Thursday night saw the traditional Black Tie celebration at Charleston Place Hotel that serves to jump start the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. The featured artist Thomas Brooks was on hand to discuss his love of painting birds, but especially wild turkeys and stooping hawks. Many other powerful artists are assembled in the hall, and were hopeful that the big spenders were out that night, following the preview afternoon that ran from 1 to 5 p.m. Besides the wildlife fellowship, the aroma of catered food that hung in the air made one linger and digest the artwork being viewed. A live auction fetched thousands of dollars for prints, duck decoys, trips and one-of-a-kind-knives, and was preceeded by Sydney Free blowing her competition duck call routine. (The same one that won her the Women's World Duck Calling Championship in Stuttgart, Arkansas in 2006 and 2008!) The entire evening was such a wonderful success that first time visitors had a hard time comparing it to anything else they had attended. In fact, Thursday night at SEWE is one of the premiere events that Charleston hosts every year! The Wildlife Expo began a new tradition this year when it commissioned a Caesar Guerini 20-guage shotgun to be engraved with the SEWE logo. It was flown in from Italy this week, and the raffle ticket price is $150, and may be purchased at Charleston Place all weekend. The Pearlstine/Budweiser raffle for a sporting shotgun and rifle is also ongoing, and the price for a raffle ticket is only $100. With an eye to the first full day of SEWE, it was announced that the final schedule for the Dock Dogs competition at Brittlebank Park was posted on the website at www.sewe.com. The "Living with Wolves" presentation at the Gaillard Auditorium is sure to be a fun event for kids, and after meeting Jim and Jamie Dutcher Thursday night I know their account of living with wolves will be a gripping story. Friday activities wind down with the Ducks Unlimited oyster roast at the Visitors Center Bus Shed, and for those who like to shop their will be a King Street Stroll from 6 to 8 p.m. The Ducks Unlimited event starts at six and goes until all the auction items are sold, and traditionally brings in DU volunteers from all across the Southeast. The pictures depict SEWE's Caeser Guerinii shotgun, S.C. Department of Agriculture Chairman Hugh Weathers and wife Blanche, Chip and Missy (dressed in red) Ervin chatting about the etchings of Riley Bradham that will be on display at Grady Ervin Co. on Saturday, and Bryan Miller and Larry Lipov by the Bud custom shotgun display.
To view past blog entries from 2009 SEWE click here.
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