Pearl Fryar’s Well Tended Garden, South Carolina’s Topiary King

Art is created to inspire, to make a person feel a certain way. Art carries a message that runs through objective and subjective analysis, opinions and labels that tell the world a story. Pearl’s style of art speaks volumes about a man who conveys a refreshingly pure heart.

An Autobiography

Sydney Eddison from Horticulture Magazine’s August/September 1993 issue stated, ‚”Gardens are a form of autobiography.” Pearl’s sculpted tree and shrub garden located on his 3 acre property in Bishopville, South Carolina depicts a successful life against the odds.

Pearl grew up as a sharecropper working long, tedious hours. When he was able to own some land of his own he moved into a neighborhood where he was met with stereotype. Since he was an African American he was labeled lazy and therefore met with the negative connotation that he would not keep his yard up.

He found a way to prove he was not any of those judgmental labels by rising to the challenge and won the yard of the month. He saw potential in what others thought unusable by rescuing plants from the local nursery given up for the compost pile. He never had a formal lesson on how to sculpt plants and began from instinct, doing unimaginable things boggling the minds of horticulturists.

He decided to live his passion, to listen to himself. His art affects those who visit his grounds in more ways than a viewing pleasantry. You leave with an impression of the man behind the beauty. His purity and love for his work and people are shown by his willingness to accept anyone who wants to visit regardless of monetary gain. He takes the time to chat with tourists and children on a field trip while tending solely to the upkeep of his garden.

Inspiration Incarnate

Pearl has been able to share his god-given talent as a guest teacher at Coker College, a liberal arts institution in South Carolina. His works are showcased at The Sate Museum

And he has been recognized in newsprint from papers with national and international readers such as The New York Times.

Most importantly he has touched the lives of his community. He is noted for being Pearl, not changing from the fame at his feet, constantly giving and willing to open his home. The community is investing in the improvement of their main street by implementing his unique art causing a renewed pride in their county. His neighbors have caught Pearl’s inspirational ‚”green thumb” and have attempted topiary sculpting making the area even more appealing.

Observing Pearl work in his artistic element and the fact he shares this exceptional talent only causes those who come in contact with his life to be encouraged, refreshed and inspired.

Thank You Pearl Fryar for being you!

References:

A Man Named Pearl, by Tentmakers Entertainment, 2006