to come together, America. At Charleston Burger Company, you have a voice and you have a choice, so eat often! AM Charleston Burger Company 2875 Ashley River Road, Charleston (843)637-3324 charlestonburgers.com

is clear from the continuous stream of customers to Charleston Burger Company’s counter.

The Bees Ferry Shopping Center location draws diners from every direction, no matter the time of day, keeping Keene busy at the grill.

Every burger is ground in-house daily from certified chuck Angus beef and cooked to your temperature preference, with the option of having your patty chargrilled over an open flame, or “smashed” on a flat top griddle. Cooked right before your eyes, it arrives on your choice of kaiser, brioche or pretzel bun.

Every burger is also served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and there’s nothing wrong with keeping it classic. We’ve all heard that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” so it really isn’t necessary to mess with perfection, unless of course it’s to add a little cheese. But times have changed, and burgers have had to keep pace. Keene and his kitchen crew offer a huge selection of ingredients, configured any way you want, with a huge bundle of fries or homemade Yukon Gold potato chips on the side. But if you’re not feeling creative, there are enough combinations someone else already thought of, to make it even easier.

Among the 22 burgers on the menu, you’ll find “The Mac Attack”, topped with applewood smoked bacon and homemade macaroni and cheese, “The Killer Beehive” comes loaded with American cheese, and a tower of double-battered onion rings drizzled with

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

Circling the Sun

The number of trips around the sun may still indicate the years of your life, but who says they have to determine the life in your years?

W

by Susan Frampton

hen my grandmother was in her early seventies she wore sensible shoes, had her hair shampooed and set once a week, and wore underwear on her head at night to keep it in place. I’ve recently made a new friend in her early seventies. The first time she came to visit, bringing Himalayan sea salt soap she made herself, she was in denim jean shorts and a tank top. Layers of beads and rubber bracelets marked each wrist and her salt and pepper curls

escaped from beneath a straw cowboy hat that looked to be the real deal.

This woman was hip in that unselfconsciously cool way that only comes from being comfortable in your own skin, and she could not have possibly been less like my grandmother. Preconceptions flying out the window, I could not help thinking to myself, if this is the seventies—bring it on!

I suppose that there has to be a standard of measurement in place

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

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to determine one’s length of time on this earth, but I’ve come to realize that birth certificates are not very good indicators of how old we really are. While there are specific digits at which we arrive that may have once been representative of the general population’s mental and physical status, they don’t mean diddly squat in today’s world. That’s mostly a good thing, but seventy being the new fifty, sixty the new forty, fifty the new thirty, and so on, also opens up a can of worms.

Was there a moment when our grandparents woke up and decided they were old?

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Older people used to seem so confident in their adult-ness, but the assumption that our adulthood arrives at exactly the stroke of midnight on our 21st birthday, has never felt quite right to me.

Though I have over a half century of annual trips around the sun, I’m still waiting for the day I wake up and feel like a grownup.

Waiting for it to arrive is both a blessing and a curse. The upside is that most days I pop up out of bed and begin going about my day without remembering that I’m responsible, mature and will never again be carded at the liquor store.

In fact, sometimes when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the toaster, I turn around to look for the gray-haired lady wearing my pajamas.

But the down side reminds me of an incident not so long ago when I wildly misinterpreted admiring glances directed my way from a carload of young men. I thought I was pretty cute until I realized they were all looking at my new tires. It was an Aha! moment that still makes me laugh, though I suppose it could just as easily

46 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

My husband has me by a decade and a half, but he has no clue that he is no longer twenty-five. have sent me spiraling into sensible shoes. I know it will eventually happen, but I don’t look forward to the day I chunk my high heels out the window, and go shopping for something with a low heel and laces.

My husband has me by a decade and a half, but he has no clue that he is no longer twenty-five.

Though this misconception often requires runs to the drug store for gauze and adhesive tape, there is no point in telling him otherwise.

My eighty five year-old father runs mental circles around me on a regular basis, remembering names, dates and details of everything he reads, watches or experiences. They make playing the age card difficult for the rest of us.

There was a time when plump apple cheeks and round middles were the images we conjured up for grandmothers, while grandfathers smoked pipes and called everyone “Sonny boy.” Unlike today, no one expected them to squeeze into bike shorts and have someone yell at them to pedal faster, on bicycles that don’t actually go anywhere. It would never have occurred to them to accept a pushup competition challenge, but that’s what happened recently when my daughters drew that line in the sand. I jumped over it with both arms flailing. *Also licensed in Washington State

Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

For the most part, I’m not complaining that it’s a very different world now than it was when someone mandated an arbitrary number for adulthood and painted those eligible for Medicare with the broad brush of old age.

We have higher expectations these days and, in the end, I think we’re all better for expecting more of ourselves at any age. The pendulum may very well swing back the other direction one day.

Until then, I have no intention of acting my age and it will be a cold day in you-know-where before you find me sleeping with underwear on my head.

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I have no intention of acting my age and it will be a cold day in youknow-where before you find me sleeping with underwear on my head.

The aforementioned pushup challenge has made me feel like I’m keeping up pretty well, despite the number of times I’ve circled the sun. Though my form won’t win me any prizes, with the help of some BenGay and Tylenol, I’m still at it, while both daughters are under the care of physicians.

Boom! Who’s got game, now? AM

My Circus

I

K ID S THESE D AY S

by Tara Bailey

f parenting does anything, it makes a person humble. This realization first strikes during those completely exposed and vulnerable moments in the delivery room. For instance, when you're sitting right there in a hospital bed with your knees to your earlobes, sounding like backmasking of "Hotel California," and your mom cavalierly asks your husband to grab her a Diet Coke as if you were all just having lunch, you realize there will no longer be any dignity in your life ever again. This fear is confirmed in later years while moderating sibling arguments from compromising bathroom positions and when your kids repeatedly point out your astounding hypocrisy, failures at UNO, the fact that your shirt is inside out, and that you made them late for something important. Again.

But here's the thing: once you realize that regular parenting deficiencies are inevitable, you become liberated. You no longer worry about the lame lunches of decaying bananas on questionable bread.

You know the kids will be okay if they drop their toothbrush in the

toilet before school and you don't have a spare. You even remain calm when the first bad grade walks through the door because, at this point, there is no more pretending that your family will ever match your vision. Yet at some point, parental ineptitude no longer affects just us bumbling adults but leads our unsuspecting, trusting babies into depths of humiliation despite our best efforts.

Sometimes, unwittingly, you send your first-born to clown camp.

In my defense, the event in question was advertised as art camp.

Or so I interpreted it as such. The camp was hosted for two weeks during the summer at a children's arts center, and my daughter had just finished first grade. Naturally, she needed a summer filled with enriching activities. I learned this from my parentally-experienced friends, as their kids were slightly older and quite enriched; I could not risk forgoing similar enrichment.

Haunted by the horrors of giving my seven-year-old a detrimentally low-key summer break, I called around and found this par-

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KIDS THESE D AY S ticular arts center. It offered Painting!

Acting! Singing!—and for the coup— Creativity! Yes! My child would do all of those things, magnificently, and at two weeks' end she would be so totally creative and enriched. I willingly handed over our 529 plan and signed her up. All I had to do for the next ten business days was a little bit of driving and then wait for her star to shine.

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At the end of day one she reported that she indeed had fun ("Was it fun?" "Yes."). I asked her what she learned, and she said, "Some funny jokes and how to fall down without getting hurt." Some mental activities and acting, I figured. That's cool.

At dinner she asked her dad to pick a hand, and when he did, confetti went flying all over our plates. My husband made a smart-aleck remark in response, to which she replied, "Good gag, Dad." The end of day two brought us some more pranks, or "gags," followed by some really bad jokes and exaggerated laughter. Day three ended with some balloon animal-tying skills, and by the end of the week she was rifling through my husband's closet in search of "a hideous shirt."

We still thought this was art camp, of course.

The following week she asked for some temporary blue hair dye and to borrow Jim's shoes for the end-ofcamp show. Weird, but okay. Theatre can sometimes be weird. She asked us if we thought "Blue-bah" was a funny name. Sure, I guess. I assumed she had adopted a new stuffed family member from a claw machine somewhere.

Friday we showed up at the arts center for the kids' performance, a showcase of two weeks of superior enrichment.

A kindly older man appeared on stage and introduced himself to the audience as Giggles, or something to that effect. At that moment I felt just

50 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

as I did when I figured out "The Sixth Sense." Before I could whisper to Jim, "Clown!" the curtain lifted to reveal Blue-bah in all her fire hose-tripping, flower-squirting, knee-slapping glory.

Did you know that "clowning" is a gerund? I learned that while reading Giggles' bio in the program. He had made quite a career of clowning and had an impressive resume of circuses, cruise ships, and teaching. I gained respect for his art form after learning more about it through the detailed program and especially admired his courage in performing in front of groups and his patience in teaching these kids.

That being said, my daughter, now a high school senior, has yet to drop the issue.

Me: "Use good judgment!"

Her: "You sent me to clown camp."

So, humbled I am, with clown camp not even being in the top ten parenting mistakes I've made (though it does stand out). Fortunately, kids are forgiving, even if they have no choice but to remain in our care until adulthood. I have become more forgiving, too—of myself and Jim when we are late to basketball practice or can't afford to fly to Pittsburgh for a national karate tournament.

I've even forgiven myself for those years of believing that kids spending free time alone—bored, thinking, reading, and just doing nothing—was a bad thing. Enrichment happens not when we fill our schedules but when we sit under a shared blanket with a book, paint each other's nails, and tell life stories. Our youngest daughter actually spends a great deal of her free time coming up with really terrible riddles and knock-knock jokes.

Our response?

"Good gag, kid." AM Fall 2016 AZALEAMAG.COM

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L IF E & F A IT H

Three Ways to Deepen Your Friendships

M

by Will Browning

aybe it is the superficial nature of relationships created by social media, or the lack of depth in communication fostered by a text-messaging society, but deep friendships are hard to come by today.

If you think you would benefit from a true, deep, genuine friendship (and who wouldn’t?), you should ask yourself just one question first. Am I a true friend?

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LIFE & FA I T H

Below are three critical elements to help you assess your “friendship status” and deepen your relationships.

Friendship is forged with time­—Time is to friendship what water is to the ocean; simply put, time is the main ingredient in the recipe of friendship.

Friendship is forged with time­ — Time is to friendship what water is to the ocean; simply put, time is the main ingredient in the recipe of friendship. If you strive to continue or develop a long-lasting friendship, it will cost you time. If your friendships seem shallow, dedicate more time to the relationships that matter most to you.

Friendship is flamed by knowledge —In an Internet-driven world, the word “friend” is thrown around with much less meaning than in generations past. Social media and online-only “friendships” are sometimes very plastic and flimsy.

Deep friendships require truly knowing someone and all their fears, dreams, concerns, and joys. Even flaws are exposed. It is impossible to truly love others completely if you

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Providing Solutions to Life’s Problems do not know them deeply.

Friendship is made forever through sacrifice—To have great friendships, you must give, often more than you receive. Don’t be a drain on the your friends, but a fountain of love they drink from that brings them life.

As a pastor, I have discovered these three elements are also the key ingredients to a life-long relationship with God. Your relationship with God will never thrive if you do not commit time to fostering that relationship. And while God completely knows you already, you must get to know him by reading the Bible and praying to him daily. Christ has already made the ultimate sacrifice for you by dying on a cross for you. How may he be calling you to sacrifice in your life in pursuit of or service to him?

Whether you are setting up a business or litigating a business conflict, establishing a Will, Trust or Estate or dealing with problems in these areas, or facing the sudden shock of a personal injury or death, we are here to help. Call us.

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Whether you have many friends or one close friend in this world, let time, knowledge, and sacrifice guide you to deeper friendships— and a more intimate relationship with Christ. AM Will Browning serves as the Lead Pastor at Journey Church, a multisite church in the Charleston area.

Will is a native of South Carolina, born and raised in the home of a crop farmer and an elementary teacher in Barnwell. He is a coach to church planters, avid sports fan, triathlete, college professor, and a binge Netflix watcher. Will is married to his college sweetheart, Tarah, and is the biggest fan of his three kids Piper, Ethan, and Jedidiah.

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Market Report

Armed with sunscreen, plenty of cold water, and a hundred dollar bill, we hit the Coastal Carolina Flea Market for a morning hunt. By noon, we had a trunk full of goodies and some money still in our pockets. Here's what we found.

by Will Rizzo

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It is flea market day.

As dawn breaks, vendors begin to pull into the dusty parking lot. The air is silent, save for the sporadic sounds of tables being unfolded, bags being emptied, and boxes being unpacked. The vendors arrange their wares, taking special care to highlight the more valuable items, mentally noting their predictions for the day. As the sun rises higher in the sky, more cars pull into the dusty parking lot. The people spill out, heading in all directions, many on a mission to find their white whale, the treasure that has thus far eluded them. As the day wears on, the bartering commences; a back and forth game of poker faces and desperation, played over and again across the market’s hundreds of booths. True treasure hunters dig and unbox, peek under and around, looking for anything hidden or obscured. The thrill of the hunt, of the score, is palpable as shoppers find and vendors sell. At Azalea Magazine, we are fascinated with the unique and transitional nature of the local flea market, a haven for the modern-day treasure hunter. Like the sandy shores of our beloved coastline, no two days look exactly the same at the flea market, and we simply cannot help ourselves from going to search for treasure any chance we get. Here, we share some of our most exciting finds.

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Face Value Circa 1916 oil portrait with handmade frame Purchase price $35

Talking Shop Knight outside of his Harleyville shop

Open Seasoning 1950s era Siamese salt and pepper shakers with rhinestone eyes Purchase price $4

True Blue Vintage English and Japanese Blue Willow Dinnerware Purchase price $22

Bottled Up Assortment of antique and vintage bottles Purchase price $1-$4 62 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

Step By Step Assortment of antique and vintage canes Purchase price $12

THE Home Plate Stewed eggplant and tomatoes

GULL AH CHEF The

The flavors of childhood bring Gullah Geechee Chef BJ Dennis full circle, back to his home in the Lowcountry

by S U S A N F R A M P T O N

photography by D O T T I E R I Z Z O

BJ

Deep Dish This page: Dennis in his home garden. Opposite: Peeling local shrimp; inspecting a baby watermelon

It has been said by many that you can’t go home again; that once the city limits sign is in your rear-view mirror, home can never be recaptured. For some, once left behind, it is reduced to only a tiny sliver, rather than the entirety of a much bigger world. For others, when laid up against the selective remembrances of childhood, its colors fade so that it is rendered unrecognizable. But there are others, who, like BJ Dennis, must leave home to truly find it.

The sun shines brightly on the well-kept lawn of the brick home in Maryville—the West Ashley community where Dennis spent his childhood. Though it would be easy to assume this neighborhood to be much the same as any other in suburbia, the neatly kept yards of these houses sit upon soil rich with history. Once known as the Town of Maryville, and once part of an “experimental plantation” for the early colony of South Carolina, the land was sold in the late 1880s to African-Americans who worked in the nearby phosphate mines or as day laborers on local farms. Named for community leader Mary Matthews Just, the area was also home to the first industrial school 66 AZALEAMAG.COM Fall 2016

for African-Americans in South Carolina.

Those who grow up amidst the Lowcountry’s wealth of historical riches often take the least note of what is around them. Dennis knew about the Gullah Geechee culture in the Lowcountry, but did not fully appreciate his heritage or the significance of the place he was born and raised. The little he learned of it in school did not seem relevant to his life In the historic Maryville neighborhood, Dennis was brought up by parents with fierce faith and a code of ethics centered on hard work, high values and love of family, and in school, he learned the standard history and geography. But nothing that gave him a sense of his place as a young African-American man coming of age in the Lowcountry.

The middle child, with sisters like bookends on either side, he didn’t grow up cooking. But, like most growing boys, he had a great appreciation for the flavorful food prepared by his family. “I dabbled a bit with food,” he says. “When my cousins and I would gather around a campfire, I was always the one to add lemon juice to my hotdog or some crazy little thing that made everyone else shake their heads,” he remembers. “My mother tells me I was always curious about what went into the dishes she cooked.” But it never occurred to him that each plate prepared using gifts fresh from the garden and nearby waterways was an homage to a the Gullah Geechee people of the Low Country and Sea Islands of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.

Like many teenagers, he chafed at the bit, pulling hard against the constraints of his parents’ discipline. A night in jail at age 16 taught him the hard way that this behavior would not reward him. After graduating from Middleton High School, he spent an unfulfilling

year as a self-described party animal before flunking out at the College of Charleston and then transferring to Trident Technical College.

“You’re not going to live here for free,” his parents told him. Though they did not know it at the time, these very words set into motion a chain of events that would send a young man on a journey to discover himself, his heritage and his home.

In order to pay his parents for his tuition, room and board, he started working in the kitchens of some of Charleston’s finest restaurantsas a dishwasher, busboy, and food runner, before working his way up to fry cook.

Gradually, his academic career began to turn from his initial interest in business management, to follow a course that would lead him to an Associate Degree in Hospitality/Tourism Management and Culinary Arts, from Charleston Culinary Institute at Trident Technical College.

Still, he searched for his place in the world. A connection with Caribbean neighbors across the street from his parents’ home took him to the Virgin Islands. Hearing the patois of his home from the lips of those who had never set foot on Lowcountry soil sparked remembrance of a culture he had taken for granted most of his life; awakening memories of flavors, sounds and colors he had long forgotten. In the voices of those he worked with in the kitchens of restaurants in St. Thomas and St. Kitts, he heard echoes of his grandfather’s stories. Told from the porch of his Clements Ferry Road home, situated on land bought for a half-dollar per acre at the turn of the 20th century, they were stories of ferrymen and black cowboys and always working the land.

Rice and fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables from the garden were the backbone of the food culture brought

by West Africans to this region and to what has come to be recognized by a 2006 Act of Congress as The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, an area stretching roughly thirty miles inland from the Sea Islands off the coast Jacksonville, FL, to Hampstead, NC. These were the flavors of his childhood, and they became a recurring theme in his mind.

how the flavors of his childhood were a part of a culture and way of life he had almost let slip away in his youthful search for himself.

Determined not to let his generation be the last to understand the legacy they inherited, he began mining the depths of Gullah Geechee cuisine, recreating dishes from his grandfather’s memory of the staples found in his mother’s pantry. Okra and rice, kitchen garden vegetables such as peas, collards and sweet potatoes, and the ever changing bounty from local waters set the menu for the seasons of life in the Gullah Geechee kitchen for generations; the unique combinations created by what people had on hand.

“Most people don’t give thought to the dependency people once had on food from small kitchen gardens, and what they could catch in the creeks and rivers,” Dennis says, looking out over the garden of his parents’ Maryville home, where the corn is winding down, but peas and okra are still abundant.

“And, there is still a misconception that Gullah Geechee cuisine is unhealthy.

People think that a lot of things are fried, or cooked with a lot of fat, but that isn’t true. Frying food would have been a luxury back then, saved for special occasions. It’s actually very healthy.”

Dennis’ simple, flavorful food has brought him local and national attention, and made him a much sought-after personal chef and caterer.

In addition to having traveled to Brooklyn with the CNN Original Series, Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, where he spent three days cooking an authentic Charleston feast with Chef Oliver Palazzo, among his accomplishments, Dennis has created small plate menus for The Cocktail Club, served as consulting chef at Palace Hotel, and is frequently featured at Butcher & Bee’s Sunday popup dinners.

Dennis has been on his own for three years and, though it isn’t a glamorous life and offers him little personal time, he hopes that infusing the flavors of his home into the food he creates will continue to bring new interest to the ever-expanding Southern home plate.

“But why,” wondered author Thomas Wolfe in his iconic novel, You Can’t Go Home Again, “had he always felt so strongly the magnetic pull of home, why had he thought so much about it and remembered it with such blazing accuracy, if it did not matter?”

He hopes to eventually open his own restaurant, but until then, wants what he does to serve the greater good of keeping the culture alive; helping to give the next generation the sense of self that can only be gained by knowing who you are, appreciating where you came from, and remembering that as Thomas Wolfe reminded us, “the years flow by like water, and one day men come home again.” AM

A similar question struck Dennis when he returned to Charleston four years later. He realized just how much his home did matter and

To learn more about the Gullah Geechee culture visit gullahgeechee.org, and keep up with Chef BJ Dennis at chefbenjamindennis.com.

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OKRA & SHRIMP PURLOO Ingredients 1 pound shrimp 2 pounds okra cut 1/2 inch thick 2-3 cups cooked seasoned rice (we used seasoned red rice) 1/2 cup small diced onion 2 teaspoons minced garlic Olive oil Salt and pepper Preparation In a 8 inch skillet add oil to coat pan, brown okra on medium heat about 3 to 5 minutes.

Should be tender but firm. Add onions and garlic cook for 2 more minutes. Add shrimp cook for another 2 minutes, then add rice and brown slightly or until heated through.

Make sure to season throughout. Salt and pepper to taste.

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STEWED EGGPLANT AND TOMATOES Ingredients 4 ripe tomatoes peeled and diced 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 teaspoons minced ginger 1 jalapeĂąo or favorite hot pepper, diced 1 small onion diced 2 cups diced green bell pepper Olive oil Salt and pepper Rice (optional) Preparation Add oil about an 1/2 inch up in a round deep skillet over medium high heat. Add tomatoes and and half teaspoon of salt. Cook for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Add remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for 7 to 10 minutes until eggplant is tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

(Tastes great served over rice.)

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DEVILED CRAB Ingredients 1 pound wild domestic crab meat 1 teaspoon of minced garlic 1/2 onion diced small 1 medium bell pepper diced small 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (fresh minced chili peppers can be used also) 1-2 teaspoons of chopped parsley 2 tablespoons of ketchup 1 tablespoon of mayo 2 teaspoons of mustard 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning 1 cup bread crumbs to bind 2 tablespoons of butter 1/2 cup of water Crab backs (optional) Salt and pepper Preparation Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in pan. Add onion and bell pepper and sautĂŠ on medium heat for 2 minutes, add garlic and sautĂŠ for 1 more minute.

Make sure to not brown. Cool and add to a bowl with all other ingredients except crab meat. Fold crab meat in and check for seasonings. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stuff into crab backs and bake until golden or make little patties and pan sear until golden brown.

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Southern Accents Tiny Tango 48” x 80”

THE

POP

S TA R

SOUTHERN Wi t h a p a i n t b r u s h i n o n e h a n d a n d a p a s s i o n f o r t h e C i t y o f C h a r l e s t o n i n t h e o t h e r, DAV I D B OAT W R I G H T i s on a constant mission to keep the South creative •

by J E S S Y M I T C H A M photos by D O T T I E R I Z Z O

David Boatwright is an artist who paints the town—literally. A Carolina boy with a style that is as nostalgic as it is current, Boatwright has been painting the town from a young age, and there is no stopping him now.

feel a calling to leave the state of California and head east. Remembering the love he felt for Charleston as a child, he packed his bags for the Holy City and has never felt a desire to move anywhere else.

Not many artists can say their first commissioned piece of art happened when they were in elementary school, but David Boatwright is not just any artist. His art teacher saw his great potential when Boatwright was in the fifth grade and asked him to paint a mural that represented Charleston inside of their school in Columbia. Boatwright had never been to Charleston, so he was invited to join a field trip to the city to gather research for his mural, and traveled with a bus full of students three years his senior.

In Charleston, Boatwright’s first mural was for the well-known restaurant, Hank’s Seafood, and as the old saying goes, “the rest is history.” Other local businesses saw the obvious talent of the artist and he started getting requests from all over town. If you've driven around the Charleston area at all, you have seen, and surely admired, the work of David Boatwright. From the iconic Hominy Grill painting to the sign that welcomes you to Folly Beach to the mural on the Market at Market Street, Charleston is covered in Boatwright’s art. You’ll pass his East Central Lofts sign as you're driving on the interstate, see the logo he designed at Taco Boy on Folly Beach, and be awed by his beer-themed mural at Palmetto Brewing Company. The list of Boatwright’s notable projects is as expansive as his talents and only grows as the years go on.

On the trip, he fell in love with the beauty and history of the Holy City and took note of its unique qualities and characteristics for his project.

Upon returning to his hometown in Columbia, he was given his own studio in the school—an honorable gift that no other student received— and finished what would be his first of many Charleston-themed murals.

Boatwright’s passion for all things artistic followed him throughout the years and, as he got older, he adopted a “jack of all trades” aspect to life. He graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute with a major in painting. After graduation he experimented with short films, some of which were showcased in Europe.

While he enjoyed making films, they weren't as successful as he wanted them to be and Boatwright began to

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The process of creating a mural in a historic city is not always an easy one. When approached with a commission Boatwright researches the business, considers pathways of focus for a while, and ultimately chooses one or two options to sketch up. He brings his ideas to the client, where they decide which one is a good fit for them. After they make a final decision for the project, the piece must then be approved by the city and any further changes must be submitted for review following the initial approval.

Mad Money Eleven Dollars 90” x 46”

Once Boatwright receives the final “green light,” he can get to work. In some cases, like the painting on Market Street in downtown Charleston, he will paint directly onto the building, using scaffolding and various types of paint to achieve his desired look. If he is not painting “on the scene,” he will work on the commissioned project inside of his studio, oftentimes using multiple giant pieces of plywood or canvas, moving them to their destination upon completion.

Working on his murals in the studio provides a barrier of safety not commonly felt during one of his on-site mural paintings, which come with their own set of challenges. People, cars, bikes and horses often travel through or dangerously close to his work space, and in one instance, a horse got spooked and knocked over scaffolding holding paint and supplies, spilling it all over historic Market Street. For Boatwright, such accidents have no real impact on the pursuit of his passion and he views any challenge as just another part of his job.

Aside from local murals and signs, Boatwright’s downtown studio is filled with paintings. Some are new, completed, and ready to be displayed, while others are older pieces that he felt didn't work out, pieces that he revisits and reinvents until he is happy with the final product. He works with a variety of mediums including chalk, charcoal, spray paint, silk screening, and more, to create art that he feels best reflects the message that he would like to share.

With a tendency to source and reimagine imagery and fonts of days gone by in his work, Boatwright’s paintings call to mind the works of Andy Warhol with a decidedly Southern slant, leading some to describe his style as “Southern Pop Art.” Recalling the hand-painted store signage and advertising of yesteryear, the artist puts a new spin on classic trends, making fine art out of fine memories. He starts small on his studio paintings, adds to the piece, takes away, then adds some

more, ultimately seeking to simply paint what he likes, and what he would want to see. As an artist, Boatwright endeavors to please his first audience, himself, before he will show any work to his second audience: family, friends, colleagues, and the general public. For Boatwright, painting is where he finds his happiness and he has an “if it sells, it sells” attitude regarding his creations.

A man of many talents, Boatwright still holds on to his love of filmmaking and recently made a film for Fort Sumter. He also has a history and background in architecture, and is responsible for the design of nearly a dozen houses in the Charleston Area. As for future plans, the artist is open to whatever may come his way. In his own words, “whatever happens, happens.”

He does plan on holding gallery shows in his downtown studio, on continuing his mural business, and on freely painting his studio art to his heart’s content. Boatwright’s love of Charleston has done nothing but flourish over his many years in the city, and he hopes to add more creativity to other small Southern cities, such as Augusta, Georgia, and Greenville, South Carolina.

David Boatwright is a true inspiration to everyone that has the opportunity to lay eyes on his artwork. As he walks around his private studio, showing off some of his most recent projects, the pride and enthusiasm in his voice and movements is obvious, and for good reason. This is a man who brought, and continues to bring, a certain artistic energy to the beloved city of Charleston, and whose paintbrush adds even more color to an already colorful city. AM For more information about David Boatwright visit his website at www.luckyboyart.com

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Wall Art Renoir Redux mural 31’ x 23’

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Painting the Town This page clockwise: Poppy 36” x 48”; the Lucky Boy logo; Hanks Seafood signage; Miss Folly Beach 9.5’ x 8’ Opposite clockwise: Uneeda Biscuit 48” x 80”; Leon’s signage; Crossroads 40” x 60”; Hominy Grill signage; Market Mural, Produce; Trick Rider 56” x 100”

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G

H

A

O

R

D E N U S E

UNDER the STEWARDSHIP

of DAVID & JENNIFER PRICE, ONE of SUMMERVILLE’S OLDEST HOMES HAS GROWN to BE ONE of ITS GRANDEST

by S U S A N F R A M P T O N

photography by D O T T I E R I Z Z O

There is something that almost feels magical about turning onto the drive off Sumter Avenue. The smooth corridor is lined with majestic oaks, is bordered by beautifully manicured shrubs and flowers, and is timelessly elegant, easily leading one to envision well-dressed Summerville ladies of the early 19th century arriving by carriage for an afternoon tea. The air is scented with the delicate fragrance of gardenias and water falls gently from the fountain set in a flagstone walkway leading to front steps of one of the town’s oldest and most gracious homes.

The beautiful scene enjoyed today bears little resemblance to what Dr. David Price encountered when he first turned down that drive in the late 1960s at the invitation of a friend asking advice about at the old house he was considering buying. Stationed at Charleston Air Force Base and known for his interest in history and architecture, Price agreed to drive out and take a look. “It’s a good house,” Price told him, his eye for architectural design recognizing the clean, simple lines of the white frame house with the wide front porch, and the potential within it.

It would be close to a decade before he thought of it again. Price left the Air Force and Charleston with fond memories of the area, but no real thought that he would ever return. When he began his search for a location for his new ophthalmology practice in 1974, he had two criteria: a vibrant community in which a new practice could grow and thrive, and a historic home he could restore.

Friends in Charleston suggested he look in Summerville.

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Fresh from Duke University Medical School, Price once again made the drive out to Summerville, turning onto a drive off Sumter Avenue.

This time, it was in the company of realtor Sonny Waring that he made the trip down a long winding driveway.

There was something about the oak trees lining the pathway that felt familiar, something that felt strangely like he was coming home.

By the time he realized where he was and stepped from the car to greet the owner, the young doctor had made a decision, announcing to the great surprise of everyone, “Ma’am, I’m here to buy your house.”

Having helped countless Summervillians see clearly over the course of his career, Price laughs at the blind faith that allowed him to work out the details of the purchase “over a cheap bottle of wine” that very night. He shudders, thinking back to purchasing the house with plaster falling from the ceiling, and brown wood paneling that covering failing plaster walls. “It was a mess,” he remembers. “Up over the paneling previous owners had sprayed sparkly popcorn material. Needless to say, there was a lot of un-doing before any restoration could begin.”

Though the first Summerville conveyance of land on record is dated 1828, the house is thought to be the town’s second oldest, dating back to around 1812. Whether it was luck or providence that eventually brought the property into Dr. Price’s line of sight, there is no question that it could not have fallen into the hands of a better steward of both its physical and historical essence.

LIVING COLOR Opposite page: The formal living room; a stone path to the cottage; This Page: (Row One) Hydrangea blooms; a Dutch door at the main entrance; Gardenia blooms (Row Two) A quaint sitting area; the dining room (Row Three) Pink Salvia blooms; a guest bedroom; a fountain and potted blooms on the back porch

LIVING HISTORY Opposite page:The cottage. This page clockwise: The cottage entrance; grand oaks line the drive; a view from the front door

Price immediately began a painstaking restoration of the house. Bit by bit, plaster was restored, bricks repointed, windows re-glazed, and woodwork stripped to bare wood. Years went by and word of the thoroughness of the restoration spread among the historic preservation community, offering Price access to expert artisans experienced in the standards required for recreating the kind of historical accuracy the house deserved, who were also pleased to be involved in the work.

When David and Jennifer Price were wed in 1992, his new bride, a surgical nurse, also brought a degree in interior design to the table.

Through the years, it has been her exquisite taste and discerning eye that have helped bring the house to the state of grace it currently enjoys. Her designs have made the most of every nook and cranny, incorporating the house’s six working fireplaces, creating space for a laundry area, his and her baths, an office for David, an inviting room for guests, and a serene white oasis for the master bedroom.

Light filtered through the central hall’s nine-over-nine windows, as well as six-under-six windows throughout the rest of the house, highlight

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LIVING THE DREAM The Price's painstaking restoration efforts have brought the 1812 house back to its original glory; David and Jennifer Price.

the couple’s eclectic collection of paintings and sculpture, gathered on their travels or created by artist friends made through their many years of association with Sculpture in the South. Chandeliers lit by actual candles in the living and dining rooms are a lovely reminder of the history reflected in the soft glow of their illumination. Chair covers and pillows wear monograms of corals and creams, and richly colored walls bring each room’s detail into beautiful focus.

It is Jennifer’s love of the garden that has wrapped the house in a leafy shawl of vibrant colors and textures, and no corner of the beautiful yard has escaped her attention. Brick and flagstone pathways meander past sago palms and through lush lawn to outbursts of foliage in every shape, size, and color. From the back deck, glorious plantings of greenery leads to a hidden outdoor dining room, with hanging baskets of orchids and ferns lending a cool, tropical feel. On the opposite side, a guest cottage sits nestled among hardy cast-iron plants and blooming hydrangeas. It comes as no surprise to learn that the yard will soon be used in a photo shoot for a garden catalogue.

It took extraordinary far-sightedness to look past the house with the brown paneling and sparkly popcorn walls, to see what could be, and to make that vision a reality. Countless hours of hard work, patience, love and care created this place that David and Jennifer Price hold up as their gift of love to those who long ago looked out this home’s windows to see a town beginning to grow amidst the sandy soil and pine woods of Summerville. It might just be their celebration of the gift they have been given that adds the almost-magical feel to turning into the long and winding drive off Sumter Avenue, to the home in the garden. AM

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Experience the Sabal difference.

There are few things in life as comforting as finding a home that’s just right. That’s why Sabal Homes puts so much thought into every home we build. Whether you’re building a home or purchasing one, Sabal Homes can help you find the perfect floor plan in the right community today. SabalHomesSC.com

T WO N E W H OM E DE S IG N S I N

Call us at 844-MYSABAL

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FINDS

by Ellen E. Hyatt

This is the place of organized messiness.

Once called a swap meet, it gives favor because it’s fall, time for knowing where to find everyone again.

Buyers and sellers return each year from summer-scatter to this field.

I was told to arrive early to find the best pickins.

I was told to allow for sittin’ a spell in the west parcel where a barn would fill with Appalachia fiddling.

I was told to listen for “Barbara Allen,” the tragic Scottish love ballad.

But I wasn’t told about you.

Walking rows and rows, I found arrowheads and pet beds, hymnals and Coca-cola signs, self-help books and fishing hooks, kettlebells and quilt blocks, model train cars and mason jars, keys and a Piggly-Wiggly banana box.

Then, there you were, quiet, unbothered. You—stellar, magical like the Bellini serving bowls you sell. You offered me the crystal Moon Bowl to hold. I offered a feeble excuse.

I fled, returned later for “the find” of the day.

Too late. Table, empty. Bowls and you. Gone.

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styled by Margie Sutton, makeup by Morgan Porter, photo by Taylor Kennedy, Location Patrick's Automotive