Charles Towne Landing
Charleston, South Carolina
18 January 98
Watercolor on cold press Lana paper
6 x 4", archival mat & backing to 10 x 8"
US $195 (includes USPS Priority Shipping)
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During the time I lived in Charleston, my friend, Carol, was the educational director at Charles Towne Landing so I made more trips to this destination than I might otherwise have. On most of my visits I spent the majority of my time at the Animal Forest which is where I made this painting of a crippled Great Blue Heron. Like this heron, many of the birds in the forest were injured, rescued, rehabilitated and given this safe home where they live out their natural lives.
In the Animal Forest I witnessed one of the most magical things I've ever seen. As I was walking along a wooded path, I watched a group of Black Bears lumber up to the fence that separates their area from that of the Red Wolves. As I came to the fence line, I saw a group of red wolves walking up to the same spot on the other side of the fence line. I paused and watched as the leader of each group walked up to the fence and sat down, very calmly on their respective sides of the fence, facing each other. The rest of the bears sat behind their leader as the wolves sat behind theirs. Observing the scene, I sensed a tremendous emanation of intelligence and nobility. I don't know how the interaction of wolves and bears works in the wild but this scene was remarkable and one I will always remember.
I noticed that the red wolves are no longer listed in the Animal Forest at Charles Towne Landing. I also noticed that Sewee Center at the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in nearby Awendaw is a refuge for the Red Wolf so maybe they were relocated there.
Every Sunday I post a new painting and story behind the watercolors I made while touring as a singer songwriter. Follow the stories behind the paintings of these serialized posts by working your way up from the bottom.
Charles Towne Landing
