By Lanier Laney
If you have a chance, drop by the Verdier House downtown for the wonderful exhibit of scissor cut silhouettes by the late great Lowcountry artist Carew Rice. The exhibit was beautifully organized by Isabel Reeves with Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Maxine Lutz. Bravo to the second great Historic Beaufort Foundation event this year! (After the recent oyster roast.) Much of the artwork was kindly on loan from the collections of Eleanor Burns and Wayne and Melissa Wicker. There was a lovely print for sale and the proceeds will benefit HBF. It will still be available to buy at the Verdier House ground floor store.
Carew’s talented grandson Clay Rice was also on hand. He’s an author and silhouette artist in his own right and has produced a children’s book called ‘The Lonely Shadow” about a lonely shadow looking for a child to belong to. He has a new silhouette children’s book coming out in March called “Momma Lets Make a Moon.”
Carew Rice’s work captures in simple black and white silhouettes the living essence of the untamed natural drama of the Spanish moss laden trees, birds, animals and colorful characters that populated the Lowcountry in the early part of the last century. It’s amazing he did all these beautiful pieces with a simple pair of scissors. Special thanks go to all the above and the Gilbert Law Firm and Regions Bank for making this wonderful exhibition possible. Here are some photos from the opening reception.
