It’s the most wonderful time of the year and nowhere is that sentiment more apparent than at Palmetto Bluff, the vibrant residential and recreational community bordered by the May, Cooper, and New rivers in Bluffton.
Sited on 20,000 extraordinary acres filled with dense maritime forest, a trail system that winds through the property for miles, with wildlife corridors and swaths of managed forest protected in perpetuity, Palmetto Bluff was conceived to create an authentic relationship between its residents and the natural world.
Though known for dynamic year-round programming produced by the Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff, the Palmetto Bluff Club, and the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, this December the Bluff will be abuzz with some very special events celebrating the community’s renowned artistic, culinary, and conservation heritage.
Palmetto Bluff’s Wilson Village is at its most charming during the holiday season
The arts are central to Palmetto Bluff, which has long been a magnet for creatives drawn to its welcoming people and unspoiled natural beauty. The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff was launched in 2022 to inspire and enrich lives through art in all its forms. Showcasing a diverse curation of artists, craftsmen, musicians, and makers, this vibrant collaboration fosters creativity while striving to forge a broader Lowcountry community united by extraordinary artistry and the exchange of ideas.
Through hands-on educational experiences for residents and guests of Palmetto Bluff, the innovative schedule engages and challenges audiences through shared dialogues and the beauty of the Bluff itself.
Each year, notable Southern masters of their craft are invited to address varied themes that tie to the values of the community as they immerse themselves in the local culture and lead workshops. The Arts Initiative is built upon three foundational pillars: inspiration (embodied by the Artist in Residence program); invitation (manifested in FLOW Gallery + Workshop, the charming exhibition space in Wilson Village, Palmetto Bluff’s social hub); and installation (building a permanent collection and rotating exhibitions set amidst the Palmetto Bluff landscape).
The month of holiday fun will kick off with the Arts Initiative’s December Artist of the Month, painter Karin Olah, who will be on the property December 4-8, hosting workshops and facilitating joy.
Multi-layered painter, Karin Olah, at work in her studio in Charleston
Originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Olah is a Charleston-based artist who combines hand-dyed fabric and paint to create her signature multi-layered paintings inspired by the colors and light of coastal landscapes. Olah’s subject matter ranges from seascape to abstract expressionism to a dreamy place in between. Her work has been published widely including in Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and American Contemporary Art Magazine. Her art is in public collections at the Medical University of South Carolina, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Florida, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and Ilya Corporation in Japan.
Olah’s residency will start with a reception December 4 at FLOW Gallery + Workshop in Wilson Village, to welcome the artist. She will demonstrate her unique process, which combines her passion for textiles and quilts, a background in fashion design in New York City, a BFA in fiber art, and an ever-growing fabric collection, to create her signature multi-layered paintings.
Farm Charm by Karin Olah, Palmetto Bluff’s December Artist in Residence, is an example of how the artist combines hand-dyed fabric and paint
The first workshop, “Links & Landscapes” on December 5, will encourage participants to put down their putters and pick up a paintbrush to join Olah for a morning of creativity inspired by Palmetto Bluff’s May River Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus signature 18-hole design. Guests will experience her fabric collage/painting process in a fun and non-intimidating setting – appropriate for all skill levels – as they complete a small painting of the 18th green.
On Friday, December 6, “Palmetto Bluff Dreamscapes” will follow Olah as she searches for that magical nook in nature where she can envelop herself as if wrapped in a beloved quilt made from the colorful patterns of land and sea to a patchwork of marsh grasses to meandering threads of rivers.
For the artist, fabric elicits deep sensory and emotional reactions, which drives her to integrate textures into her artwork. In this workshop, she will guide participants through textile collage with acrylic painting to envision their Palmetto Bluff dreamscapes. Each person is encouraged to bring favorite fabric scraps to personalize their work. A glass of wine and light refreshments will begin the process to let intuition lead the creative path, where all skill levels can embrace the process.
Olah’s final workshop, “Palmetto Bluff Awakening,” is a family-friendly affair on December 7, where she will demonstrate her textile collage process and then guide the group through creating abstract landscapes inspired by Palmetto Bluff. Children are encouraged to attend this fun and inclusive workshop meant to inspire guests to create textile collages out of their favorite fabrics even after the workshop has concluded.
Tickets for all events can be purchased at palmettobluff.ticketbud.com/karin-olah-december-artist-in-residence.
Edisto Gold Honey is one of the favorite local vendors at the Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market
Come celebrate the holiday spirit December 8 at the festive edition of the Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market on the picturesque Wilson Village Green, boasting idyllic views of the May River Chapel and the May River. This special event will showcase local artisans, feature live music, and offer delightful breakfast treats with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Pick up last-minute gifts for loved ones, indulge in seasonal creations from Palmetto Bluff’s culinary team, and don’t forget to send your final holiday wishes to Santa by submitting a letter. This event is complimentary, and more information can be found at palmettobluff.com/experience/events/farmers-market.
Linzer cookies from the Palmetto Bluff Club’s pastry team at the Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market
Exquisite produce in the Palmetto Bluff Club’s pavilion from the community’s own
The cheer will continue with the Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff’s Sip & Stroll on Thursday, December 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. Collaborating with FLOW Gallery + Workshop – which will feature festive music in the courtyard – the Paris Market, Simone, Palmetto Bluff Outfitters, and RT’s Market, guests are invited to visit each of Wilson Village’s unique retail stores, which will be serving signature holiday libations and treats.
Palmetto Bluff Conservancy’s Annual Buffalo Run
The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy’s 10th Annual Buffalo Run will return to the Lowcountry community on Sunday, December 15, to benefit the Conservancy, dedicated to the conservation of the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Bluff’s 20,000 acres that remain virtually undisturbed. Featuring an all-trail course, this 10K, 30K, and 50K race is a tree-shaded combination of single track, dirt, and gravel road trail.
The Buffalo Run 6.2-mile trail winds deep into the ancient maritime forests of Palmetto Bluff, where participants will get blissfully muddy. Relay races are also available in the 30K and 50K runs, where groups can compete with either a three-person team for the 30K or a five-person team for the 50K. The after party, sponsored by Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company, will feature live music from Lowcountry Boil. Register for the Buffalo Run at runsignup.com/Race/SC/Bluffton/PalmettoBluffBuffaloRun10K30K50KUltra.
The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the umbrella of the North American Land Trust, which holds the conservation easements on Palmetto Bluff), was founded in 2003 with a mission of protecting the many different habitat types and the flora and fauna that call these habitats home, as well as the lush maritime forests and winding tidal creeks that define the spectacular geography of this community.
The May River Chapel in Wilson Village adorned with holiday wreaths
Keepers of the natural and historical world of Palmetto Bluff, the Conservancy provides land management services; conducts invaluable research; provides world class biological and ecological educational programs, lectures, and tours to Palmetto Bluff residents and visitors of all ages; and is the organization responsible for educating everyone involved in the development of a new piece of property.
Maintaining, managing, and enhancing the biodiversity at Palmetto Bluff is a project that, much like Mother Nature, will never stop. Led by Director Jay Walea, who spent his youth exploring, hunting, and drawing inspiration from the verdant forests of Palmetto Bluff, the Conservancy team works tirelessly to ensure that development and natural environments can coexist in harmony through ecological research, education and outreach, and land and wildlife management.
The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy uses traditional conservation methods to enrich the flora and the fauna, for their benefit and ours. While preservation leaves Mother Nature to fend for herself, their conservation methods enrich nature’s bounty for humans and their wild neighbors, and the dedicated work of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy ensures the ecology and diverse environments of the community will be enjoyed by many for years to come.
