27 www. ReadMPM. com | www.MountPl easantMagaz i ne. com | www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com pelicans and egrets roosting on the docks or snatching up a fish. An amble through Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail offers great birding. The charter fishing tours and guided nature adventures that ply our tidal creeks and waterways educate both locals and tourists alike about our diverse flora and fauna. Regional ecological treasures such as the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (which has been featured in National Geographic), Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and the Francis Marion National Forest, provide unique hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities in picturesque, protected areas. You might say that tourism is in our nature. That nature is the fuel that keeps our economic engine running. It is to be preserved and promoted at once, a tall order for the Lowcountry. SEWE: Conservation is at the heart of everything they do The fine wildlife art, festivities and conservation events showcased at Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) are a microcosm illustrating this vital link between nature and tourism. SEWE represents a celebration of the great outdoors that also brings attention to the need to protect and steward it for future generations and the sake of the animals that inhabit it. “The conservation message is at the heart of everything we do,” said SEWE President John Powell. Part of SEWE’s mission entails creating awareness of the conservation of wildlife and the environment and positively influencing nature and wildlife education, but it’s also to impact the local and state economies through increased tourism. SEWE, which hosted its inaugural event in 1983, has long been considered the de facto kickoff to Charleston’s tourist season. The exhibition, which runs this year from Feb.1719, attracts more than 40,000 people annually, who will patronize Charleston-area restaurants, shops and hotels. Events are spread throughout the peninsula at five different sites including Charleston Place, Marion Square, Gaillard Center, Brittlebank Park and the Charleston Marriot. Powell said they have seen the event grow each year, adding that the economic piece is significant not just to Charleston, but to the region, generating an estimated $50 million in economic impact. Last year, SEWE returned after a two-year pandemic-related hiatus. “There was an overwhelming response to SEWE being back,” stated Powell. Most of what SEWE does speaks directly to protecting and conserving precious habitat, whether land or water. The weekend’s programming includes National Marine Mammal Foundation film screenings and panel discussions, flight demos from Awendaw-based Center for Birds of Prey and SCDNR educational events. SEWE also enthusiastically promotes South Carolina’s state and county parks. On Feb. 17, conservation nonprofit Ducks Unlimited will host one of its biggest fundraisers in the nation, the Oyster Roast & Lowcountry Cookout. Additionally, they will screen a new film at Gaillard Center that they co-produced called “Wings over Water,” showcasing the importance of the Prairie Pothole region of North America as a habitat for birds. “It’s a time of celebration,” asserted Powell. SEWE showcases more than a hundred artists, from new and emerging talents to 40-year veterans. This year’s featured artist is Ryan Kirby of Boone, N.C., and his original piece, “The Departure,” has been selected as SEWE’s 2023 Featured Painting. Some returning artists include 2008 Featured Artist Peggy Watkins and nationally-acclaimed wildlife artist and 2009 Featured Artist Thomas Brooks. “We want something for everyone,” commented Powell, emphasizing that the hope is to have a positive impact on these artists’ careers while sharing in their successes. Local talent on display at SEWE SEWE also displays work from a handful of local artists. “It’s an important part of what we do,” said Powell. “It’s a great platform.” Classical realist painter and Mount Pleasant resident Mark Kelvin Horton is one of those local artists. His work has been featured at SEWE for seven years. Horton feature
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