FOREVER Wild

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition has an enduring legacy in the world of wildlife art and conservation

- Alyssa M. Tidwell

It all started back in February of 1983. Nearly 100 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees gathered together for the first Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, and since then, the annual event has grown to astounding heights: 500 artists, exhibitors and wildlife experts and 40,000 attendees, bringing in an estimated $50 million in economic impact each year.

SEWE takes place in Charleston every February, the heart and soul of South Carolina’s Lowcountry region. There’s a sense of charm and culture there, as vibrant as its natural ecosystems and the wildlife that inhabit them, from intertidal wetlands, marshes and coastal habitats to sandy shorelines and deepwater creeks. So it’s really no wonder the region is a haven for conservationists and those who share a love of things that grow. It’s also, of course, a haven for wildlife artists inspired to capture the diversity of animals existing in all sorts of ecosystems. And hundreds of these brilliant artists showcase those works each year during SEWE.

“There’s this spirit that is absolutely organic— that we’re going to descend upon Charleston every February and set up shop, enjoy each other’s company, swap stories, enjoy art and celebrate the city,” says John Powell, SEWE president and CEO. “[It’s about] the outdoors lifestyle, the sporting lifestyle, conservationists, lovers of canines and all things outdoors.”