In all honesty, driving up or down Interstate 20 in South Carolina can be a bit dull. The road is a drab putty color, and there does not seem to be much activity visible from a car outside of the changing of the seasons reflected in the trees. Those beautiful trees hide many secrets, however. Behind them you can find adventures of all kinds, from polo and horse racing to world-class galleries and antique stores. In March, a noticeable bustle will be seen through those trees as horse enthusiasts and revelers head to the Carolina Cup race.
One such treasure is the town of Camden, which has been a haven for intellectuals, artists and equestrians from the Palmetto State and beyond since the 1950s. While the town seems quiet at first glance, the social and arts scene rivals many metropolitan areas during the high seasons. New Englanders with pastoral inclinations have wintered there for years, taking in the fox hunting and cultural seasons. Racehorses from less mild climates enjoy training in the warmer weather, and trainers can use the town to reach trials and steeplechases in Florida, Georgia, and events that take place here in South Carolina. Artists enjoy Camden's retreat-like atmosphere, lively arts events and proximity to Columbia and Charleston. No one can argue that there is nothing happening on this side of the interstate.
I've had the good fortune to spend some time in Camden chatting with artists, arts administrators and locals about the town's cultural activities, all of which are worth a stop off of the highway for enjoyment.
On my first trip to explore the artistic gems of the seat of Kershaw County, I had the rare opportunity to preview a much-anticipated antiques store. Kevin Perry is a dealer who divides his time between Camden and West Palm Beach, Fla. With discerning clients up and down the Eastern seaboard and an eye for the classic and beautiful, Perry seized on the chance to buy an 1815 historic house on Broad Street once owned by the Daniel Family. After spending two years lovingly restoring the building, he opened Dalton Bain, an antique store stocked with difficult to find works of art, furniture, and objects people normally travel to New York and Boston to acquire. If you're looking to add to a collection, it's well worth a day's drive (or more). [Since this article was originally published, antique store has transitioned online sales only.]
Next, we visited with Patton Blackwell, an internationally known painter with deep ties to the town. When she was first gaining prominence as an artist, Blackwell moved to Brazil, but when her father became ill several years ago, she moved back to the county named after her grandfather's family. Since then she has become an unofficial ambassador for the town, a designation she earned on that visit with my husband. It was Blackwell who informed us that we could not miss the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County.
Throughout the heart of Camden there are galleries, artist co-ops, antique stores and events that enrich and inspire. There are places like The Artist's Attic, where Dot Goodwin gathers local visual artists to work, create and sell their wares. In this fun and quirky space, one can find unique embossed prints, commissioned portraits, figurines fashioned from corn husks and hand-crafted jewelry, just to name a few beautiful finds.
Farther into town there are even more galleries, including The Rutledge Street Gallery, which is known for the diversity and quality of paintings and sculptures in its beautiful, refined space. Not far away I found South Carolina's only deltiology library. It wasn't until I visited The Dusty Horseman that I learned that deltiology is the collection and study of postcards. This store has a collection of antique and current postcards that keeps visitors thumbing through collections for hours. In addition to the postcards, The Dusty Horseman carries an impressive collection of antiques collected from local estates and plantations. At certain times of the year, the store will host dinners and historical readings that are often sold out soon after the dates are announced.
The community of Camden is well-versed in all genres of the arts, as there are regular theatrical performances through the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, which also hosts classical music concerts and other events. During the warmer months, the staff will sometimes open up the back stage garage door and host parties that include movie screenings. The center also offers music, dance, pottery and knitting classes, drawing participants from around the state.
The town is a gem that is nestled behind the trees of I-20 where arts enthusiasts mingle freely amongst the horse set, and the two groups support each other in a way that makes the town a delightful place to spend a day or two. With charming bed-and-breakfasts like Four Oaks Inn and Old McCaskill's Farm, it would be easy to plan a weekend getaway that would be unforgettable.
