Ebb, Flow Art Shines
Creating art inspired by the sights, smells and colors of the Carolina coast seems to be a common thread for a group artists, who have a new studio in Murrells Inlet.
Ebb and Flow Art Co-op hosted a June 28 Summer Saturday Art Social, which attracted steady stream of Grand Strand visitors who witnessed an unusual approach to art display and a cooperative venture.
Keels Culberson Swinnie said this art cooperative is many things but mostly it is a place for the inspiration.“It is a venue for local artists to display and sell their artwork,” she said.“The group displays everything from painting, sculpture, furniture to woodwork. It is managed, manned and maintained by artist members who show their work, staff the sales desk and handle the display and lighting of their artwork.”
Swinnie is a native of Pawleys Island. She underwent hip surgery at age 6, and was in a full body cast for nine weeks. Unable to move, she channeled her energy into art. Today, inspiration comes from beaches and travel to such places as Italy, Greece and Costa Rica.  Her creative and business partner is Adrian Dorman, a native of Murrells Inlet, who makes hand-painted furniture and wall murals, and paints ocean coast abstract canvases. Other artists include:         
Sara McLean went to Converse College for a degree in studio art, ending up silversmithing. She cuts, grinds and polishes stones and builds vessels from silver sheet and shaped wire. She lives in western North Carolina and works from a home studio.
Lee Arthur came to the Grand Strand in 1969 from Charlotte. He does sculpture and painting, specializing in driftwood carving. He lives in McClellanville and Murrells Inlet.
Chuck May of Murrells Inlet has whittled and made wooden things since he was age 6. May’s decoy hobby began in 1976, when he carved his first wood duck decoys for his own use. He does traditional gunning decoys of cedar, tupelo, cork, sugar pine and stretched canvas.
Ted Watts, a native of the Grand Strand, was the son of a contractor who began honing his furniture building skills in the late 70's. He builds furniture for homes, golf clubs, banks and churches, doing spiral staircases, cabinets, armoires, mirrors, coffee tables, beds, mantel pieces, desks, dining buffets, tables and chairs.
Gaston (Buddy) Locklear moved to the South Carolina coast when he was age 10. Inspired by his older brother, he began surfing, skating and painting. He did drawing, watercolor, acrylics and oils. Then his surfing waned as painting became more important. His art technique evolved from impressionism to abstract pieces.    
     
Amy Cox centered her art around the Albatrosses, a large seabird found in the warmer south Atlantic Ocean and the north Pacific. She helps protect the Albatross coastal population by passing along educational materials and by encouraging others to help. The gallery is located at 4763 Highway 17 Business in Murrells Inlet---By Lloyd Mackall For The Sun News.