B.I.R.D.S. Program

Birds In Residence: Downtown Summerville

Celebrating Summerville's Native Bird Species with Sculpture

 

A major public art initiative created by the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, Sculpture in the South and Summerville D.R.E.A.M., the B.I.R.D.S. Program brings together three diverse organizations to celebrate and highlight Summerville’s native bird species, its vibrant and historic downtown area, and Summerville’s growing reputation as a cultural arts destination. 

Combining the biological diversity of South Carolina with the rich historical identity of Summerville via the visual arts, the B.I.R.D.S. Program enhances the community’s understanding of the importance of conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, encourages the appreciation of, and support for, public art, and fosters Summerville’s economic vitality and cooperative spirit.

More than twenty life-sized bronzes overlook the town from their perches on balconies, windowsills, shop signs and rooftops, inviting visitors and residents to investigate the unique shops, outstanding variety of restaurants and the kind of hometown hospitality you thought had disappeared forever.

We hope you enjoy our feathered friends to have found their homes in the downtown area:

Barred Owl by Paul Rymer / Photo by Joey Frazier

Barred Owl – by Paul Rhymer

Location: Summerville Town Hall (balcony) – #1
Sponsored by: Sculpture in the South

Photo by: Joey Frazier

The first sculpture of the new public art initiative B.I.R.D.S. (Birds in Residence Downtown Summerville) is a bronze sculpture of a majestic Barred Owl by renowned wildlife sculptor Paul Rhymer. The Maryland artist is known to Summerville as the creator of the friendly hippo entitled Free Ride who resides in the pond at Sheppard Park. Rhymer is enthusiastic about being involved in the new B.I.R.D.S. project. The Barred Owl has taken up permanent residence on the railing of the Mayor’s balcony on the bell tower of the new Town administration building. The sculpture was unveiled May 16, 2013.

 

Pigeon by Stefan Savides

Pigeon – by Stefan Savides

Location: Historic Main Street, Summerville – #2
Sponsored by: Theresa and Ed Carter in honor of her father, James F. Millwood
Photo by:

Description and photo coming soon...

 

 

 

Eastern Bluebirds – by Paul Rhymer

Location: near Summerville Town Hall – #3
Sponsored by: the family of Mary Ellen Creech, in honor of Henry and Beatrice Byrd
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon....

 

 

 

Cardinal – by Paul Rhymer

Location: Short Central, Summerville – #4
Sponsored by: the family of Susan Morris - in honor of her mother, Nancy Shillingburg
Photo by: Joey Frazier

Description coming soon...

 

 

 

American Redstart – mural by Hitnes

Location: Short Central near parking garage, Summerville – #5
Sponsored by: Audubon Center at Beidler Forest
Photo by:

Description coming soon...

 

 

 

Hummingbird by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Joey Frazier

 

Hummingbird by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Joey Frazier

Hummingbirds – by Paul Rhymer

Location: Short Central, Summerville – #6
Sponsored by: the children of Helen Sommers
Photos by: Joey Frazier

Description coming soon...

 

 

 

Painted Bunting by Karla Rundquist / Photo by Yvonne Rousseau

Painted Bunting – by Karla Runquist

Location: Art Central Gallery on Short Central – #7
Sponsored by: Kassing Family Trust
Photo by: Yvonne Rousseau

Description coming soon...

 

 

 

Eastern Mockingbird by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Northern Mockingbird – by Paul Rhymer

Location: Timrod Library, Summerville – #8
Sponsored by: Timrod Library
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon...

 

 

Tufted Titmouse by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Tufted Titmouse – by Paul Rhymer

Location: Village Knittery – #9
Sponsored by: The children of Elsie Grimsley; Reinhardt, Angela, Judith and Barbara
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon....

 

Carolina Chickadees by Paul Rhymer

Carolina Chickadees – by Paul Rhymer

Location: wall of Antiques & Artisans, corner of Cedar & W. Richardson – #10
Sponsored by: Sarah and Jeff Wiggins
Photo by:

Yet another bronze statue in the B.I.R.D.S. project, the Chickadees, was unveiled in October, 2013. Though they were not able to be installed on their permanent perches because of building maintenence, they were unveiled at the B.I.R.D.S. booth at Summerville D.R.E.A.M.'s Third Thursday event.

The two Carolina Chickadees were created by Paul Rhymer, the artist behind the first B.I.R.D.S. installation, the Barred Owl, located on the Mayor’s balcony on the Town Administration building.

The bronze statues were graciously sponsored by Sarah and Jeff Wiggins. Sarah Wiggins remarked that her interest was piqued in the B.I.R.D.S. project and her family was eager to participate with a sponsorship. Carolina Chickadees are native to Summerville and the Lowcountry and are a favorite of backyard bird watchers. These petite birds are described as friendly, cheery, or a ray of sunshine and chickadees are perennial visitors to the neighborhood bird feeders.

 

Grackle by Stefan Savides / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Grackle – by Stefan Savides

Location: roof of People, Places & Quilts on West Richardson Ave – #11
Sponsored by: Sculpture in the South
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon...

 

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Carolina Wren by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Joey Frazier

Carolina Wren – by Paul Rhymer

Location: Guerin’s Pharmacy on “Little” Main – #12
Sponsored by: Barbara Dunning
Photo by: Joey Frazier

Description coming soon...

 

 

 

Mourning Dove by Roger Martin / Photo by Joey Frazier

Mourning Dove – by Roger Martin

Location: above the entrance to Saints Cyril and Methodius Russian Orthodox Church at Hutchinson Square – #13
Sponsored by: Melinda & Henry Knight
Photo by: Joey Frazier

The second bird has come to roost in downtown Summerville and it is the Mourning Dove, a life-size bronze piece created by North Carolina artist, Roger Martin. The sculpture has been graciously sponsored by Henry and Melinda Knight in memory of her parents, Al and Ruth Mitro. The sculpture was unveiled August 15, 2013.

 

Melinda Knight commented on the decision to donate funding for the purchase of the dove saying.” When I heard about the relationship between the Audubon Society, Summerville DREAM and Sculpture in the South, I thought, "what can I do to help." My parents always enjoyed feeding the birds in their backyard and were friends with Father Ernie. How fitting to have the Mourning Dove at the Saints Cyril and Methodius Russian Orthodox Church’s entrance as a tribute to my parents."

 

White-Breasted Nuthatch by David Turner / Photo by Joey Frazier

White-Breasted Nuthatch – by David Turner

Location: wall of the Cuppa Manna café, on the West Doty side of the building – #15
Sponsored by: Sculpture in the South

The White-Breasted Nuthatch sculpture is a life-sized representation of this bird species, and like all the birds to be featured in the public art program, is native to the Summerville area. The name “nuthatch” refers to their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark and whacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seeds.

 

The White-Breasted Nuthatch sculpture was created by Virginia artist, David Turner. Turner, a signature member of the Society of Animal Artists and the National Sculpture Society, has created more than 250 bronzes featured in museums, homes worldwide and large public-commissioned pieces in places like the National Zoo and Brookgreen Gardens.

 

Mayor Bill Collins unveiled the bronze bird sculpture at its location on the Doty Avenue side of Single Smile Café. This piece was underwritten by Sculpture in the South using funds generated from the annual show and sale.

 

Red-Bellied Woodpecker by Paul Rhymer

Red-Bellied Woodpecker – by Paul Rhymer

Location: TBD – #16
Sponsored by: Sutton family in honor of Rosemary and Dick Sutton

Description and photo coming soon...

 

Fish Crow by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Fish Crow – by Paul Rhymer

Location: the West Side Station sign in front of Bubbies Bakery on Cedar Street – #17
Sponsored by: Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Battle in honor of Rollins Edwards
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon...

 

Chipping Sparrow by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Joey Frazier

Chipping Sparrow – by Paul Rhymer

Location: top of window sill at the corner of Main Street and East Doty Avenue – #18
Sponsored by: Sculptor Paul Rhymer

Description coming soon...

 

Pileated Woodpecker by Scott Penegar / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Pileated Woodpecker – by Scott Penegar

Location: wall of Summerville/Dorchester Museum – #19
Sponsored by: Linda & Jim Messervy
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon...

Mississippi Kite by Paul Rhymer / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Mississippi Kite – by Joellen Domenico

Location: roof of the James Dean Theater on Main Street – #21
Sponsored by: Friends of Lena Cox
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon...

 

Chimney Swift by Brian McBride, Indigo East / Photo by Nancyjean Nettles

Chimney Swifts – by Brian McBride of Indigo East

Location: Fleet Feet on East Richardson Avenue – #22
Sponsorship: In loving memory of James Taylor Boyle, by his children: Debbie, Jim, Emily and John
Photo by: Nancyjean Nettles

Description coming soon...

 

Carolina Parakeet by Lex Melfi

Carolina Parakeet – by Lex Melfi

Location: window in Town Hall – #23
Sponsored by: Sculpture in the South
Photo by:

Description and photo coming soon...