Freshfields Village Partnering with Kiawah Conservancy for New Art Installation

CHARLESTON – Freshfields Village in partnership with the Kiawah Conservancy, is honored to welcome and host a temporary art installation by Aurora Robson. The original three-part sculpture, “Troika,” will be on display at the Lakeside Park in the Village through the end of April 2022.  

“Troika” is comprised of three blue and white spires that appear to emerge from the earth. The spires are made from welded industrial plastic debris, including old barrels and bins, taken from the waste stream. The spires have an internal glow at night from solar powered lights located in its spines. The sculptures’ forms reference how plants grow in a meandering fashion, but ultimately towards the light. “Troika” also speaks to the potential of shifting the direction of earth’s downward spiral of waste into an upward spiral of innovation. 

“The majority of the work I’ve been doing over the past eighteen years has been centered around exploring plastic debris as a viable art material,” said Robson. “While extracting plastic debris from its problematic destructive fate, I highlight its potential to become a harmless source of beauty and enjoyable reflection, instead of a toxic waste nightmare.” 

On Wednesday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Freshfields Village invites the community to participate in an Artist Reception & Unveiling Party at the Lakeside Dock. Guests can enjoy beverages, light appetizers and music while meeting the artist and viewing “Troika.” 

Ahead of the unveiling, Kiawah Conservancy will host The Art of Conservation at 4:00 p.m., an exciting presentation by Erin Simon of the World Wildlife Fund and artist, Aurora Robson. Simon and Robson will discuss plastic pollution, art, conservation and more. The presentation will take place at the Kiawah Island Town Hall, guests are encouraged to register in advance. 

For more about Freshfields Village and its upcoming events and installations, visit freshfieldsvillage.com, or visit them on Facebook and Instagram.  

About Freshfields Village  

Ideally located at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns islands, just 30 minutes from downtown Charleston, Freshfields Village is a true mixed-use town center offering residents and visitors an extraordinary outdoor shopping and dining destination. The Village is comprised of specialty shops, contemporary dining options, and everyday amenities. The sidewalks are lined with both local shops, high end boutiques and regional and national retailers. With 30 unique shops to browse through, there is something for everyone. From gourmet coffee and pastries to a casual bite at a vintage drugstore lunch counter, or an elegant evening followed by a tasting at a sophisticated wine and craft beer bar, there are 11 dining experiences to please every palate and accommodate every occasion. For more information, visit www.freshfieldsvillage.com  

About Aurora Robson 

Aurora Robson is multi-media artist known predominantly for her innovative meditative work intercepting the waste stream. Her practice consists of creating visual hybrids between her own semi-abstract childhood nightmares and forms found in nature. It is a meditation on integration fueled by gratitude. She works to create harmony in uncomfortable areas ripe with neglect, friction, and chaos. A recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Grant, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Sculpture, a TED/Lincoln Re-Imagine Prize and a National Endowment for the Arts Art Work Grant, Robson has exhibited her work internationally in museums, galleries and non-traditional spaces since 2002. In addition to her studio practice, Robson is the founding artist of Project Vortex, an international collective of artists, designers and architects who are also working with plastic debris to transform toxic waste into art objects and valuable cultural experiences. 

About the Kiawah Conservancy 

The Kiawah Conservancy is a non-profit, accredited land trust focused on the preservation and restoration of natural habitats and conservation education. The Conservancy’s mission is to measure, manage, improve, and advocate for the ecological health of Kiawah Island and its environs. Now celebrating our 25th year, the Kiawah Conservancy has preserved over 60 properties, including over 2,000 acres of tidal saltmarsh and hummock islands within the Kiawah River watershed and we’re working to preserve more every day! Learn more about the Kiawah Conservancy online and join in our efforts.