ON THE GO
Are there certain childhood experiences or
people who have influenced you?
My mother has always had wonderfully eclectic taste, and when I was
young I tagged along with her to
antique shows and flea markets. She
rented space at one of the local antique
malls and I would love to go with her
to “spruce the booth.” Each year, my
aunt would give me and my siblings a
painting or drawing for our birthday.
I liked some more than others, but I
learned that each one was special and
unique. I think that was how I came
to appreciate the amazing effect that
original art can have on a space.
from Charleston Ghosts and then play
truth or dare in the graveyards of the
local churches. On the weekends, we
went fishing or waterskiing behind
Sullivan’s Island, often getting stuck
on a sandbank so we had to wait out
the tide. We dutifully went to Cotillion
every Wednesday, but looked forward
to the East Bay dances at Hazel Parker
playground on Friday nights. In many
ways it was a very normal childhood,
but we just didn’t realize how fabulously different it was from growing
up in suburbia.
What was it like growing up in Charleston?
It’s funny, I don’t think I really appreciated how idyllic it was to grow up in
the Lowcountry until I left. One of the
things about growing up in Charleston
that I have really come to appreciate is
that the girls were raised to be equally
comfortable in chest waders and full
duck-hunting camo as we were in
our long white gloves and debutante
dresses. The fact that my friends and I
rode our bike every day to school from
the first grade until I got my drivers’
license simply astounds people. But
we all did it. We used to read stories
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