Contemporary artist Andie Freeman has been named the Coastal Discovery Museum’s first Artist in Residence for 2020-2022. Currently based in Raleigh, N.C., this long-time Hilton Head resident has a connection to the island and the museum spanning 30 years.
C2 recently sat down with the artist to learn more about her work, her inspiration, community engagement and her first exhibition showcasing Gullah culture, which opens in The Artist’s Gallery at the Island Recreation Center on May 1.
Tell us about your art.
I am a contemporary realist painter. To me, that means I attempt to have areas of rendered realism in my paintings but also areas that are more abstract in the background. I traditionally paint in oil—still lifes and nature-inspired work—although with this exhibition, I am painting six pieces in watercolor as well. I have been painting since college [Freeman earned her BFA from College of Charleston followed by a graphic design degree from Miami Ad School in Atlanta], but I have really put more time into my artwork over the last 10 years since we’ve been living in Raleigh.
What is your connection to Hilton Head Island and the Coastal Discovery Museum?
I moved to Hilton Head Island when I was 15, in 1985, and went to Hilton Head Island High School. I’ve also had a relationship with the Coastal Discovery Museum for a long time in different ways. I’ve always loved the Museum and have a sculpture in their Heritage Garden. I have also participated in the Art Market.
Their mission and programs inspire me, in particular the sea turtle program. There are so many things they protect and show to the public in a way that’s really valuable. Tourists come to the island and they may go straight to the beach and not see all the amazing and important things going on. My hope is that the art will help bring light to some of those things so that they can also shine and have their moment.
Artist Andie Freeman in her studio in Apex, NorthCarolina.
You are the museum’s first Artist in Residence. What does that mean?
As Artist in Residence, I am creating work on a continual basis to interact with the community on Hilton Head Island, even though I’m in Raleigh. I really want to have paintings and work that interact with the museum’s mission of “inspiring people to care for the Lowcountry.”
This first exhibition is focused on Gullah culture, which is obviously important to the island overall and which is also highlighted quite a bit at the Coastal Discovery Museum. The second exhibition will feature a lot of paintings focusing on other museum programs—whether that’s ecology, cultural heritage or things in their collection that talk about the history of the region.
What inspires your work?
I am inspired by how objects tell the story of someone who has been here and left their mark. Some of the pieces I’ll be painting will be inspired by objects that have been used by people. My still life work utilizes natural elements that bring life to the painting as well as cherished objects that bring them to a level of artifact—telling a story of someone’s past.
In this case, I’m taking what I usually do in still life and pairing it with the Coastal Discovery Museum’s mission. Part of it has to do with my love for ecology, for nature and the preservation of natural resources on the island. I often create paintings featuring birds—that is an extension of my love of nature—inspiring people to protect our natural resources. This also includes culture. We are in a rapidly changing world, but there are still things from the past that we need to respect and hold on to.
Midnight, oil on panel, 2021
Tell us more about this exhibit and its Gullah influence.
The first exhibit, “Faith, Family, & Foundation,” is a smaller one. It includes one large, 3’ x 4’ oil painting anchoring the show—a still life showcasing many of the gifts imparted to the region through the Gullah culture—along with six smaller watercolor paintings inspired by historical photos that show multiple sides of this culture.
The Gullah people gave us a lot, and we should respect and understand the culture they have shared. I’ve been interviewing people from the island so that I understand a little better the messages they would like to present. They have worked hard to preserve their family, their faith, their love of the land and their connection to it.
As a young resident of the island, I didn’t appreciate the culture that was already there. I came from the North, like so many other people, with very little understanding of the region, although I loved a lot of things about it. I spent a lot of time walking in the cemeteries and enjoying the nature and beauty of the land. That made a real impact on me.
Now, as an adult, I am focused on how we relate to our past—how the stories we’ve been told and which have been passed down from generation to generation help us with self-esteem. I recognize that the Gullah people of Hilton Head Island have given a lot and have not necessarily been well understood.
The point of the show is that everyone should find something or someone in their past that they can feel proud of and know that they can do great things, too. I hope the Gullah people of the island recognize that they are important, impactful and special. As a culture, they should be honored and respected for the positive impact they have had on the region.
Andie Freeman’s Gullah exhibition, “Faith, Family & Foundation,” opens May 1 in Culture HHI’s Artist’s Gallery at the Island Rec. Center. For more information about the artist, visit andiefreeman.com. To learn more about her role as Artist in Residence at the Coastal Discovery Museum and upcoming exhibitions, visit lowcountrysoil.com.
