12/6/07
Sweet night raises funds, awareness for Summerton gallery
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

Anne Darby, president of the art guild gives an opening speech Dec. 1 at the Water Lily Art Gallery in Summerton while celebrating Sweet Night at the Gallery.

It was a “Sweet Night” at the Water Lily Art Gallery in Summerton Saturday night. The first fundraiser for the Gallery, “A Sweet Night at the Gallery,” featured an evening of desserts and entertainment.

Within the one-room gallery, people from the art community and those who wondered about the gallery walked about peering at the murals and paintings of all types on the walls and sat at red cloth-covered tables to enjoy a variety of desserts.

“We have such a good response. It is a lot of fun and it is exciting,” said Anne Darby, president of the Lake Marion Art Guild hat sponsors the new gallery.

Darby’s comments were echoed in many ways with people in attendance that seemed both surprised and delighted by what they saw and what the guild had accomplished in the recent months.

Beth Brooks, a volunteer singer for the event said that shows and events like the “Sweet Night” were one of the best ways to create and maintain a healthy cultural community.

“It is one of the finest ways to showcase talent,” she said. “It inspires all of us to pick up a paint brush, mold clay or participate in vocal performance.”

First time visitor Ester Lloyd was excited to see the response and the atmosphere that the gallery turned out.

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

Jerome Lloyd and Linzy Washington perform for the crowd during the Sweet Night at the Gallery at the Water Lily Art Gallery fundraiser Saturday night.

“It makes me want to buy something,” she said jokingly.

Later in the evening guests, were treated to the musical portion of the evening while drinking coffee.

Beth Brooks, Linzy Washington, Jerome Floyd, Rena Morrison and others performed musical stylings of jazz, blues and Broadway as well as instrumental and country.

Among the performers at the gallery, none garnered more applause than Clarendon favorite Washington with his rendition of “Ole Man River,” and Morrison with “Crazy,” by Patsy Cline.

Washington gave his initial thoughts on the gallery.

“It’s nice to be in a new place and a new house,” he said.

With the high excitement and excellent turnout of the crowd, many people look forward to further changes at the gallery.

“It is beautiful. It is nice to see what everyone has offered and I hope we can grow. Maybe start classes,” said Karen Washington, also a member of the guild.

The money raised through the event will go to better the gallery and the guild.

Darby said that thanks to the high turn out at Saturday’s event, the guild plans to hold several more events like the Sweet Night over the next year.