Featuring Lake Marion Artisans in Summerton, S.C.

The Lake Marion Artisans Guild is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in historic Summerton, South Carolina. Its stated mission is to support the arts, advance art education, and encourage an appreciation for arts and crafts in the communities around beautiful Lake Marion in Santee Cooper Country.

The Lake Marion Artisans operate a small Art Gallery on Main Street in downtown Summerton. To view some of the many artworks produced by our artisans, make sure you swing by the gallery the next time you visit Santee Cooper Country. You can also visit their website which provides links to art education materials, news from around the art world, information about our local artists, software tools for artists, and much more.

The following are brief biographies of some of the artists associated with the Lake Marion Artists Guild:

Carole Shoemaker Swartz received her BFA from the College of the Dayton Art Institute and her MFA from George Washington University. Carole has exhibited her artwork in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the US. Her work can currently be seen at the South Carolina Artisan’s Center in Walterboro, in addition to the Lake Marion Artisans gallery in Summerton, SC.

Sharon Phelps was born and raised on the Gulf Coast of Florida. She now lives in North Santee on Lake Marion. In addition to overseeing gallery operations, her artistic talents are many - witnessed by the quilts, dolls, sketches, glasswork, ceramics and oil paintings that she has produced. Many of these artworks are on display at the art gallery.

Judy Latham is a retired school teacher from New Jersey. She has lived in Clarendon County, SC, now for over 10 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Art degree from Kean University and William Patterson University. She has energetically pursued her love of the arts for over 60 years. Her areas of expertise are ceramics, painting and jewelry making.

Marlise Guillerault is a former elementary teacher, graphic artist, and occupational therapist. While she is now semi-retired, she continues to pursue a range of varied life experiences. In addition to her oil and acrylic paintings, jewelry making, and experiments in graphic art, she is currently trying out new modalities in the art world, i.e. 3D fiber sculpture creations.

Wade Edwards is the owner of Wade Edwards Exhibitions, LLC, based in Summerton, SC. He is a noted professional whose art includes an array of both traditional as well as unique works involving many types of media and themes. Additionally, his business has provided affordable, high-quality custom picture framing for over 20 years. He offers art classes as well.