You are cordially invited to discover and enjoy original works created by eight members of the renowned Palmer family of artists at the Coastal Discovery Museum during January and February 2019.
The Palmers’ connection to Hilton Head Island began over fifty years ago and since then family members have been active in the local art community while also enjoying critical and professional success well outside the geographic confines of the Lowcountry. This exhibition will showcase their spectacular works of art, but it will also share stories of this area’s history and personal reminiscences. Jim Palmer and his wife Barbara moved to Hilton Head Island in 1965, initiating this creative family’s long-standing connection to and influence on the community.
According to Addison Palmer, Jim’s son and one of the featured professional artists on exhibit, his family “has been and continues to be very creative. Having a family that is so strong in the visual arts, is unique. Being able to have everyone together to showcase our artwork and to tell our history of being on Hilton Head Island, is a true pleasure for the Palmer family.”
The Palmer family’s artworks, and connection to the area make this exhibition a perfect match for the Coastal Discovery Museum. Natalie Hefter, Vice Present of Programs, explained that the unique part of this exhibition “is sharing many of the family’s stories from the past five decades.” The museum is dedicated to bringing the area’s history, culture, environment, and art alive for our visitors and residents. This exhibition will bring attention to our natural beauty as well as stories of our more recent past. In a recent conversation with Jim Palmer, Hefter says, “he shared many personal reflections about Hilton Head and Lowcountry events and the family’s connection to them. Jim has lots of great stories to share!” A few of the reminiscences included: that the Palmers lived a Honey Horn for a while and Billie Hack hosted a baby shower for his wife Barbara; Jim was quite passionate about and actively fought the proposed BASF project (petrochemical plant planned for Victoria Bluff) in the late 1960s; the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Islander Magazine’s masthead was Jim’s concept and he also provided artwork for its first cover in December 1966 (and many, many more issues after that); and many, many more.
The Coastal Discovery Museum is located at 70 Honey Horn Dr. Visit www.coastaldiscovery.org for additional information. The exhibition opens on January 5th and closes February 25th. The Museum is open from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday and 11 a.m.–3 p.m., on Sundays. The opening reception for this exhibition will be held from 5–7 p.m., on January 17th.
