How'd you feel when you first read or heard about the opportunity to design a mermaid?

Lee: I had been interested in finding an opportunity for my sister Charlie and I to create some public art. I love the vision of people from far and near milling around an exhibition-- little children touching, pointing, asking questions. I appreciated the cows when they were on display, but didn't think they were the right fit for Beaufort. When I heard of the mermaid project, I thought this is the perfect image for our community. From the moment I presented Charlie with  the idea of our designing a mermaid, our plans came together spontaneously and harmoniously.  Getting our application in went flawlessly-- even to finding a convenient parking place on Port Republic Street! Charlie came up with the name "Miss Beaufort." It was somewhat inspired by the fact that I was Miss Beaufort 1962, but not entirely. To us, "Miss Beaufort" will be the feminine essence of Beaufort from a mermaid point of view. She will be a sea creature fully appreciating the beauty of the islands, the marsh, and her relationship with all varieties of aquatic life in the Lowcountry. And she will be decked out in jewelry, because that is another endeavor that Charlie and I do together-- design and create jewelry. We have been having lots of fun creating jewelry fit for a mermaid with the following themes: sea islands, beaches, ocean, and marsh. A selection of this jewelry is on sale at Grace & Glory. We call them Mermaid Treasures.

Charlie: Yes, I agree with Lee. Years ago when I was in Charles Fraser's office and saw all his wonderful old maps, I loved the fact that Lady's Island used to be Ladies Island and celebrated all women who lived there in a way. This is an opportunity, our opportunity, to celebrate the Women of Beaufort--  looking up, from the water's edge, so to speak, with great admiration.

Why is it important to you to invest time, money and materials into a piece of public art? How much of a legacy do you consider the Big Swim to be? Where will your mermaid be in twenty years?

Charlie: This question makes me think of our mother, she always said "yes" to every challenge. In my opinion, we said "yes" to the idea of doing a Mermaid without thinking of anything but the final creative outcome. Like any artwork, I think the legacy of the Big Swim is to be enjoyed.  If that's eclipsed by next year's art, that will only mean to me that more creativity has been expressed and we've all enjoyed ourselves even more. We once did a lot of artwork, printing and gathering, etc., at Sea Island Print Shop, owned and operated by our parents. The first of many booklets that I helped our Papa print was "The Beaufort County Fair" booklet, with all the livestock, etc., listed in it. The next day when I went to the Fair with my class on the old yellow schools bus, I saw so many of our booklets on the ground with the south bound product of north bound bulls, sheep, pigs and chickens all over them. I stooped and tried to save as many as I could, only to have Papa appear from somewhere and tell me to "put them down, they had done their job."  In the same way, if even one person gets great joy from the Big Swim, I think it will have been a success. I don't know where "Miss Beaufort" will be in twenty years, but if you ask where do I want "Miss Beaufort" to be in twenty years, I would have to say I hope she could be greeting people to our fair Islands, just like the greeter in Laguna Beach, California, or anyplace else around the country-- the world-- where people have come to know and love the symbols of a town as well as the town itself. I'm sure everyone who's part of the Big Swim wants the same thing.

Lee: When you put it in terms of investing time, money and materials, I wonder myself why I would want to do it.  But I don't think of it in those terms as much as an opportunity to have some creative fun, to bounce ideas and visions back and forth with Charlie-- and the other designers-- and to manifest those dreams in the real world.  I have no idea what legacy will be left by the Big Swim. I hope at the very least that Beaufort's image, whether to residents or visitors, will be enhanced. In years to come, I hope that "Miss Beaufort" will grace a peaceful courtyard with a view of the water.

What's the story behind your design? (which can include the story of you as an artist) Who is your mermaid?

Lee:  "Miss Beaufort" is simply our statement of artistic beauty in a water-loving community. The Big Swim offers many options to make statements of one sort or another. Our statement is not high-minded or political, but just to give pleasure through fancy and beauty. Once Charlie named our mermaid "Miss Beaufort," I came up with the idea of giving her a crown of star fish and shells, and with glass mosaic where her scales would be; then Charlie came up with the idea of glass baubles spiraling around her, like seaweed; then I thought, what if we first decoupaged her with national geological maps of the area, showing the islands, and then did the glass mosaic--  one could see and read the maps through the glass; of course she will have a Miss Beaufort banner. Charlie did a great rendering of "Miss Beaufort" which is what we submitted to the Arts Council with our application. We told Charlie's daughter, Cheryl Powell, about our mermaid design. She contributed the idea of giving her copper hair. We loved the idea instantly-- imagine how beautifully it will weather with age. Cheryl also suggested that we use recycled windshield glass for the mosaic B  clean breaks, interesting shapes, varied hues of light green to turquoise  perfect! And donated by Beaufort Glass! We thought we might have to get the copper in the form of scrap from plumbers, or even electricians. But I was able to buy 1,600 feet of copper wire on e-bay for only $25. We bought two different thicknesses and shades of copper color. We plan to paint the tresses of her hair first, and then insert the copper wire to add texture, volume and style to her "do." Though neither Charlie nor I has ever created a piece of fiberglass art for outdoor display, Charlie is an exceptional artist who is experienced with many media. I am also artistic and crafty, and at one time built a "Long Easy"--  a foam-core fiberglass airplane. We have all the talents required for the task, and the Big Swim is providing the opportunity to put them together as we create "Miss Beaufort."