Mount Pleasant Towne Centre recently welcomed two four-foot tall painted oyster shell sculptures that were installed on the property. The first sculpture features sea turtles by artist Jackson Knowlton, while artist Julie Byrd Diana painted the second oyster shell sculpture with a vibrant shrimp. The shells are part of the Town of Mount Pleasant's Art on the Half Shell program, an initiative created to foster community pride through the arts while also promoting local artists and Mount Pleasant's unique creative community.
“Mount Pleasant Towne Centre is a place for our guests to not only shop and dine, but to gather together as a community,” said Kathleen Herrmann, Marketing Director at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. “Art is a natural human connector, and we couldn't be more excited to support local artists and spark joy for our community by adding these two new bright spots on property.”
The Art on the Half Shell program debuted at Memorial Waterfront Park in 2019 by Councilor G.M. Whitley and the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission, with five oyster sculptures painted by local artists. The program has since expanded to over 20 oyster shells across town, from Fire Station 6 on Carolina Park Boulevard to Town Hall on the south end of town. The Town plans to add at least six oyster shells annually around Mount Pleasant.
“Public-private partnerships like we have enjoyed with Towne Centre for many years offer our community unique ways to enjoy the arts, which fosters a strong sense of pride and appreciation for the beautiful place where we live,” said Nicole Harvey, Community Affairs & Marketing Division Chief for the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department. “We are thrilled and grateful to see these artists and their beautiful work displayed prominently in one of our town's favorite gathering spots.”
Artists submit applications with their conceptual designs to have their artwork featured on the shells, drawing inspiration from the sights and sounds of Mount Pleasant. For Knowlton, this meant sea turtle preservation and wellness. His painting serves as a gesture of appreciation for turtles, and he hopes it will inspire others to learn more about protecting them.
For Diana, her shrimp painting is a tribute to Mount Pleasant's beloved shrimping and fishing industry. She uses an indigo and bold color scheme as a tribute to the region's Gullah Geechee people, and their contributions to the area's unique culture and agricultural history cultivating the Indigo crop in the Lowcountry.
Once selected by the commissioners, the artists are given the fiberglass sculptures that they then sand, paint and finish with their chosen design. The Mount Pleasant Towne Centre's Art on the Half Shell sculptures are located on Towne Centre Way, across from Old Navy and Barnes & Noble.
