From staff reports
Six Lowcountry artists — Rose Cofield, Sandy Dimke, Joan Eckhardt, Sheila Grabarsky, Saundra Renee Smith and Bernice Tate – will have their work featured in “Brookgreen Inspires, Women Create,” a juried exhibit of 70 works of painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media on display through July 20, 2025, at Brookgreens Gardens in Murrell’s Inlet.
Sponsored by the National Association of Women Artists’ South Carolina Chapter, the exhibit interprets the landscapes, animals, sculptures and culture of the gardens through the eyes of female artists from many states other than South Carolina, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Oklahoma.
Winning the Hammond-Soroka Photographic Expression award at the Brookgreen exhibit, “Fiery Forest” by Dimke was conceived and created by using a vertical pan, taken with a very slow shutter speed. Dimke wanted to show the trees in fall while emphasizing their vibrant color and magnitude. It exemplifies the importance of protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.
Cofield’s “Autumn” was influenced by the natural beauty of Brookgreen Gardens, its plants, fauna and their vibrant transformation in the autumn season. Her goal was to provide the viewer with a sense of connection to the natural world and the ever-changing seasons.
Eckhardt is passionate about nature photography and her “Paper Rose” is an excellent example of stretching her creativity with an abstract constructed botanical. She attempts to create images that reveal a sense of place and create an urge to linger and engage with the subject.
Grabarsky’s colorful abstract, “Flowery Languages” reflects that Brookgreen Gardens is that place of infinite colors and majestically organized. As soon as Grabarsky dips into any green on her palette, her brush is off and running, creating cohesive imaginary fantasy gardens.
Smith, a Gullah artist, created “Raising Rice Cotton En Me.” The bright hues born from a culture tempered in isolation is what makes her work a special tribute to the Gullah people who hold a place wholly unique in American History. Smith’s work is both spiritual and transformative. Using acrylic paints she captures the natural beauty of salt marshes, tidal creeks, palmetto trees, all in elegant, vivid colors.
Tate, sculptor, has “Bumble Bee” on exhibit. She sees the artwork as a transformational evolution of what was — a whimsical reimagining of the mysterious energy still rooted in that ancient soil. It’s not just a sculpture; it’s an invitation to feel life differently. It’s how Tate expresses awe and the fierce beauty of Brookgreen Gardens.
NAWA was founded in 1889 to promote women artists and provide exhibition and educational opportunities for them at a time when women were routinely shut out of the art salons, galleries and exhibitions open to male artists.
Brookgreen Gardens is a renowned sculpture garden covering more than 9,000 acres and is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The exhibit is open in the Rosen Gallery daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through July 20. All work in the show is for sale through the gallery.
