DATE: January 08, 2008

CONTACT: Todd Steadman, (864) 656-2536
tsteadm@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741
spalmer@clemson.edu

New art exhibit to open at S.C. Botanical Garden

CLEMSON — The first exhibit of the year at the South Carolina Botanical Garden Discovery Center Gallery will begin Jan. 17 featuring photography by Tommy Wyche and paintings by Jim Sutherland.

Wyche is author of three photography books: "The South Carolina’s Mountain Wilderness: The Blue Ridge Escarpment"; "The Blue Wall: Wilderness of the Carolinas and Georgia"; and "Mosaic: 21 Special Places in the Carolinas."  All royalties from these books, as well as from "Quiet Reflections: The Clemson University Forest," are donated to Naturaland Trust, which Wyche formed in 1973 as South Carolina’s first land-conservation trust.

He is nationally recognized for his decades of conservation efforts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North and South Carolina. He has received national conservation awards from the American Bar Association, the Garden Club of America and the National Wildlife Federation as well as many other awards, including The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest honor to an individual for outstanding public service.

Many of Sutherland’s paintings portray European vistas as well as scenic coastlines and Lowcountry marshes. He likes to paint scenes that have some personal meaning and prefers acrylics to oils.

The Clemson native’s work is shown in galleries from California to the South Carolina coast. From 14 to 20 paintings will be on display at the gallery.

The garden is on the Clemson University campus at the intersection of U.S. 76 and Perimeter Road. It encompasses 295 acres of gardens, streams and woodlands and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset free of charge.

For more information, call 864-656-3405, email scbg@clemson.edu or check out the calendar of events and featured artist information at www.clemson.edu/scbg.