Brenda Hofreiter - Givhens Ferry Artist in Residence

In it's early days, overland travelers used an old ferry crossing on this site to go to and from Charleston. Givhans Ferry State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's along the limestone bluffs of the Edisto River. The cabins they built are still in use at the park today. I was fortunate enough during a tour during my residency, to explore the vestiges of the old ferry concession downstairs. The building is no longer open to the public.

The Edisto is the longest free-flowing blackwater river on the continent, and this state park sits along the 56-mile stretch known as the Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail. The park’s riverbanks are protected as a Heritage Trust site and it is situated in the National Heritage corridor that extends more than 240 miles through the state. You can find out more about the park's history, etc. by clicking on this link: This is one of 4 paintings I created during my week-long artist 's residency at the park. The Park Department chose my painting of the Edisto River canoe river landing for their permanent collection.

You can read more about this park and it's history here: www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1219.aspx