South Carolina's history plays a vital role in today's local craft scene. From the western end of the state to the coast, local crafts are as varied as South Carolina's people and their historical roots. Visitors can view and purchase crafts representative of the range of unique people who helped shape the state's past, including Native Americans and African descendants. Many with agricultural roots, working in places like lowcountry rice plantations and upcountry farms, put their stamp on local crafts, too.
The Lowcountry
Many lowcountry inhabitants are descendants of West Africans brought over as slaves, and their cultural traditions are preserved through the creation of crafts. As is often the case, crafts now celebrated for their beauty and artistry originally sprung from the necessities of daily life.
The Gullah communities, for instance, passed down from generation to generation ancient techniques like weaving sweetgrass baskets. Handmade from native grasses that grow along the coastline, sweetgrass baskets are naturally tough and waterproof. They also smell like fresh-cut hay. These baskets were first made locally for gathering and storing rice, vegetables, and other agricultural products on South Carolina's plantations. Today, they're recognized for the artistry and beauty of their weaving. The intricate work can take from several hours to several months, depending on the size and artistic difficulty. Prices reflect the work put into creating these unique items. Mount Pleasant, a traditional community and suburb located just north of Charleston, is the epicenter of sweetgrass weaving. From roadside stands to upscale gift shops, sweetgrass baskets can be purchased along the lowcountry corridor. Visitors wanting to see more can attend the Sweetgrass Festival in Mount Pleasant, held in June as part of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
Another traditional form of crafting includes "face jugs." Originally made by plantation slaves, these jugs have ugly faces formed into the side of the container. While their original use isn't certain, locals believe they were used as a deterrent to children, and were created as a tribute to African heritage.
Yet another useful craft now recognized as an artistic endeavor is the carving and decorating of gourds. Gourds are grown and dried, then their hollowed forms are painted and carved to represent a variety of shapes and figures, ranging from beautiful to comical. Finished gourds are used as baskets and bowls.
The Gullah craft tradition includes other useful products, such as net making, long strip quilting, and blacksmithing. Visitors can view these artful crafts in local stores and museums throughout the lowcountry area. In addition, various festivals celebrate the Gullah traditions, food, and people. For instance, the Gullah Festival of South Carolina takes place the weekend before Memorial Day in Beaufort, while a month-long Gullah Celebration is held each February in Hilton Head. This series includes an arts and crafts expo mid-month. Another great spot for local crafts is the Charleston Crafts Gallery, a cooperative venture selling baskets, jewelry, glass, clay, and more. All crafts are created in South Carolina.
The Upcountry
In the northwest part of South Carolina, or the upcountry, the Cherokee people have made a lasting impact on the craft scene. Traditional Native American arts are still practiced today, including quilting, weaving, doll making, and pottery making.
Historically, Native Americans used local clays to make pottery in useful forms such as water jugs and cooking pots. They sculpted pots by creating a base, then coiling strips of clay up to make the sides. Wood fires created dark colors, and people used hand made tools and other materials to add traditional designs on their pots. Today, Native Americans blend traditional and contemporary methods to create their popular pottery.
Another popular Cherokee tradition is that of finger weaving. This form of weaving uses no loom, but only a stick for holding the materials being woven. A difficult craft, finger weaving has been taught by older generations to create loose warp designs for clothing. An additional popular Cherokee craft includes woodcarving on masks, furniture, and dishes. Cherokee crafts can be viewed and purchased at historical sites and shops throughout northwestern South Carolina in Cherokee, Greenville, Spartanburg, Oconee, and surrounding counties.
The Rest of the State
Throughout the central areas of South Carolina, visitors can find varied traditional and contemporary crafts. One of the best places to view the variety of crafts available is the official Folk Art and Craft Center of the state, the South Carolina Artisans Center in Walterboro. Nearly 250 artisans showcase their work in a gallery and retail space, complemented by live demonstrations, educational exhibits, and special events. Housed in a restored Victorian cottage, the center emphasizes traditional and indigenous folk art, as well as more modern craft styles in clay, glass, jewelry, wood, metal, leather, and more.
For museum-quality exhibits on crafts, the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina, located in Columbia, offers the McKissick Museum. This museum showcases folk materials and crafts, explaining the history and creative process. Most of these crafts were originally utilitarian in nature, rooted in cultural traditions. Exhibits include sweetgrass basketry, pottery created by the Catawba Indians, and more.
South Carolina visitors looking to purchase locally created crafts should check the local calendar before their trip. A wealth of festivals and fairs across the state include craftspeople selling their creations. The Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild sponsors three Arts in the Parks shows throughout the year in Myrtle Beach, offering both fine arts and crafts. Also held in Myrtle Beach is the Craftsmen's Classic Arts and Crafts Festival, an annual event in August. North Augusta hosts The Olde Town Artisan's Fair every April. In addition to these benchmark festivals, many other arts and crafts fairs take place nearly year-round in South Carolina.
For travelers interested in both history and crafting, South Carolina offers a unique blend of handmade influenced by the local heritage and culture. These special crafts give visitors a glimpse into what life was like throughout the colorful history of South Carolina.
