Artist:
Chapin Art Trail
A Community Art Project
Tribute to Groovy Granny
Debra Burritt
Installed September 2024
Artist's Statement
This piece is a tribute to the Lake Murray fishing guide Mary Delage, an iconic character written about in The State newspaper and known to most as Groovy Granny. I had always wanted to hire her as a striper guide, especially since I now live on the lake and have never caught a fish. She unfortunately passed away in 2016. I believe that honoring Groovy Granny will help reintroduce the community to her lovable character and the history of the lake. The top features a fishhook and lures accompanied by hippy-style writing to make it look groovy. The head, legs, tail represent parts of a fish (eyeball, fish tail, fish head, & fish scales). The reason I put a Lima bean pod on one foot is because, before it was painted, a little girl called my turtle Shelly Bean.
I am happy to be a part of this turtle project because I have not had the opportunity to work on a community project in Chapin. I love this town and want to encourage others to appreciate the history of Chapin and the lake.
About the Artwork
"Tribute to Groovy Granny" is a 3 foot diameter three dimensional fiberglass turtle form crafted locally by Lake Murray Boatworks and CCAL artists. The artistry on the turtle was done by Debra Burritt.
Installed September 2024
About the Artist
Debra Burritt graduated from the University of South Carolina with an undergraduate degree in graphic design and a master's of art in teaching. She taught kindergarten through sixth grade in Newberry County. She has previous experience with oils, acrylics, pen and ink, and ceramics. In recent years, Debra has been focusing on watercolors and colored pencils.
Scavenger Hunt Clue:
A Partnership Project by the Crooked Creek Art League and the Town of Chapin
This organization is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support in this grant comes from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
This project was supported by a Connected Communities grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation.
