Must-See Art Galleries in and Around Hilton Head, Part Two

Bluffton, South Carolina is a short -- 20 minutes or so -- drive from Hilton Head. If, like me, you love wandering through small galleries featuring local artists' work, don't miss a trip to this charming art enclave. Head for Calhoun Street, where you'll find several delightful galleries offering everything from fine art to jewelry, pottery, sculpture and more. A stroll down this tree-lined street with forays on to side streets offers the art enthusiast plenty to look at!

We should have allowed more time than we did to explore Bluffton's art district. And we should have arrived earlier than we did to make the rounds before afternoon temperatures soared. Still, we were able to get a sense of Bluffton's vibrant art scene before the heat finally got to us. Here are some of the places we visited along Calhoun Street:

SOBA Gallery is an artists' co-op gallery. This is a view of its side entrance on Calhoun St. ©2016 Lynn Edwards

SOBA Gallery was our first stop since we were able to snag a parking spot just steps from their side entrance. (There's free parking all along Calhoun Street, but it's a popular place. Sometimes getting a spot can be a matter of luck.) SOBA stands for the Society of Bluffton Artists, and it displays the work of over 100 of them. Inside the gallery we found many extraordinarily beautiful pieces of art, including skillfully executed in coastal scenes in every medium and style.

Next door to SOBA is Pluff Mud, a gallery with a definite eclectic vibe. The large moose on the front lawn was an indicator of the diverse offerings we found here: everything from works on canvas to colorful yard art.

You can't miss Pluff Mud Gallery. Just look for the big moose on the front lawn! ©2016 Lynn Edwards

On Pluff Mud's front porch was a colorful hand painted piano and assorted pieces of art on display. Inside we found works by many talented artists sharing their experiences and stories through their work. Perusing a range of pieces from folk art to fine art, I couldn't help but be inspired by the works I saw at Pluff Mud. Feeling creatively recharged, I came away from there eager to get back to projects awaiting me in my studio at home.

By this time the temperature had risen from "hot" to "sweltering." But there was still time to see one more gallery, so we popped into Maye River, just steps from SOBA and Pluff Mud, at 37 Calhoun St. This gallery's exterior trim is painted a sprightly pink; inside we discovered exquisite pottery, jewelry, paintings, wearable art and more. I especially enjoyed the abstract works here, including some mixed media collages which were notable for their intriguing designs and the artist's innovative use of materials.

There were several other galleries in Bluffton's historic district beckoning us, but it was getting late and the afternoon heat had just about done us in. So we decided we'd need to wait until our next trip to Hilton Head to visit them. Bluffton's arts district is a definite must-see for anyone who enjoys art; we're looking forward to checking out the rest of these galleries very soon!

Text and images ©2016 Lynn Edwards