GIM September/October 2020

the

art

S

i s s u e: P o r t r a i t s o f t h e a r t i s t s

Celebrated

painter her work

reflects on

Sapelo

bweaaver ket S

shares story and tradition

Local craftsman S S custom surfboards in beautiful

hape

Brun wick S

Vote for Truth Vote for Justice Vote for Change E A R LY V O T I N G

E L E C T I O N D AY

Oct. 12 - 30, 2020

Nov. 3, 2020

VOTE

For District Attorney

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In With TheOld

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CONTENTS

TH E

De M bb ie a er ma Cr at , h aig i fo to m ons as t , A KA rm a o le old f p ugh M in s o g s a fo tte t g ud pi r e rs ec nd m f ho nro es cr m e w fo a r p te the os las te t rit y.

BU IL DE R:

TH E

Su r w fbo or yo ks ard s o u ge f a ma r y t ta , no pe but t ek jus see t bl at G wa m li e’ k s w eo it un e f t f or i ks Ga l ho p.

4

G O L D E N I S LES

10 1:

G AL LE RY

60

66

PO TT ER :

51

Portraits of the Artists

Lo ca of lg f a er u all e pr o p tip ry o w s he an wne n yo d tr rs a ic u’ ks nd re pe to ma ru sou ng sin nd ers g lik ar e t.

PA IN TE R:

features 86

TH E

Fo rd ha ec s b ad ce ee es, t Pe n le co he o b gg to unt reg rat ne y Ev ex les ion ed of so pr fin the ere a nd es th e st e ar mo tt he r p ha tis st s a ts m in se inte tau gh lve rs s o ho t ca n th w e nv as .

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

TH E

74

Yv th onn e ba tra e G s ke dit rov lo io n v pr e o t we n o er co oc ft f a nt es his vin sw i e s. g an , s etg nue ci h r a en a s t c ring ss re h at er ive

W EA VE R:

A Community of Life and Living!

MANOR SENIOR LIVING

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COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU DESERVE MOORE

HAVE YOU PLANNED THE FUTURE YOU DESERVE?

12

EDITOR’S NOTE

14

WORD ON THE STREET

17

COASTAL QUEUE

34

DUE SOUTH

37

LIVING WELL

38

BY DESIGN

41

NATURE CONNECTION

42

DIGRESSIONS

45

MONEY TALKS

46

GAME CHANGERS

48

THE DISH

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G O L D E N I S LES

Coastal Georgia

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Always personal. Always convenient.

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THEwedding WEDDING BOWL The bowl The H. Shadron Wedding Bowl customized for the Perfect Wedding Gift, at The Tabby House.

3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick GA 31520

Publisher Buff Leavy Editor Lindsey Adkison Director of Advertising Jenn Agnew and Marketing

The H. Shadron Wedding Bowl customized for the Perfect Wedding Gift, at The Tabby House.

Marketing Director Assistant Editor

Becky Derrick Lauren McDonald

Brunswick Sales Manager

Bill Cranford Commercial Printing — Pre-printed Inserts

Contributing Writers

James Cruikshank Terry Dickson Bud Hearn Michelle Merrill Christine Brazil-Nine Ronda Rich Savannah Richardson Lydia Thompson

Contributing Photographers

Josh Dukes Bobby Haven Sam Ghioto

Contributing Designers

Stacey Nichols Donte Nunnally Terry Wilson

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE

The Tabby House Jewelry | Bath & Body | Ornaments | Tablecloths

Accents Gifts • Linens Wedding Registry Placemats & •Napkins | Home• Decor | and much more

1550 Frederica Road, St Simons Island, GA 31522 • At the Roundabout 1550 Frederica Rd. | SSI | Mon.-Sat. 9:00 am - 5:30 pm | 912.638.2257 912-638-2257 • Open Mon - Sat - 9:00am - 5:30 pm

Union Street | Brunswick, Ga 31520 912.712.0157 | villageovenbwk.com

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Golden Isles Magazine is published six times per year by Brunswick News Publishing Company

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G O L D E N I S LES

To subscribe online to Golden Isles Magazine, go to goldenislesmagazine.com/subscribe

M-F 8-4, SAT 9-2, SUN CLOSED.

About the Cover: This image was taken by photographer Bobby Haven, to whom this issue is dedicated. It features the practiced hands of master basket weaver Yvonne Grovner. Bobby took most of the images in this edition. We are incredibly grateful to him for sharing his art with us.

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G O L D E N I S LES

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Golden Isles Magazine is in need of talented contributors. Unsolicited queries and submissions of art and stories are welcome.

Please include an email address and telephone number. Submit by email to the editor, Lindsey Adkison: ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com or by mail 3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick. Only work accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will be returned.

Advertising Information regarding advertising and rates is available by contacting Becky Derrick by phone at 912.634.8408 or by email at bderrick@goldenislesmagazine.com; Bill Cranford at 912-265-8320, ext. 329 or by email at bcranford@thebrunswicknews.com; or Jenn Agnew at 912-265-8320, ext. 356 or by email at jagnew@thebrunswicknews.com.

All content is copyright of Golden Isles Magazine, a publication of Brunswick News Publishing Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the publisher. We have sought to ensure accuracy and completeness of the content herein, but neither Golden Isles Magazine nor the publisher assumes responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or other inconsistencies, including those related to quotations. We reserve the right to refuse advertising. All advertisements appearing herein are accepted and published on the representation that the advertiser is properly authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. All ads are paid advertisements and/or gifts given as part of a contractual agreement regarding Brunswick News Publishing Company. Neither Golden Isles Magazine nor the publisher is responsible for any statements, claims, or representations made by contributing writers, columnists, or photographers. Golden Isles Magazine and the publisher are also not responsible for anyone’s reliance on the content included in the publication. All projects described in this publication are for private, noncommercial use only. No right for commercial use or exploitation is given or implied.

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Editor’s Note

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It was an average day at The Brunswick News. I was beeping between assignments with photographer extraordinaire Bobby Haven. It was something I’d done hundreds, if not thousands of times.

I was chatting away — as I am oft to do — in the passenger seat while Bobby drove, politely listened to my musings.

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I sat dumbfounded.

What had he seen that I missed ‌ a smoke plume, a car accident, an armed robbery?

Turns out, it was none of the above. It was a woman at a car wash. She was sitting on a bench, holding an umbrella to shield herself from the brutal summer sun.

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G O L D E N I S LES

It was the most ordinary thing in the world — mundane even. The result, though, is one of the most beautiful photos I’ve ever seen, and my favorite of Bobby’s images (which is certainly saying something).

It’s the composition, sure, but it’s the also moment — the way her toes turn in toward one another, just slightly. The way her purse is carefully tucked beside her. The bright colors of the umbrella, the whiteness of the bench. It was everything. It was real and it was its realness that made it truly beautiful.

And that, my friends, is what artists do.

They take something common, reflect it through the lens of genius, and offer up sublimity.

I’ve been so fortunate to be able to watch Bobby do this every single day at the paper over my 14 year tenure.

He’s uncovered the magic behind dayto-day moments and shared them in a way that’s beyond the reach of words.

Recently, Bobby was offered a great professional opportunity, which he accepted. So he will be moving on from the paper and magazine.

I admit — I am torn. I’m thrilled for my friend, but also sad to see this era come to an end. It’s been said that, “the artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without the work,� and Bobby has given us both for so long.

On behalf of Golden Isles Magazine, Brunswick News Publishing Co., and honestly the people of Glynn County (and beyond), thank you for sharing your incredible gift with us, Bobby Haven, this one’s for you.

Cheers and thank you — Lindsey

Word On The Street On the Just the Facts — Fort King George

Kimberly Craigmile Rothstein Lentz: It was very interesting!

Your reactions sent to us by emails, posts, & tweets

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On waterway photo

@islanddirectory: @empireskyco is the best!!!

TIME TO GET SOCIAL facebook.com/goldenislesmag instagram.com/goldenislesmag twitter.com/goldenislesmag If you prefer to send us your comments by email, contact Editor Lindsey Adkison at ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com. Anything posted to our social media accounts or emailed directly to the editor will be considered for publication. Comments may be edited for clarity or grammar.

On “Star light, star bright”

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On the cover

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G O L D E N I S LES

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Q AN INFORMATIVE LINEUP OF THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN ISLES

a

fall twist WORD BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

a

on an Old-Fashioned

As all good Southerners know, fall is a fleeting thing. Like the mesquite smoke from campfires or the spectre of a chilly breeze, it’s here one minute and seemingly gone the next. But when it does linger, there’s truly nothing better than the Golden Isles ensconced in autumn.

SEPTEMB ER/OC TOBE R 2020

17

From the vivid shades of golds and browns that blanket the marshes to the sensational sunsets, the season certainly suits the coast. And there are few places to enjoy a blissful fall day quite like the observation deck of the Westin Jekyll Island. Taking the stairs to the third level, one is met with panoramic views of the Atlantic, a sight that few Isles venues can claim.

The deck features its own bar and cozy patio. When there’s finally a nip in the air rolling off the ocean, the staff brings glowing heaters, adding to the seasonality of the space.

“We also have brought in huge televisions for a big football game and moved the seats back. All you could see were the screens and the ocean,” Shannon Devlin, the resort’s food and beverage manager, says.

“It really is the best view on the island.”

Her daughter, Ashley Deviln, completely agrees.

“Jekyll is beautiful in the fall. It is just so pretty over here,” she says.

As a creative mixologist, the younger Devlin likes to utilize the seasonal vibe in the libations she crafts behind the Westin’s restaurant bar.

For her, that means adding flavors that define that crisp fall feeling.

“I feel like a good fall drink is something that has a smoky essence to it. It’s something that you want to have with oysters and sip by the fire,” Ashley says.

For that, there’s nothing quite like a solid bourbon. Woodford Reserve happens to be her choice, and the spirit distilled at the home of the Kentucky Derby — Louisville — provides the perfect base for an exciting twist on a tried-and-true favorite.

“The Old-Fashioned has been around for forever and they’re great,” Ashley says, reaching for an orange. “And I’m a big believer in, ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,’ but there’s always room for improvement — or at least to try something new.”

The original recipe truly lives up to its name. The first account of the concoction — which includes whiskey (or 18

G O L D E N I S LES

less frequently, brandy), bitters, water, and sugar — was published in 1806 in The Balance and Columbian Repository in Hudson, New York. At the time, it was referred to as a “Bittered Sling.” In the 1860s, the cocktail included ingredients like orange curaçao, absinthe, and other liqueurs. The title “Old-Fashioned” officially appeared in 1880 and linked the creation of the drink to a gentlemen’s club in Louisville.

While the origins may be a bit murky, the changing times have not diminished the cocktail’s appeal. Bartenders today appreciate the opportunity to put their stamp on a beverage with such a backstory.

That’s precisely what Ashley does at the Westin.

“For me, I don’t like things that are too sweet. I prefer savory,” she says.

“I do a black cherry Old-Fashioned which has rosemary and brown sugar, so it’s not too sweet,” she says. “The rosemary is really nice and gives it a nice balance.”

Black Cherry Old-Fashioned

1 orange slice 1 oz rosemary infused brown sugar simple syrup 0.5 oz black cherry juice 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon 2 dashes angastora bitters Rosemary sprig and orange peel for garnish

Directions Place several cubes of ice, 1/4 of an orange slice, bitters, cherry juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Muddle those together to mingle the flavors.

Add in the Woodford bourbon. Stir the mixture together well.

Take a cocktail glass with ice — a single spherical or cube piece ups the cool factor. Strain the mixture over the ice and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and an orange twist.

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G O L D E N I S LES

Q

Music,

T

art offer beauty in dark days

WORDS BY MICHELLE MERRILL

The last notes of live music I heard this season were that of Mozart’s glorious Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major played by our Coastal Symphony of Georgia, the finale of which is the essence of pure and radiating joy. At the time of this writing, it has been four months since that evening; four months of silence in concert halls around the world. Online content has soared as we musicians seek to find ways to bring our art form to the masses, and do what we were born to do — connect and communicate through music.

This year at the Coastal Symphony of Georgia — my second as music director — we again sought to be a leader in representation of music. In addition to timeless works from the repertoire, a fourth of our

offerings were by living composers, and a fifth were written by women. It is this exploration and dichotomy of the new and old that makes music relevant; that keeps music an ever-changing and living thing. I was devastated — as we all were — that we had to cancel our final concert, which was sure to be one of our most adventurous yet, with music from three different continents wildly contrasting in color and style.

We move ahead in this uncertain time with plans to start our new season in January 2021, having already postponed our two fall concerts to the spring.

Musicians have been sending in videos from their homes, and we are exploring ways to do smaller live performances safely. Our SoundBites series

SEPTEMB ER/OC TOBE R 2020

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“The need for art and beauty is part of what makes us human.”

continues to be a huge draw, and looks to place musicians in non-traditional locations so as to connect with audiences in a more casual and personal way with music that draws from all different genres. We have also begun expanding our Musical Mentors program, sending our musicians and guest artists into schools for up-close encounters with students. Though the future is unclear for now, we are busy behind the scenes, seeking to find new and innovative ways to continue these services to the community.

Think about your own quarantine without books, magazines, movies, television shows, paintings, or pictures, and what a miserable affair that would be.

The need for art and beauty is part of what makes us human.

Music gives us expression when there are no words; it lets us sit and bask in delight, and gives us an outlet for some of our deepest sorrows.

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With live music, not only are you as a person different each time you enter a concert hall — be it age, mood, circumstance, life-experience — but the music itself is never the same twice. Even with the same conductor and orchestra, slight variations in tempo, the hanging onto a phrase a beat longer than the previous night, the energy of a crowd, and a multitude of other factors make any performance unique to that moment in time. The shared experience held and felt by everyone in the room joins together musician and patron alike, even if for a brief moment.

It will still be many months before we can connect with a large audience in this way, but until then, we at the Coastal Symphony look forward to finding ways of making this difficult time a little more beautiful.

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Q Empty Bowl Project takes new shape

WORDS BY JAMES CRUIKSHANK PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

A 24

G O L D E N I S LES

A paradox arises when saying that an empty bowl can feed the hungry.

Ann Marie Dalis, head organizer of the Handmade for the Hungry Initiative and the local Empty Bowl Project, has made the fruitless proverb into a reality.

For the past five years, Dalis and a team of community benefactors have spearheaded the annual event which uses the form-factor of pottery to help the community.

“All of our proceeds go to Second Harvest,” Dalis says, explaining the initiative’s purpose. “It’s truly an outreach program, a

simple and effective way to give back.”

The event is usually a pantheon of generosity, drawing many from near and far to eat soup, admire the displays at the Glynn Visual Arts Center, and purchase handmade bowls for a good cause.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Dalis to rethink how the event’s sixth iteration could continue to function without awkward social distancing guidelines and health concerns.

“Everything was changing, so it was a perfect time to rethink how we do Empty Bowl,” Dalis says.

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Enter the Virtual Empty Bowl Dinner: Earth to Table — an online event for silent auctioning, camaraderie, and change.

“Things will be definitely be different this year, but that won’t stop us from coming together,” Dalis says.

She plans to host the auctions online, where professionally crafted bowls will be displayed in what is described as an “Earth to Table” format, the inspiration for the virtual event’s subtitle.

“This craftsmanship this year is superb,” Dalis says. “Rather than host the Handmade for Hungry classes at GVA, we asked professional potters to make the bowls for us instead.”

It was obvious to Dalis that having the usual bowl-making classes in large

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groups was out of the question this year, so participants can expect to see high quality, intricate, and unique pottery.

Between local potters, College of Coastal Georgia students, and GVA studio members, the event will display many unique bowls that range from “novice pots” to one-of-a-kind, professional pieces.

Dalis hopes that those who participate this year will enjoy their Empty Bowl dinners in the comfort and safety of their own homes, knowing that their proceeds went to a great cause.

Kalista Morton, another leading organizer for the event and community relations manager for America’s Second Harvest in Brunswick, cannot overstate the importance of this event to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

912.655.3566 | mooredesignllc.com

“I have always and will always love Empty Bowl,” she says. “I think this year will be special, and the ability to help others without putting each other in harms way is great.”

For Morton, these bowls represent more than just vessels for soup. Each bowl provides between 100 to 150 meals for families serviced by Second Harvest, and with hundreds of bowls up for auction, it is easy to understand its impact.

The Virtual Empty Bowl Dinner: Earth to Table will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7.

LOCAL SHOW

Village Creek Landing Thursday, October 1, 10-8

Bowls up for auction will be featured in a portfolio of photos during the event and can be purchased for $30 or through a silent auction for larger pieces. j u l i a l a w i n g . c o m | 704.796.8253

SEPTEMB ER/OC TOBE R 2020

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Q

Designer brings

Coastal Flair to jewelry

R

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

Rachel Bjorn has always been a creative person.

A graphic designer by trade, the Brunswick resident has also set her sights on the world of statement jewelry. Bjorn handcrafts her pieces, utilizing polymer clay formed into coastal shapes like shells and tidal swirls, which she offers via her brand, Blue Bear Atelier, locally and through her Etsy shop online.

Editor Lindsey Adkison took an opportunity to sit down with the artist to get the scoop on how she creates these unique designs.

Question: Where are you from and have you always enjoyed artistic pursuits?

Answer: My family moved from upstate New York to Brunswick when I was a year old. With the exception of college, I’ve lived my whole life here.

I’ve always been interested in one art form or another but it’s changed over the years. When I was in high school, I was really into pencil drawing. I carried a sketch book with me everywhere I went and I had a fascination for drawing hands. When I went to college, my passion shifted to graphic design and that’s what I do now for a living.

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Question: Talk about how you got into jewelry-making.

When did it happen and how did you learn?

Answer: I first got the idea from my mom. She makes beaded jewelry — Robin’s Coastal Gems — and she inspired me to start making my own. After going to craft shows with her, I decided it was something I wanted to be a part of too. I made my first pair of polymer clay earrings two years ago.

I bought the supplies and started playing in my kitchen.

The first few batches weren’t great, so I watched YouTube videos to gain inspiration and learn techniques.

Question: Describe the types of jewelry you make now.

What’s your style and how did it develop?

Answer: I would describe my style as minimalist, earthy, subtle, and fun. I primarily work with muted palettes and organic shapes. My style developed through trial and error; a lot of clay has perished in my oven. My brand is called Blue Bear Atelier. My last name, Bjorn, means bear in Swedish.

Question: Do your pieces vary by season? How do you decide what to create?

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Answer: I make my pieces in batches of five to 10 pairs, and each batch has a different theme. The themes are determined by what inspires me at the time, but that is normally determined by the season. My most recent collection was named “Nautilus,” inspired by the spirals of a nautilus shell.

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Question: What do you get out of this? Why do you enjoy this type of creating?

Answer: Making jewelry is a break from my daily routine. It’s an excuse to be creative in a way where there are no rules or critiques. It’s also something I can do socially and share with my mom. I enjoy getting to participate in craft shows alongside her and meeting other artists.

Question: In tough times (hello, pandemic!), how do you feel art helps us?

Answer: I believe art is freedom. It gives artists a voice to express their thoughts. It provides the opportunity to take risks, relieve stress, and think creatively. Art is especially important during difficult times because, not only can it be used as a medium to document current events, but it can also bring awareness to issues and educate others.

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Question: Last but certainly not least, where can we find your jewelry?

Answer: You can find my earrings at Tamary’s; on my Etsy page, BlueBearAtelier; and at local craft shows and artists markets.

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Facts

J U ST T H E

Sometimes behind-the-scenes tidbits are every bit is as fascinating as art itself.

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Read on to discover some brain-tickling facts about some of the world’s favorite pieces:

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WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON AND JAMES CRUIKSHANK

Diego Velázquez is perhaps responsible for the world’s first photobomb — 170 years before the invention of photography. In his famous work “Las Meninas,” Velázquez painted himself in the painting too, even though the piece was commissioned to be of the king and queen.

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While she’s forever young, the “Mona Lisa” is in reality 517 years old. The enigmatic figure — also known as “La Gioconda” — was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, Lisa Gherardini.

Picasso’s “Guernica” stretches more than 25 feet long and 11 feet high. As an ode to the Spanish Civil War, the enormity of the canvas is meant to tower over its viewers and engulf their field of view, much like the ominous nature of war.

Georges Seurat’s most famous piece, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” is covered by more than six million individual dots.

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Van Gogh’s most famous piece, “Starry Night,” is not as serene as it might seem. The landscape is from the window of his room — in a psychiatric hospital.

Michelangelo was only 24-years-old when he sculpted “The Pieta,” a statue of Mary cradling the body of Jesus. This was the only work the master ever signed.

Pop artist Andy Warhol created 32 nearly identical pieces for his most famous collection, his depictions of Campbell’s Soup cans.

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DUE SOUTH to make a trip to St. Simons Island to see it. During my research, I discovered that Kevin Lokey is the current President of the board. “Finally,” I thought to myself. “I can repay his kindness by giving publicity to the museum.”

World War II Museum offers fresh look at coast

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WORDS BY RONDA RICH | PHOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN

When I was 14, I visited the Golden Isles for the first time on a school field trip and had what I can only liken to my version of a Damascus Road experience.

In the cemetery of Christ Church, the scales fell from my eyes and glory shone ‘round about when Eugenia Price and her friend, Clara Gould, walked over to Anson Dodge’s grave where I was standing. At the end of that conversation, I knew that I had to become a writer of books.

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G O L D E N I S LES

More than 20 years and two best-selling books later, I visited the Golden Isles again for the first time since that Damascus Road experience when Kevin Lokey invited me to speak at a small Rotary Club that met at Sea Palms.

During lunch, as Kevin and I conversed, I told him that I had just started a syndicated newspaper column dedicated to telling stories of the South as seen through the eyes of her people. I had, at that point, six newspapers. Kevin, never having read one word I had written, generously said, “I know Buff Leavy. I’ll call him and see if he’ll take a look and consider carrying it.”

The Brunswick News, thanks to Kevin, became my seventh subscriber en route to what would be over 50 newspapers before challenges hit the industry.

When the World War II Museum was opened on East Beach, I was invited but had to pass because of speaking commitments. Over a year later, I decided

I love all things and people of World War II. I especially admire Roosevelt and Churchill. With delighted pleasure, I sit on the Board of the Little White House in Warm Springs and jump at the opportunity to learn anything new about that era. Mimi Rogers, the quite capable museum’s curator, gave me a personal tour and she knew, in detail, the answer to any question I asked. Her knowledge is stunning.

It’s similar to listening to an audio version of an encyclopedia. When I mentioned that I have a dear friend who is 96 and her husband worked at the Naval Yard in Brunswick (J.A. Jones Construction), she immediately brightened and said, “Oh! I must speak to her.” She nodded enthusiastically. “I’m serious.”

Mimi gathers knowledge and triple checks her facts. Here are a few things I learned: • The picture-perfect museum is in the former Coast Guard Station. FDR, experiencing a premonition, began building over 40 stations to protect America’s coast in 1936.

• During World War II, more people died on the eastern coastline than died in Pearl Harbor.

• The St. Simons airport was built by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) in 1938. The federal government gave it back to Glynn County in 1995. During the war, it operated as a Naval Air Base and Navy Radar Training School.

• Behind the King and Prince, a German U-boat sank the Baton Rouge and the Oklahoma, tankers carrying fuel north for the war effort, on April 8, 1942. Twenty-two men died but others were saved thanks to the Coast Guard boats, the shrimp boats, and rowboats of locals as well as the yacht of Coca-Cola mag-

nate, Charles Candler, which arrived from nearby Cumberland Island.

• Airships, that looked like the Goodyear Blimp, were made at the Naval Yard by Goodyear, using rubber-coated fabric.

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• America’s shipyards — 18 of them — built Liberty ships faster than U-boats could sink them.

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• The Naval Air Base eventually became Glynco (FLETC) where Federal Officers including U.S. Marshals are trained.

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• John Connally, the Texas Governor who was wounded during the JFK assassination, trained on SSI for his war work.

• While the museum glistens like a gem in the light of the sea and white sands, it is a true treasure chest inside with audio from islanders like Kappy O’Connor who, when she was not much more than seven, would go to the Cloister Administration Building as a volunteer plane spotter and Sonja Kinard whose father was the captain of the Candler Yacht. It also has films and interactive stations.

I believe this museum to be in the top five of the many dozen museums I have seen in the course of my years.

It was enthralling. Kevin, it looks like I still owe you a favor because this one was all my joy.

Medical / Health Tylenol / Aspirin Chapstick Band-Aids Antibiotic ointment Deodorant Bath Soap Hand lotion Kleenex Vaseline Q-Tips

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Food

(non- perishable in sealed packages Crackers/ Pretzels /Nuts

Gum/Candy Raisings Dried fruit Canned Meat (poptop) Juice Mints Popcorn

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Bibles (English) Flash/Thumb drives CDs, DVDs Playing cards Sudoku puzzle books Sewing kit Flashlight w/batteries * Items available for purchase at the International Seafarers’Center

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LIVING WELL tory medication, or surgery. If surgery is required, modern techniques that incorporate endovenous ablation, laser treatment, and radio frequency, such as the ClosureFast procedure that Dr. Kitchen performs at his office are minimally invasive, unlike the vein stripping done decades ago.

Be mindful of signs of vein disease

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WORDS BY CHRISTINE BRAZIL-NINE

Dr. Stephen Kitchen has been treating patients with vein disease since 1995.

During his career, the physician has become well-accustomed to treating a number of ailments, particularly chronic venous disease.

This is a common disorder that affects the veins of the legs. These veins carry blood from the legs to the heart. Normal veins have a series of valves that open and close to direct blood flow from the surface of the legs to the deep leg veins, from which calf muscles pump blood back to the heart. The valves also control the pressure in smaller veins on the legs’ surface.

If the valves within the veins fail to work properly, blood can flow backwards in the veins and pool in the legs. The pooled blood can increase pressure in the veins. This can cause problems that

range in severity from mild (such as a feeling of leg heaviness, aching, or dilated or unsightly veins) to severe (such as swelling of the leg, ankles or feet, skin color changes, skin rash on the leg, recurrent skin infections, and chronic ulcers). If any of the symptoms sound familiar, underlying vein disease may be the source of your discomfort.

“Identifying vein disease is easy, providing we do an ultrasound,” Dr. Kitchen says.

Dr. Kitchen can diagnose chronic venous disease by examining a person for signs and asking about symptoms of the disorder, such as the presence of varicose veins, swelling in the legs, skin changes, or skin ulcers. Additional testing, which includes an ultrasound, can also allow a look at vein valve function and identify if the problem is located in the superficial veins.

The ClosureFast procedure is performed on an outpatient basis using a local anesthetic. Ultrasound is used to position a catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin. The small catheter delivers heat to the vein wall, causing it to shrink and the vein to seal closed. Once the diseased vein is closed, blood will reroute itself to other healthy veins. Following the procedure, a simple bandage is placed over the insertion site, and additional compression may be provided to aid healing.

“Patients come into the office, have it done, and walk out. Patients are encouraged to walk, and to refrain from extended standing and strenuous activities for a period of time. The average patient typically resumes normal activities within a few days,” Dr. Kitchen says.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call the office at 912265-0492.

“Most vein disease is a result of genetics. You inherit the genetic fibers that make up a vein wall from your parents, and that, in combination of lifestyle, activity, and occupation, will contribute, but that doesn’t mean someone has to live with bad veins forever,” Dr. Kitchen says.

Treatments can include compression stockings, elevation, anti-inflammaSEPTEMB ER/OC TOBE R 2020

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BY DESIGN

Picking the perfect fall tablescape

WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD

since 2004, while the Tabby House itself is a nearly 215-year-old building. This creates a unique shopping experience for those who visit the store, Shadron says.

She carefully curates a table display in her store, which currently features blue and white dishes and decorations that, tied together, create a tasteful display.

Many of the featured products are sold by companies in Portugal and are functional, as well as beautiful.

“Customers want that platter that can go from the freezer to the microwave to the dishwasher,” Shadron says.

Small touches can take a table setting beyond functional and add creativity to the presentation.

Many people like to incorporate the colors of the shore into their table displays, Shadron says. They’ll add aqua blue and mint green, indigo, and turquoise, to create table settings fitting for their coastal homes.

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As the pandemic has pushed many people to spend time at home, families are able to find solace and enjoyment in each other’s company around the dinner table.

Eating more meals at home, many have taken advantage of the opportunity to make dinnertime an experience, bringing

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The Tabby House also sells cotton tablecloths in several sizes — square, rectangular, and round — that are popular among many customers, Shadron says. These cloths offer a fun and easy way to get creative when decorating a table.

“As far as creating, I’d probably do it with linens,” she says. “That’s why I love bright tablecloths with lots of patterns …

You can have fun with this, and it’s not a huge price stretch.”

family and friends together for hours-long meals that feature delicious home cooking, wonderful company, and sometimes, a carefully crafted table setting.

Judy Shadron, owner of The Tabby House, a gift shop on St. Simons, has heard from numerous customers that one positive aspect of the sweeping changes brought by the pandemic has been the chance to slow down and spend more time with the people they love.

“I’ve had different people say, ‘My family is now spending two and three hours at the table,” Shadron says.

The Tabby House sells a wide variety of items perfect for gifts, accents, and tabletops. Shadron has owned the business

Another way to get creative is to add some art to the table design. The Tabby House plans to collaborate soon with Judy’s step-daughter Heather Shadron, a local artist who creates custom pottery in her St. Simons studio. Heather and Judy had plans to partner this summer and sell some of the handmade pottery pieces in the store. This kind of artwork can add a unique artistic flare to any table, and Heather recommends adding a pop of color to a table setting this fall.

“I love color,” Heather says. “I love anything that’s bright and fun, that can mix with anything in someone’s house.”

She says she likes to stray away from tradition and mix and match pieces to create a look that’s unique.

“As long as you have a few unifying elements, I think you can just have fun with it,” she says.

A great table decoration is not only functional but also brings joy to those who have the pleasure of spending time together during a meal. These simple things are especially important right now, Judy Shadron says.

“Some people will say, ‘I actually get to eat with my children or my grandchildren,’” she says. “And they’re excited about it. One woman said some of their children’s friends wanted to come over and eat at their house because their table sounded so fun.”

The Tabby House is located at 1550 Frederica Road on St. Simons and is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Heather Shadron’s pottery is available for sale online at hshadronpottery.com.

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ST. SIMONS STRONG You’ve dealt with sheltering-in-place, social-distancing, wearing masks, home-schooling your children, and forgoing travel, weddings, graduation ceremonies, and family reunions. You’ve become experts at taking temperatures, ordering take-out, sprinting through grocery stores, and bracing for the season of storms.

You’ve delivered food to the needy, watched out for neighbors and sea turtles, and kept it local by supporting our island businesses.

It has been one heck of a year, but you’ve stayed generous, optimistic, community-focused, and strong.

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N AT U R E C O N N E CT I O N

The search for answers WORDS BY LYDIA THOMPSON | PHOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN Of course, bird watching requires a great deal of observation. As the years passed, the more questions I found to explore.

That sense of exploration led me to settle in the Golden Isles, where I am surrounded by birds and the habitats that sustain them. I have been able to easily create habitat maps of the animals that call this coast home.

I am an artist, a birder, and I became a researcher through drawing. Nature journaling is a way to explore our coast. I am here because I can walk to the marsh or the beach. I can spend some time in the shady live oaks of the maritime forest.

And, the longer I live here, the more I appreciate this area’s uniqueness.

Q

Questions have followed me through my adult life, and I have embraced each one.

The search for answers sparked a journey into nature and a lifetime of observing the world around me. Bird watching has certainly been an area that has fueled my curiosity.

I traveled looking for birds in my 20s and 30s, and they led me on a fanciful journey.

An ocean wave is beautiful, but nature journaling takes that a step further, exploring the quality of the wave — its many parts and colors.

Birds have travel built into their DNA. They have places that are important to their survival — birds, after all, need habitats.

Shorebirds, ocean birds, and little far-flung wanderers are all living their lives “on the wing.” They have needs: food, water, and shelter from the storms.

Like the birds, I, too, was learning about myself as I followed, observing their lives and patterns.

The tree I pass on the way to the beach is gnarly after years of twisting and turning in the winds. It is unique to the area, worthy of stopping and observing.

Learning, though, has not always been easy for me. I am dyslexic, or at least, that is what the school system labeled the way I learn at the time. I prefer to call it “tactile learning.” Drawing and writing down what I see is hands-on learning for me. And, through this, I discovered nature journaling. It slowed me down and helped me to see below the surface.

In college, a teacher introduced me to Nicolaides’ method of drawing. It teaches that the first function of an artist is to observe. The technique says that, “Learning to draw is really a matter of learning to see, to see correctly, and it means a good deal more than merely looking with your eyes.”

Draw it, study it, and learn it is a resurrection fern. The woodpecker is eating bugs.

Suddenly, you have the drawing with some notes, along with side drawings of the woodpecker and the bug. You are nature journaling.

As we spend time drawing the twisted tree, that is not all we see. A bird is on one of its branches. We can study that bird, draw that bird, and learn it is a Downy Woodpecker. What is the plant on the tree where the Downy is working?

To learn more, I recommend a book by John Muir Laws, The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling.

Nature journaling is a great way to get a young person outside and learning.

It encourages curiosity, which leads to learning, and can ultimately lead to peace.

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D I G R E S S I O N S O F A D I L ET TA N T E with much, takes life as it comes. Dogs have perfected the art of drifting through life. There’s a lesson here.

What is it?

“Let’s watch a movie,” I say.

“OK. Any suggestions?” she asks.

“How about The Big Lebowski? It’ll provide some prophetic ideas for reentry into a dystopian universe.”

It was an artsy 1998 cult favorite featuring two L.A. slackers, portrayed by Jeff Bridges and John Goodman, who elevated the use of expletives to a new art form. The box office take was meager because it failed to include Murray, Murphy, Ackroyd, and the cameo ghosts of Dangerfield, Dean, and Belushi, iconic paragons that give definition to the art of drifting in an alternative universe.

Driftin’…the Fine Art of Easy Living

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Art — what is art but an expression of human creative skill and imagination, a form of communication, an act of expressing feelings, thoughts, observations? Within this context, everything is possible.

We’ve been drifting in COVID purga-

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WORDS BY BUD HEARN tory for months, squeezed into stifling confinements smaller than closets, muffled by masks, mandatory hand washing, and agoraphobic handwringing. The landscape’s unfamiliar. Normal isn’t normal anymore. Where have our creative spirits fled?

I come inside after wandering aimlessly through the artistry of my daughter’s garden. It’s a self-sustainable collectivism of flowering plants, including common herbs and weeds like goldenrod, plants that live harmoniously together in nature. It appears chaotic to the untrained eye; but to her, the artist, it’s a perfect palate of color. Art abounds.

I roll around the floor with the dog, swapping licks. He’s not concerned

The movie begins with a tumbleweed blowing across the beaches of Malibu, the utopian venue of fruits and nuts. I hear the tune now, “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” a classic written by Bob Nolan in 1930s while drifting through life as a caddy in L.A. Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers made it famous. What better image is there than a tumbleweed to define the essence of the art of drifting through life?

The comedic caper bounces between bowling alleys, bathtubs, and psychedelic escapades while loosely modeled on an improbable Raymond Chandler crime plot. If there was a theme, it was weird. Like life itself.

So relax, slide into the drifting mood, sing along with me: “Cares of the past are behind Nowhere to go, but I’ll find Just where the train will wind, Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.”

Stretch your mind, imagine the art of drifting through life, of testing the order of chaos, of reaping the rewards of randomness as though they were common miracles. And what is a common miracle but some serendip-

itous invasion of life itself? It’s what happens when something happens that shouldn’t happen. Such is art.

There’s a mystique to art. It’s found in the adventitious life, the life of improv, the life of just showing up — no watch, no wallet, no wireless. It is standing beside life’s highway, thumb in the air, waiting on Providence for a ride, somewhere, anywhere, just somewhere else.

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Flannery O’Connor wrote, “Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going to never was there; and where you are is no good unless you can get away from it.” Art frees us. Remember Forrest Gump?

The art of drifting through life requires no agenda, no materials, and best of all, no rules. There are no judges, no harsh critiques, no practice. It can be done anywhere, anytime … a rocking chair, hammock, park bench, a careless stroll, and even a nap.

The virtue of all art lies in detachment, the sequestering of an object from the infinite variety of all objects and revealing its innate essence without its bulk and space. A single rose need not include the entire shrub.

And in a simple repose consists all the art of easy living.

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But maybe you prefer the masterpieces of Picasso, or frescoes of Michaelangelo, or Mozart or Faulkner — someone else’s art. If so, the art of drifting may not be your thing. There’s art for everyone.

The art of drifting requires little. It’s easy to comprehend while you simply show up, prepared for nothing, but ready for anything. Disappointment cannot exist in this artistic frame of mind.

Dr. Leary’s manifesto of drifting through life was simple: “Turn on, tune in, and drop out.” The art of drifting through life encourages us to “turn off, tune out, and let go.”

The art of drifting … it’ll separate us from the herd. Create your masterpiece. You get my drift?

SEPTEMB ER/OC TOBE R 2020

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Little hearts need big expertise.

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M O N E Y TA L K S savings network. The program allows the bank to offer better, more relevant benefits to its customers while still encouraging the growth of local businesses.

“It’s a win-win all around,” says Al McKinnon, President and CEO of South Coast Bank. “This year has brought challenges and hardships none of us could ever have prepared for, and our partnership with BaZing is one small thing that we can do for the people and businesses in the community we call home.”

A two-prong approach

To assist both customers and businesses, they employed a two-prong strategic plan that puts money back in the pockets of residents, while at the same time promoting traffic to local businesses.

PROVIDED CONTENT

Local bank brings value, rewards to Golden Isles

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Most people don’t think of modern benefits or added-value products when they think of banking, especially and unfortunately when it comes community banking. One local bank in the Golden Isles is determined to change that, and is introducing new ways to support small business and help residents save money along the way.

South Coast Bank, one of only two locally owned banks in Glynn County, launched a strategy in partnership with the BaZing

Customers with a checking account at South Coast now have value-added, money saving benefits as a part of their checking account. Practical perks such as roadside assistance, cell phone protection, and health savings discounts are woven into the majority of their checking account lineup, alleviating the need for their customers to pay individually for these items.

“In my family of four, we have four cars and four cell phones. I was able to cancel our cell phone insurance and AAA, saving our family at least $200 per month. That doesn’t include the prescription benefits and discounts through the SCB Rewards app. The impact of the savings for our family has been notable and immediate,” says Dr. Brett Bodamer.

Each checking account type is tied to various levels of benefits, since different families have various needs. One of the most immediate savings is tied to the use of the SCB Rewards app. Customers of the bank download the app, available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and immediately are plugged into a national savings network.

South Coast Bank. “The app also has online shopping deals, hotel savings, benefits for rental cars – it really is a substantial network of savings with just a few clicks in the app.”

Substantial is an accurate word to reflect the depth of savings. The BaZing network has more than 400,000 local and online merchants all across the county. Layer that into the 24/7 roadside assistance, cell phone protection, identity theft restoration and monitoring, and pharmacy/health savings benefits and it’s easy to see the effect.

A local business supporting local businesses

While customers of the bank are able to save money, the support of businesses in the area is also a critical mission of South Coast.

“We know this year has been hard for most small businesses,” said McKinnon, “and we want to do everything we can to help drive traffic to stores and restaurants and hotels, which is why any business can sign up to be a part of this savings network. As more and more consumers become financially conscious, it makes sense to want to be included.”

One of the best parts? You don’t have to be a customer of the bank to be in the network. “While we’d love the chance to be their bank, that isn’t a requirement.

If you want your business to be a part of this program – call us. We’ll come sign you up. What is good for local establishments is good for our community, and that is the goal of our partnership – no matter where the business banks.”

A lasting impact

The SCB Rewards app and the value-added accounts began in July, but the community bank is hopeful in anticipating a long term, positive impact on the Golden Isles.

“We know people are looking to save money when they can, and we want to make it easy for them to do that, while still having a first-class banking experience,” added Greene.

For more information on the program, visit www.SouthCoast.bank, call, or stop by either of their two locations. South Coast Bank is a member of the FDIC.

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GAME CHANGERS players score by forming words vertically and horizontally. Each letter has value from 1 to 10 depending on how commonly it is used, and there are squares that enhance the values of letters and words.

Alfred Mosher Butts, an out-of-work architect, created the game in 1938 as a variation on one called Lexiko. He called it Criss Cross Words, and in 1948 sold the rights to James Brunot.

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H

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H-i-a-t-u-s. In Scrabble, that’s worth nine points, four for the H and one each for the rest. But if you place the H on a double letter square it’s worth 13, unless you also spell along an axis with a triple word score, then you get 39 points.

So how do you use hiatus in a sentence? With a nod to current events, you’d say, “Because of the coronavirus, all meetings of the Marshes of Glynn Library Scrabble clubs are on hiatus.”

With different letters you could say, “The coronavirus has put the quietus on meetings of the Scrabble clubs.”

That Q is worth 10 points and you could score 78 points under the same board alignment.

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By any measure, the coronavirus has resulted in no fun points for anyone as many in-person activities are canceled until further notice at the mainland and island libraries.

“So far, we haven’t resumed any of our in-person programming,” says Diana Graham, program coordinator for the libraries.

“It was up and down,” Graham says of the participation, but Scrabble appeared to be catching on. “A lot of our players seemed to be retired educators or people who had worked in libraries.”

In other words, people accustomed to working with the language.

Gloria Moreau, a founder of the clubs, misses the word play.

“I’m not Scrabbling,” she says. “I’m not Scrabbling at all.”

This from someone who has Scrabbled since she was 10 or 12 years old.

“My parents played,” and it adds up to more than 50 years with her beloved word game, she says.

Some have compared the game to crossword puzzles without clues as

Brunot rented a building in Connecticut where he, his family, and friends turned out 2,400 of the games in 1949.

Legend has it, he lost money, but his fortunes were turned around by one player, Jack Strauss, the president of Macy’s who played it on vacation in 1952. When he returned to New York, he wanted to buy a game for his family but was surprised Macy’s didn’t carry it. He placed a big order and the game, which had been renamed Scrabble, took off.

It is now played in 121 countries and is printed in 29 languages. It is estimated a third of Americans and half of Britons have Scrabble games in their homes.

Moreau certainly has one in hers. She and Karen Larrick, who retired nearly a year ago and was replaced by Graham earlier this year, decided to form the Scrabble clubs five years ago.

“We had no idea who would show up,’’ but people did and the clubs have grown, Moreau says.

The onus of getting people to show up fell on her. Larrick says she usually considered a couple of things when people proposed forming clubs at the library.

“A lot of times, I would consider whether it was something I would enjoy,’’ she says.

Having played the game for decades herself, she knew it was enjoyable.

Secondly, she wanted some idea on the interest in the game, and she left that up to Moreau.

“I told her if she could come up with a core group to make it effective, I would give it a try,” Larrick says.

It took off with enough players to schedule play at both libraries, and if they needed someone to finish filling a table, Larrick would join if it fit her schedule.

With the library clubs on hiatus, neither she nor Moreau has played those regular games. But even with the break, they have not forgotten some key lessons.

For Moreau, one is to not simply add an S to another player’s word to make it plural to score a few points. Spelling a word that puts a big value letter, such as Q, Z, J, and X, on a bonus square makes for a bigger score.

Those high-yielding moves stick with you, too, Moreau adds.

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“I think the best word I ever had was ‘tranquil,’” she says.

The Q ended up on a double letter square and the alignment also had her on two triple word squares so she multiplied three times.

“I think it was 212 points,” she says.

No novice is going to knowingly score that big, and those new to the game also don’t always realize that the words they play can set up their opponents for huge scores.

“You don’t want to put letters where the next player is going to get a triple,” she says.

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That sort of knowledge isn’t gained at the first sitting, so the Scrabble clubs handicap the play, placing experienced and new players at different tables. Also, players can use a help sheet or a dictionary if everyone at the table agrees, she said.

“We wanted everybody to have fun.

Losing every week isn’t fun,” Moreau concedes.

“But no experienced player is going to use a dictionary.”

For her part, Moreau tries to learn as many words as possible, but even she gets questioned sometimes.

“I have lots and lots of words memorized. My husband says, ‘You can’t play that until you tell me what it means.’” she says. “I say, ‘I don’t know what it means, but I just beat you.’”

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THE DISH and have been since before getting married. Food is part of their life and what makes them happy.

So the saying is true; the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

They share their love every year by visiting L’Auberge Chez Francois, a French restaurant in Great Falls, Virginia, for their anniversary.

“It is run by an old family, the Haeringer family. They may have something new, but the core items that have been there forever don’t change, and they’re meticulous about that,” Jim says.

“You want to make sure it tastes the same way it did the last time because that’s why you came back.”

They apply that same concept at their restaurant on the island. A dish always tastes as good as it did the first time.

Barbara Jean’s cooks up dishes with love

T

WORDS BY SAVANNAH RICHARDSON | PHOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN

The best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

I believe it now after seeing how much food can impact a relationship.

After 50-plus years of marriage, Jim and Barbara Jean Barta know that, too.

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The way they stare at each other is, well, “relationship goals.” Whether she’s in her namesake restaurant on St. Simons Island or in her home, Barbara Jean is always cooking up something delicious.

The love that these two share for each other spills over into her cooking. Since 2013, the two have kept track of the things Barbara Jean cooks at home and whether or not they’ll try it again.

She knows what Jim likes, and rarely do they throw out a recipe after trying. If they don’t like something, Jim says she often tweaks it until it’s to their liking.

“It’s my creative outlet,” Barbara Jean says. “I love putting personal touches on things.”

They’re self-proclaimed “food nuts”

Taking the time to make sure it’s right lets the customers know how much they care about what they serve. It’s why Barbara Jean’s is a St. Simons staple.

This year has given the community a ton of new normals, which will likely include the upcoming holiday season, and Barbara Jean’s has it covered.

Casseroles are always an easy option, and this Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole is like tasting a whole Thanksgiving meal in each bite, and I mean, every single one.

I wanted more and likely could have eaten the entire pan of it.

Like Barbara Jean usually does with so many of her masterpieces, she adds her special touch to it.

“I put in the sharp white cheddar,” Barbara Jean says.

“I made more sauce for the top and added tomatoes to the sauce — bacon on the inside and top. Bacon is good.”

This recipe is foolproof, and any level of chef can make it. It’s also a great way to use any extra turkey you have around the house. This recipe is one of the likely thousands that Jim and Barbara Jean have tried, and yet it feels like they picked it out because they knew it would share the love.

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While the casserole is baking, make the tomato cream sauce. Heat the 4 Tbsp butter in a small saucepan and whisk the flour into the butter. Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Pour in the remaining 2 cups of milk. Stir until it comes to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and whisk in the remaining parmesan and white cheddar. Add the diced tomato and parsley. Pour over the baked casserole. Top with remaining bacon and serve.

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Painting images courtesy of Peggy Everett

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The marsh expands as far as the eye can see, seamlessly merging into blue sky. In an instant, a fish jumps and splashes into the water.

“That was a mullet,” Peggy Everett says, her eyes never leaving her canvas.

The painter knows every sound and shape of the Crescent River, the waterway that provides the rear border to her McIntosh County sanctuary.

From the oaks and palms that dot the landscape to the pods of dolphins that often visit her dock, Everett absorbs it all. She is, after all, an artist, and keenly attuned to ­­­ the world around her.

“You have to be able to see things … to really see them,” she says, dabbing her brush in the water. Everett refocuses on the painting she is creating.

“You also have to make sure not to dip your brush into your wine instead of your water. That happens a lot,” she nods with a grin and a wink.

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Her hands move effortlessly, recreating the scene before her with a sense of casual ease that can only come from a lifetime of practice. Another job well done, she gathers her tools — canvas, easel, and paints — and retreats into her waterfront home.

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“Come on, Ease,” Everett calls to the yellow lab waiting in her yard.

He eagerly follows.

“His name is Easy Breezy,” she clarifies.

She opens the door to be greeted by Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” pouring from the speakers. Waltzing through the wall of windows, one finds a picturesque artist’s abode.

MM U S H S E R F

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Palettes, brushes, easels, and paints — this is her world. Of the multitude of works adorning her walls, the majority are creations by her friends and mentors, fellow artists from whom she’s learned much. Each canvas has a meaning and a story.

Everett truly has so many — tones and hues of a truly exceptional life. Throughout her home, tokens and trinkets from her experiences are on display — a cow’s skull and Native American decor from her time spent out West operating a ranch. Paintings crafted from excursions overseas also dot the space. Stepping into her office and library, Everett stops to point at a strikingly realistic portrait of a man.

“Do you know who did that one?” she queries. “Bob Schieffer. He’s one of my students.

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“Leave to the masters of art trained by a lifetime of devotion the wonderful process of picture-building and picture creation. Go out into the sunlight and be happy with what you see.”

— Winston Churchill

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He is a fabulous artist ... he can paint anything. And, he is just the nicest man.”

It’s certainly not her first brush with celebrity. Everett has many a story about meeting the rich and famous through her various painting exploits. One notable encounter was painting alongside Tony Bennett in Florence, Italy.

“I was there in 2006 painting with a girlfriend. She knew (Bennett) and we ended up painting together. He wanted to paint next to me because he said I was a serious painter,” she says with a laugh.

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Though she is a “serious artist,” Everett doesn’t let her talent or her brushes with stars go to her head. Instead, she’s remained incredibly humble, even with the countless achievements and accolades she has collected.

Everett has long been hailed as one of the most well-respected and prolific area artists. Her work — from portraits to landscapes to abstracts — has graced private collections, businesses, and hotels throughout the Isles and beyond. But while she’s incredibly successful, Everett also makes sure to live her convictions through her work, donating a portion of proceeds from sales to causes close to her heart.

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“A percentage of all my sales and workshops go to organizations in Georgia that protect wildlife and our natural resources,” she says. “… also agencies dealing with domestic abuse and violence.”

But never one to rest on her laurels, Everett has used the quiet of the recent quarantine to embrace different themes. While she has continued to take on a number of

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commissions, she’s also found time to continue learning.

“I am still learning on Zoom from Scott Christensen.

Ken Wallin, Janet Powers, and Mary O. Smith are local artists who inspire me,” she says. “I have artist friends, like Margaret Durant, who give me honest critiques. Actually, any artist will give you a critique — you might not want to hear it, however.”

Everett has always embraced learning. It began with private lessons in Atlanta when she was a child.

“It started when I was in elementary school and everyone was drawing on the blackboard with white chalk, but I used colored chalk … my teachers made a big deal about what I was doing. They told my mother that I needed to take art lessons, so I started with these Russian portrait painters, Roman and Constantin Chatov,” she recalls. “I remember that later I went to New York and got an Andy Warhol abstract painting and brought it back. Constantin, the husband, bopped me over the head with it. They were pretty serious about art.”

She went on to the New York Studio School studying under Esteban Vencete, Joseph Santore, and Graham Nickson. Everett also studied representational art at the Art Students League of New York, Art Students League of Denver, and The Florence Academy of Fine Art in Florence, Italy.

She also logged in time at the Hermitage Group in Colorado.

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While she’s studied with the best of the best, today, Everett is a master in her own right. And one of her greatest joys is teaching, sharing what she’s collected through a lifetime of lessons. In pre-corona times, Everett held frequent retreats to teach plein air painting both near and far — as close as Cumberland Island and as distant as Aspen, Colorado.

“I don’t know that I’m a ‘great artist,’ but I do feel like I’m a good teacher. It’s my firm belief that anyone can paint. I’ve never had a student who couldn’t paint,” she says.

“But, you can’t just do it once a week in a class

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and be a great painter. You might be able to do it three times a week and be Okay … to be great at it, it’s something that you have to do every day.”

Everett herself has certainly found solace in her craft during the troubled times of the coronavirus pandemic. And she feels that it’s something that can offer a sense of comfort to most during difficult periods.

“The role of the arts — whether one- or two-dimensional, photography, poetry, books, film, or music — is to provide a relief and a pause in the noise of the day. It causes one to exercise their imagination, explore their senses, and for a time … escape. It is also a way to be happily alone with yourself,” she says.

“Now, I think, we want the arts to enrich our lives and our living spaces. You might want to learn to make art or you are already making it. Whether it is painting, writing, photography, or gardening, you are creating and using your imagination. If you can imagine it … it can happen — maybe all this craziness has been given to us as a time to dream, inspire, and create.”

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D

D Debbie Craig spread the black and white photos across the table. The clothes and furnishings pointed to another time — the 1970s — but the girl in the image, she was easily recognizable.

“That’s when we were in Asheboro, North Carolina, where I set up my first pottery studio, ‘Paradise and Lunch’ in a 150-year-old farmhouse,” Craig says nostalgically, shifting through the photographs.

The younger Debbie Craig in the pictures was different, certainly, but there were many things about her that haven’t changed. She is still married to her husband and fellow artist, Terry. She’s also still passionate about cultivating creativity through her chosen medium — pottery. Her path to becoming a master artisan began in the Classic City — Athens.

That’s where Craig first stepped into a pottery studio, and unbeknownst to her at the time, set the course for her future.

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Mud Mama WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

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“I started taking a pottery class one night a week at a local studio while I was at UGA,” she says.

Being able to mold and shape something meaningful from a formless bit of clay resonated with Craig in a way that no other artistic pursuit had before or since.

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“I was hooked. I had done a lot of creative stuff before that, like tie-dye and making candles — I’m a hippie, but clay was the one thing that I really stuck with,” she says, sitting in the pottery studio of Glynn Visual Arts on St. Simons.

“I’m a Navy veteran so I had the G.I. Bill. When I learned you could go to college to work in clay I was like, ‘you’re kidding me!”

Craig studied under Ron Myers at UGA and he imparted many important lessons to the budding artist. Much like the clay itself, Myers shaped Craig’s artistic methods and teaching skills.

“He’s my ‘mud daddy.’ He’s in his 80s now, but I still visit him,” she says with a smile.

Craig has continued to share many of the lessons Myers taught her. She first began teaching classes locally at Glynn Visual Arts, and more recently at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick.

“It’s crazy now after all of those years in the late 70s, I’m teaching the adult class once a week here. It’s sort of cool that it’s come full circle,” she said.

Of course, both her technique as a potter and abilities as a teacher took time to develop. When she was first starting out, Craig found herself a bit impatient with that aspect of the process, noting that her early work led to a few tears. “I remember that I used to cry because I wanted my pots to

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look like I’d been making pots for 30 years, but you know, I was a beginner,” she says, shaking her head.

“They put their fingerprints here,” she says, pointing to the imprints along the roofline in the design.

“Now here, 30-something years later, it’s nice to hang in there to see that growth and change.”

While she has created unbreakable bonds with her students, she’s also shared her artistic passions within her own home. Craig and her husband are both working artists. Her children, too, have always gravitated toward artistic endeavors. In fact, the group has formed their own collaborative — Craig’s House of Art — with one of her sons and daughterin-law, Liana.

In fact, Craig — who is known affectionately as “Mud Mama” to her students — can count generations of students that she’s led and inspired.

“I’ve been teaching here at Glynn Visual Arts for almost 30 years. It’s gotten to the point where the little kids I used to teach when they were in fifth grade are coming to my classes as adults. So, that’s crazy.

That’s happened a few times in the last couple of years,” she says.

Her students and the staff of GVA decided to show Craig just how much she means to their community.

In recent months, the facility named the kiln house, where students fire their pottery, after her — Craig’s House of Fire.

“My younger son is out in San Fransisco and he loves to cook. He also approaches things creatively. It’s an ability to define a problem and solve it. It’s also being able to try new things, while being unafraid to fail. It’s just doing something with a willingness to try.”

“They made me cry the other day. They made this,” she says, stepping out to the kiln house. Craig stopped outside and ran her hand over a clay plaque affixed to the exterior.

The willingness to experiment is all she asks of other artists — be they in her family or in her classroom.

That element, she feels, is essential to anyone who wants to express themselves creatively.

The neatly designed piece featured the name, Craig’s House of Fire, along with a copy of her signature.

“The main thing, for me, is being able to define creativity in a different way. So if my students get that, then the rest is just play,” she says.

“That’s the way I sign my work,” she says.

“I know that, for my family, every time we get together there’s a need to play. If you have an attitude of play when you’re being creative, I think you’re going to be way more successful than if

It also included a personal touch from her students.

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“My husband has a master’s in sculpture, but he’s done photo collage for the last few years. My oldest son graduated from Berry College with a degree in art ... in painting,” she says.

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Even more, working with clay allows Craig and her students the ability to remain in the moment. And, in that sense, it becomes much more than a simple art class, it becomes a way of escaping the worries of the world to appreciate the present.

“Working with clay is very therapeutic.

It forces you to be in the here and now. I think that’s why a lot of people like it. I’ve had people tell me it’s cheaper than going to a shrink,” she says with a giggle.

There is also the human connection between those creating the work and those receiving it. Craig is a big believer in the power of positive energy and how it can steep from the creators into the creations. It offers a bit of magic that keeps her students coming back again and again.

“It’s a shared energy and safe place to be creative. We encourage each other and we create things together. I truly believe that you put your energy into your work. It is so much more special using a mug or a dish that was made by human hands,” she says.

“Together, we have this little clay community. Young moms and retired people ... when we come together we’re here in the moment and letting this God-given creative energy just happen.”

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san di n g, sh a p i n g, surfi ng.

C r e at i n g c u s t o m b o a r d s WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN AND SAM GHIOTO

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S

Sun glitter flitted across the bobbing waves as salty sea air blew across the beach. It was that special time, the time when the world slowly awakens and the Isles embodies the fullness of its title — golden.

a chef for 20 years,” he says. “I surfed the whole time, but I got into making the boards about five years ago.

I made myself one, then I made my daughter, Addison, one.”

It’s a sense of magic that Geoffrey Gable knows well. An avid surfer, he often finds himself gently rocking on the ocean as the sun begins to peak.

From there, Gable’s friends started asking for custom boards of their own.

The operation started small, using his garage as a workshop. But, before long, the amount of work he had acquired outgrew the space.

“There’s really nothing like watching the sunrise from the water. Surfers are able to get out there and feel the energy of the ocean as the sun comes up,” he says with a smile.

“You can’t help but to be blown away.”

It’s this sense of connecting with nature that brings Gable back to the shore again and again. It’s also a passion that fueled much more than a weekend pastime — it has become an outlet for Gable’s creativity, as well as a new professional venture.

A chef by trade, the New Jersey native started exploring the world of hand-crafting surfboards a few years back.

“I grew up outside of Philadelphia and I went to culinary school, so I’ve been

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“I started doing repair jobs for companies like Turtle Tides, too,” he says.

Eventually, he secured his own space in a building downtown, right off Bay and F streets in Brunswick.

The business, called SML Surf Co., is where Gable can often be found, listening to tunes and shaping his latest creations.

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“I moved into this spot about a year ago and since then it’s been nonstop,” he says.

The process has changed, though, now that Gable’s popularity has grown. In the early days, he would work on one board at a time, following each project through from start to finish.

“It would take me about 40 hours to do one … now I can shape a board in 45 minutes,” he says.

Gable works on pieces simultaneously, allowing him to create more boards for his eager customers.

“Right now, I have three or four customs. I have a couple of paddleboards to do, too,” he says.

While the design may seem similar, there is quite a bit of difference between the two. Gable notes the surfboards are made from poly-resin, while the paddleboards are crafted from epoxy.

“It’s the same thing — fiberglass — but the weight is different. The paddleboards are more durable … you can put more layers on a paddleboard,” he says.

Once he has the base for a board, Gable uses a planing tool — his is vintage from 1952 — to file and shape the piece. The process continues from there, including creating the proper rails for water flow.

Each board is designed for functionality and how the individual rider plans to use it.

“It’s all fluid dynamics. It’s kind of wild going from just fiberglass to something that is really functional,” he says, running his hand along an unfinished board.

Functionality and surfing success depend on a number of factors.

That’s why Gable likes to get his clients involved in the customization.

As a major player in the area’s surf scene, he is familiar with many of the locals’ styles and what they need in a board. But Gable also likes to hear about their goals and what their ideal experience would entail.

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“I have watched a lot of them surf, so I know what their style is and what they need. But we always sit down and talk about what they’re looking for and what they want,” he says.

“Sometimes they want one thing … and I have to tell them, ‘look, I don’t think that’s going to work for you. Let’s try this.’

It’s great to be able to go out with these guys and really understand what they need.”

Gable’s intimate knowledge of surfing and his craftsmanship allows him to create the ideal board for those looking to hang ten. And once the functional elements are in place, there’s a lot of room to add in some personality.

He uses multiple techniques to bring life to his work. From inlaid fabrics to a kaleidoscope of colors, it all goes a long way toward making a board truly one of a kind.

“I think it’s a lot like cooking for me.

It’s the same kind of creativity you use when making a meal. In fact, the way I lay my knives out in the kitchen is the same way I lay my tools out here,” he says, standing in his workroom.

“The most important thing is for the boards to fit their personality. For me, a lot of my boards end up orange … that’s my color, I guess.”

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For information or referrals call

Like his signature color, Gable’s boards are becoming a mainstay on Isles’ beaches, where surfing has enjoyed a boost in popularity.

or toll free at

“It’s amazing here because it’s still a small group, but everyone is really laid back. In New Jersey, everyone was super-aggressive and you had to fight for waves — it’s not like that here.

Everyone is so cool,” he says.

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“It’s definitely growing. There used to be a time when you’d see paddleboards everywhere … now there as many surfboards as paddleboards, if not more, which is great.”

“ There’s really nothing like

watching

the sunrise from the water. ”

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WEAVING a tradition 74

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Fiddler crabs rapped in the McIntosh marsh, creating a cadence that floated on the breeze. On the nearby wooden porch, Yvonne Grovner’s fingers flitted between the rolled sweetgrass and pieces of palmetto. With a small knife, she effortlessly shaved a strip of the saw tooth palmetto from the stalk.

Shifting her hands, she grabbed another tool, a shiny metal device, most commonly used to open cans of paint.

“I filed this to a point on the end, so it’s sharp but you could use a nail too, and all you’re going to do is use this to make a little opening here,” she says, piercing a row of sweetgrass and threading the thin piece of palmetto through.

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“Now, you’re working by feel,” Grovner says without skipping a beat. “So, as you’re working, you have to add grass. To add your grass, just pull you some grass. Split this in half, and add the grass right in the middle.”

Her 10-year-old granddaughter, India, watched from the adjacent rocking chair. Then, she joined in, weaving her own basket under the watchful eyes of the family matriarch.

“I’ve been doing it for about two years,” India says with a smile.

Yvonne beams with pride.

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“I taught my husband, Iregene, my children, Monique and J.R. and my grandchildren,” she says. “It’s important to keep the tradition alive.”

And it’s one that is storied and vibrant. The history of weaving sweetgrass baskets dates back hundreds of years on the Georgia coast and in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. It was a key piece of the Gullah Geechee heritage, a lineage that blends African tradition with newer elements later developed in America — a patchwork of language, arts, food, and folklore.

The sweetgrass baskets are a piece of the fabric of this rich culture. It has always been a part of life for those who inhabit Grovner’s home — Sapelo Island.

But the roots of the craft run even deeper. Baskets are, of course, ancient creations, dating back to the dawn

of civilization. Before the barbarous practice of slavery stole countless men, women, and children from their African homeland, these baskets were commonly found in thriving villages along the continent’s West Coast.

African tribespeople crafted them with quality and care, creating strong and flexible vessels used to store precious goods — their grains, their harvest, and even their babies.

When these Africans were so cruelly deposited on shores of America, they kept this tradition alive as they worked the plantations, utilizing this sweetgrass weaving technique in a number of ways.

“They made rice fans to separate the grain from the husk,” she says, demonstrating with a replica.

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“I taught my husband, Iregene, my children, Monique and J.R. and my grandchildren, It’s important to keep the tradition alive.”

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“We don’t worry about a lot of things.

It’s peaceful and quiet … there aren’t many places left like Sapelo.”

Many of the slaves on the plantations of McIntosh County would go on to leave bondage behind, settling into freedom on Sapelo Island, located roughly 15 minutes by boat from Darien. Grovner moved to the island from her home on the McIntosh mainland 40 years ago and is one of dozens of full-time residents there today.

She was taught the art of basket weaving by Sapelo master, Allen Green.

“He was a famous basket weaver. He wouldn’t teach anyone for the longest time.

We tried to get him to … but he wouldn’t.

He said, ‘I’ll take this to my grave,’” Grovner recalls with a laugh.

“But, when he was 90, he got a grant and he taught seven of us on the island. Later, I got a grant from the Reynolds Foundation to teach the kids on the island, and I teach other classes as well … just trying to keep it alive.

There aren’t that many people who make the baskets now, not on Sapelo at least.

There are a lot in South Carolina.”

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“

“I got a grant from the Reynolds Foundation to teach the kids on the island, and I teach other classes as well … just trying to keep it alive. There aren’t that many people who make the baskets now, not on Sapelo at least. There are a lot in South Carolina.”

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Grovner has taken it upon herself to share — teaching her family and those interested in learning within her community of Hog Hammock on Sapelo.

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Scan to connect to our web site

“Of course, there aren’t many people there — only 20-something people, but it’s important to keep it going,” she says.

The materials for the baskets are collected right there, on her beloved island, harvested in the shade of pine trees. Since becoming a master basket weaver, Grovner has made and sold hundreds. The one of a kind artworks can fetch anywhere from $50 to $800. Of course, there are some that are priceless.

“This is one I made that we put India in when she was a baby,” she says, smiling and holding the large basket in her hands. “It was also part of President Obama’s inauguration parade.

They wanted something from the Gullah Geechee culture there so we sent this for the Gullah Geechee float.”

co-authoring a cookbook titled, “Foods of the Barrier Islands.” Many of the entries she can whip up from the produce found in her own garden.

Grovner’s life is a testament to her heritage.

Not only does she craft the baskets, she also conducts Sapelo tours for the Department of Natural Resources. Her son, J.R., also shares the history and culture through private tours.

Like the peas, palmettos, and sweetgrass, there’s a bit of the soil of Sapelo in Grovner’s soul. The tranquility of the island offers solace from the outside world, an ideal space for her art to flourish.

“People come from all over. We had a big group from Germany once that came through with an interpreter,” she says.

“We don’t worry about a lot of things. It’s peaceful and quiet … there aren’t many places left like Sapelo,” she says gazing at the golden marsh.

When Grovner isn’t giving tours or weaving baskets, she can usually be found working on her other great art form — cooking. She’s a master of Southern and Coastal cuisine, even

“We grow the Sapelo red peas … everyone loves those. She likes to cook too,” she says with a nod at India.

• For information on Grovner’s baskets, cookbooks, or tours of Sapelo Island, email her at yvonnegrovner@yahoo.com.

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Gallery

101 Fostering the creative spirit

WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

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Art galleries can be spaces for inspiration, learning, and escape.

Each one is uniquely designed to showcase the works of artists in ways that speak to viewers and promote the importance of artistic creation.

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Numerous galleries in the Golden Isles feature the works of talented painters, sculptors, photographers, and more.

Gallery owners, like the artists themselves, are passionate about the works on display and excited to share the art with their patrons. Even those with little to no experience in the art world can make discoveries in these galleries, just by taking the time to visit and see.

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Elizabeth Piazza hoped to create a space welcoming to all with an interest in art. The founder of The Art House, a salon-style gallery located at 254 Redfern Village on St. Simons, Piazza carefully crafted her space to showcase an eclectic array of art while encouraging gallery visitors to feel comfortable when viewing and discussing the pieces she has featured.

Piazza also designed the space to be multi-purpose, so the gallery serves as a studio and office as well.

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“Our space differs from a traditional art gallery in its design, program, and the services I offer, as an art advisor and appraiser,” Piazza says.

Furniture in the gallery aims to provide an element of comfort, allowing visitors to sit and observe or discuss the artwork featured in the gallery. Many who visit The Art House comment that they enjoy the space and the ways the gallery is uniquely designed to welcome its visitors.

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“We wanted to make it approachable, to people who love art or don’t necessarily love art,” her husband, Brad Piazza, says. “… A lot of people don’t walk into an art gallery because they feel like it’s unapproachable.”

The gallery offers artwork across a range of price points, style, and subject matter in a way that encourages visitors to sit down and experience the art casually.

Elizabeth previously worked as a curator in Manhattan for a large private art collection, regularly attending art auctions, gallery openings, and art fairs, which provided her the background to open her appraisal and advisory firm, Piazza Fine Art. When she moved to St. Simons, she was able to bring her vast knowledge and unique experience to a new kind of gallery setting on the island.

“It’s a small island and we want to be specific on what we’re offering,” she says.

People will sometimes come in and say they’re interested in purchasing art but not sure how to discern what’s “good.” “Good” art depends on the person viewing the piece, Piazza says.

“You have to see what you’re drawn to and what moves you,” she says.

Anderson Fine Art Gallery Mary Anderson also brings years of experience to her gallery on St. Simons, where she features artists from a variety of backgrounds.

She hopes to welcome all into Anderson Fine Art

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Gallery, located at 3309 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. No one should be intimidated by art, Anderson says, because art is meant to have an audience.

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“If you’re a total novice, just trust your feelings and learn, as you do anything else,” she says. “You learn to look at the style of the artist, the strokes. The main thing though is how they move your eye around, but also you look for that connection. Art is very subjective.”

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To develop an eye for art, she recommends visiting museums and galleries, either in person or online.

“Look at the best,” Anderson says.

“Decide your interest — if you like abstract, if you like impressionism, if you like realism … There’s so much of it. There’s so much good art.”

She urges art viewers to look for a connection with the artist. Often, she’s noticed, visitors at her gallery will comment positively about a piece by one artist, then do the same for another of the artist’s works without realizing they’re drawn to work created by the same person.

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come in, never been in the gallery, they’ll see a painting downstairs and it says something to them. Nine times out of 10, they go around the gallery, that’s the artist they keep picking up, that same artist’s work.”

Anderson strongly encourages people to take the time to experience art in some way.

“We need it so badly these days,” she says.

“Coming in here, it’s an escape, and that’s what you want, for me, is to be able to just move into the paintings and let them talk to you.”

ArtTrends Gallery Galleries provide a crucial platform through which artists can share their works.

Some galleries take a different approach than others, though, by operating under the direction of artists themselves.

ArtTrends Gallery, located at 3305 Frederica Road on St. Simons, is the only artist cooperative gallery in the area. The gallery is comprised of nine local artists — Ella Cart, Dottie Clark, Trish Rugaber, Joyce Ledingham, Suzanne Clements, Susan Anderson, Roz Harrell, Joan Hilliard, and Tori Anderson.

Mediums represented are oil, acrylic, mixed media, watercolor, sculpture, and pottery. New artwork is displayed regularly, with rotations occurring every six to eight weeks.

“It is important to know we are all local working artists, and that ArtTrends Gallery

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represents a thriving, diverse art community on the Georgia coast,” Cart says.

The artists recommend visiting a gallery with an open mindset, ready to experience what’s on display there with little-to-no preconceived notions.

“I love to go into a gallery and just experience it for myself, and then ask questions as they arise,” Rugaber says. “At ArtTrends Gallery, we always have a knowledgeable artist on duty to greet you and offer information and insights on the art represented by our group.”

As working artists, they hope visitors will return on a regular basis to see new pieces. There will always be someone there, ready to talk with visitors and share their passions, inspirations, and ideas.

“Everyone in our group enjoys sharing our art and some of the techniques and stories behind each piece,” Rugaber says.

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In the midst of COVID-19, many galleries are relying on their websites and social media to showcase their art. Each of these galleries has an online presence through which those interested can see the works on display.

The Art House is online at thearthousega.com. Anderson Fine Art Gallery is at andersonfineartgallery.com.

And Art Trends can be found at arttrends.gallery.

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Julie Vaughn • Associate Broker | Broker/Owner, SSIBR • C: 912.571.7451 • O: 912.434.9964 • julievaughn70@gmail.com • 1759 Demere Rd., St. Simons Island

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NOISEMAKERS

BEAU AND THE BURNERS

B

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

Beau Knott unfastened the clasps on the guitar case, lifting the lid. Gingerly, he removed his vintage guitar, holding it in his hands.

With practiced ease, he began strumming chords, as his bandmate Jim Weber assembled his drums. Rounding out the trio, Justin Hammack stood nearby, delicately adjusting his upright bass.

After a few mic checks, the boys known to dedicated fans as Beau and the Burners were ready to rock. The audience started to assemble — with caution and distance as the coronavirus pandemic demands.

But even so, it was a swinging scene at Bardelous in downtown Brunswick and a welcome reprieve from weeks and weeks of isolation. The group doled out rockabilly favorites like “Honey Don’t”

by Carl Perkins (and later, the Beatles) and a couple of classics courtesy of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.

Everything — from their period-appropriate instruments to their outfits, which included hats and suspenders — was definitely a departure from bands often found giggin’ around the Isles.

And, that’s exactly the point.

“We like to dress up,” Jim says with a chuckle as he sips his coffee. “And we all like the music. It’s one of a kind ... it’s the real rock and roll.”

In 2020, there aren’t many bands that wear rockabilly so well. The genre, heralded as being the forebearer of rock and roll, combines country and Western swing with rhythm and blues.

First surfacing in the South in the 1950s, the sound was popularized by acts like Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly and

it inspired a multitude of musicians for generations to come.

Knott grew up loving the music and even incorporated the sound into earlier bands.

“I was in a family band called the Knottheads,” Knott, the lead singer and songwriter, says. “My brothers all played and we played classic rock and roll. But later, I decided to play what I wanted. And this is my favorite type of music. I’m just glad other people like it too.”

Knott is the founder of the band and placed a Craigslist ad for backup about 10 years ago. That’s how he teamed up with Weber.

“I saw the post for a drummer and answered it. We’ve been playing together ever since,” Weber says.

Hammack joined about two years ago after becoming a big fan of Knott and Weber’s music. In fact, he learned to play the bass specifically to become a part of the group.

“I didn’t play any instrument, but I loved their music. I was a big fan. One day I decided I was going to learn bass and these guys taught me,” Hammack says.

“Everyone thinks that I’ve been playing for a long time but I haven’t. It’s never too late to learn.”

Regardless of their individual experiences, the band really jives as a whole.

Knott’s spot-on vocals and honest twang are propelled by his bandmates’ beats.

The Florida residents have started

crossing the state line fairly regularly to perform in Glynn County. They’ve become regulars at bars and restaurants like Tipsy McSway’s and have also performed at events like Rhythm on the River.

“We’ve played an event at Sea Island too. It’s been great coming up here ... it’s become like a home away from home,” Hammack says.

And, he adds, every show they book is all about sharing authentic rockabilly.

“We all play vintage instruments. So not only are we playing 50s and 60s music but we’re playing it on the old school instruments. Jim plays a 50s style Slingerling drum set which is before Ludwig. It’s got animal skins on it,” Hammack says.

“Beau plays on a vintage guitar with 1960s amps that he bought used in the 70s. I have a 1958 Kay (bass).

It makes what we do even more important.”

When the fellas aren’t playing bars and restaurants, they can often be found at themed events — car shows and the like.

“Those are the events where people like to dress up in 50s clothes,” Weber says. “We do a lot of those.”

They also have found a way to engage generations of music lovers, all of who gravitate toward their unique and timeless sound.

“Everyone that loves this music carries on this tradition — from grandparents to very young kids. They’re all out there dancing together which is great to see,” Knott says with a smile.

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COASTAL SEEN

Ralph and Donna Ainger

CHURCH HOLDS ‘SIX-FEET APART’ SOCIAL Fort Frederica Presbyterian Church on St. Simons Island hosted a SixFeet Apart Social Distancing Concert series over the summer months.

They hosted several performers including Annie Akin, Owen Plant, and Tim Akin. Attendees enjoyed the performances from lawn chairs or vehicles, safely spaced apart to avoid transmission of the coronavirus.

DON'T BE AFRAID

TO SHOW A LITTLE LEG.

Donna Naylor

Bulging Varicose Veins ∙ Spider Veins Leg Discomfort ∙ Heaviness, Fatigue and Swelling ∙ Venous Ulcers

If you suffer with any of these symptoms, call to schedule a full consultation.

North, Denise, and Sailor Busby

(912) 265.0492 General Surgery | Vein Treatment | Tattoo Removal

www.stephenkitchenmd.com 100

G O L DEN I S LES

Rob and Kathy Wade

COASTAL SEEN

Morgan Walker, from left, Rachel Moore, and Tara Jordan

Maisara and Zareen Kobaisy, from left, and Heather and Charles Day

Brandi and Keith Crusan

SILVER BLUFF BREWING CO. OPENS The long-awaited arrival finally came as Silver Bluff Brewing Co. opened its doors in early July. The owners — Jeff Coyle, Kevin Coyle, and Chris and Allison Moline — welcomed locals and community leaders during an open house. Attendees were able to get a sneak peek at the expansive Newcastle Street facility as well as sample some of the brews on tap. The business is a welcome addition to downtown Brunswick. It features a taproom and beer garden, as well as the brewery iteself.

Jason Umfress, from left, Susan Bates, Cornell Harvey, and Regina Middleton McDuffie

Scott and Madelynne Risi

Jessica DiVincent, left, and Josh Hickman

Silver Bluff Brewing Co’s Gate

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COASTAL SEEN

Well-made, timeless, Southern clothing for boys & girls.

Charlotte and Dickey Zell

KGIB POST-INDEPENDENCE DAY BEACH SWEEP

Keep Golden Isles Beautiful hosted a Beach Sweep to clean up the shoreline of St. Simons Island following the July Fourth festivities.

The nonprofit organization was aided by 36 volunteers who helped to pick up debris from plastic fireworks, cigarette butts and cans. .

155 Skylane Road St. Simons Island, GA 912.638.7700 Monday thru Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Boat Tours of all types

FROM JEKYLL ISLAND Dolphin Tours | Private Boat Tours Sunset Tours | Boat Weddings Group Tours | Specialty Tours Newest Boats in the Golden Isles Up to 98 passengers

Connie Harbour, from left, Madelynne Risi, and Steve Brooks

DOLPHIN TOURS

B O O K O N L I N E www.captainphillip.com 366 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA | 912.635.3152

For Private Groups please call for reservations and times of departure.

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Dan Robinson

WE MAKE IT EASY TO

Shop & Save

LOCALLY AND BEYOND!

Jennifer and Mike Hatcher

Open a SCB Rewards Checking Account powered by BaZing and gain access to more than 400,000 discounts, available both locally and nationwide. Download the SCB Rewards app to put all of these discounts at your fingertips.

Lee Scriven

BROWSE.

Find discounts for dining, shopping, travel, entertainment, and more.

1500 Newcastle St. Brunswick, GA 912.264.8887 Sharon and Rick Hindery

(912) 580-4748

SHOP.

SAVE.

Restaurants and shops you know and love are included in our savings network –right where you live, and across the nation.

60 Midway Square St. Simons Island, GA 912.638.2229

Simply show your mobile coupon to the retailer for instant savings.

ITM LOCATIONS 1514 Richmond St. 1846 Demere Rd.

www.SouthCoast.Bank

Participating merchants on BaZing are not sponsors of the program, are subject to change without notice, may not be available in all regions, and may choose to limit deals.

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COASTAL SEEN

Tori and Patrick Anderosn

Howard and Trish Rugaber

ARTTRENDS GALLERY HOSTS OPENING

The artists of ArtTrends Gallery hosted a celebration of their 5th anniversary with the opening of their exhibit, “Spirit of Trees.” The show was on display through August 15th. ArtTrends is an artist cooperative and all nine of its artists were participants in the show.

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Bridgie and Ellen Moriarty

Liz Shaw and Susan Anderson

Dena, from left, Rick, Suzanne, and Adam Clements

Ella Cart

G O L DEN I S LES

OUR MISSION IS YOUR SUCCESS!

The College of Coastal Georgia is the state's destination college. Offering bachelor's programs and Associate programs at our Brunswick Campus, Camden Center, and online, Coastal Georgia provides infinite possibilities for students from across the state, throughout the nation, and around the world.

A Coastal Georgia education emphasizes experiential learning through hands-on learning, service-learning courses, student research opportunities, and internships. Students graduate with practical knowledge and real-world experience.

Located on 193 beautiful acres, Coastal Georgia has transformed over the last decade into a vibrant fouryear residential college. Explore how you can go after your dreams at the College of Coastal Georgia.

Schedule a visit today!

WWW.CCGA.EDU

DESIGN Deliver your decorated bra to The Foundation by

September 18th, 4 p.m.

VOTE Bras will be on display in Brunswick and Camden at Southeast Georgia Health System. Vote for $1 at either campus, or vote online at wearethefoundation.org

October 1st - 31st

LIVE AUCTION The Historic Ritz Theatre in Downtown Brunswick

November 6th, 6 p.m.

Visit wearethefoundation.org or call 912-466-3360 for more information.

Proceeds benefit Southeast Georgia Health System cancer care programs.