My wife and I spent a delightful afternoon in Lake City, SC, at Moore Farms, the home of Darla Moore, the visionary creator of ArtFields. Nestled amidst lush botanical gardens and an impressive outdoor art collection, Moore Farms is a stunning testament to the intersection of nature and creativity. The experience of touring the grounds, taking in the curated beauty of both landscape and sculpture, was a reminder of how art, in all its forms, enriches our environment and our lives.
The highlight of the afternoon was the company we kept. We were joined by Dawn Staley, head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, Rene McCall, Columbia Museum of Art board member, and Herman Keith, an educator and talented muralist. It was a meeting of minds, each of us bringing our own perspectives on art, culture, and the impact of creative expression.
My invitation to this gathering came because of a special connection—Coach Staley had been deeply moved by one of my paintings, Plantation Tree of Life. The piece, which won the 2020 People’s Choice Award at ArtFields, now resides in Ms. Moore’s living room. Coach Staley, a passionate collector of art with an appreciation for work that tells a story, wanted to meet the artist behind the piece.
To say it was an absolute pleasure to sit with this group and talk about art, life, and basketball would be an understatement. Ms. Moore graciously shared her art collection with us, offering insights into the works she’s curated over the years. Coach Staley, in turn, shared her growing collection, underscoring the ways in which art speaks to her and resonates with her journey. It was inspiring to hear how she, a leader in the world of sports, finds deep connections between the discipline of athletics and the expression of visual storytelling.
Art has a way of forging unexpected bonds. Here we were—a financier-turned-arts-patron, a championship-winning coach, a museum advocate, an educator-muralist, and an artist—brought together by a shared appreciation for creativity’s power. The conversations ranged from the importance of representation in art to the ways in which storytelling, whether through brushstrokes or basketball, can inspire and uplift communities.
As we departed Moore Farms, I reflected on the unique intersections between art and life that continue to shape my journey. The idea that my work has found a place in Ms. Moore’s collection and resonated so strongly with Coach Staley is deeply humbling. I can only hope that in the near future, I will have the honor of placing my works amongst Coach Staley’s growing collection, continuing this dialogue between art, history, and personal connection.
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