Marsh Deane has long held a fascination with the night, growing to love the trepidation and rewards of exploring the wilderness after dark. This presentation will focus on the time of day when most are safely in bed, the deep dark Carolina Nights. 

Often the landscapes truly come to life after the sun has set, both predators and prey becoming active in the moon and starlight. Marsh will take audience members on a nighttime journey into South Carolina’s deepest swamps, and remote barrier islands, to hear the music and witness the glory of the Carolina Nights.  

Join us to glimpse stars like our ancestors experienced and focus upon the synchronizing Fireflies of Congaree that are fading away from the landscape. 

These nights can help to teach us of a great interconnection and intelligence found in the natural world, a celebration of life and balance that we are becoming more and more removed from in our modern lives. 

About the Speaker:  

Marsh Deane is an Adventurer and Photographer from Georgetown, SC. 

While growing up in historical properties along the rivers and coastline of Georgetown County, Marsh developed a passion for history and the outdoors at an early age. He played along plantation waterways, old graveyards, cypress swamps, and ancient shell middens - growing familiar with the alligators, snakes, and other wildlife along the way. 

Studying Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, and Kinesiology gave Marsh a scientific outlook that he began to apply to his Adventures. Through this lens, he could share the great wonders of heritage and nature. 

Marsh’s media company, MLNL MEDIA, led him to a path of documentation and creation with a camera. He quickly began to apply photography to his passion of exploring the outdoors. His first feature length documentary film, Rescue Rantowles Creek, was sponsored by the Sierra Club, and nominated for the Ansel Adams Conservation Award in 2020. Since then, Marsh has become known for his “Adventures with Marsh” series, in which he takes viewers through inhospitable terrain to witness the hidden lessons of heritage in our wild places. 

Nights of a Thousand Candles, Brookgreen Gardens’ largest seasonal affair, has become one the most popular holiday events in the Lowcountry.  Thousands of hand-lit candles, millions of lights, and miles of extension cords are only part of the story.  Preparations for the event take place year-round in order to create a magical holiday experience. Brookgreen’s own Director of Facilities, Jon McGann, will take you on a month-by-month journey of what it takes to create Nights of Thousand Candles. 

About the Speaker: 

Jon McGann, Director of Facilities, has worked at Brookgreen Gardens for over 15 years.  After 9 years as a Horticulturalist, Jon became the first manager of the Public Exhibits Department.  Jon and his team are responsible for the design, installation, maintenance, and management of NOTC, Summer Light: Art by Night, and multiple other events throughout the year. 

In this immersive jewelry-making workshop, students will explore the art of sculpting with bronze Precious Metal Clay—the same material the instructor uses in his own fine art jewelry collections. Using pre-made molds, each participant will shape their own unique pendant. While the clay dries in a dehydrator, students will choose a semi-precious stone charm to accompany their design. 

A selection of pre-wire-wrapped stones will be available for use. Once the clay is dry, students will refine their pendant using sanding tools and prepare it for firing. To complete the design, each participant will select a chain to suit their style. Finished pieces will be taken back to the instructor’s studio for professional firing and final assembly, then mailed directly to students—a lasting memento of their creative experience. 

About the Instructor 

Tony Perrin, founder of Lock and Key, was raised in Southern California surrounded by creativity—from his mother’s painting and his father’s photography to following his sister to dance class. At ten, he learned bead weaving from family friend and artisan Frank “Frankie” Perez, who later passed his handmade loom down to Tony while he was studying at NYU. Though he initially used the loom for custom orders, it would be years before the vision for Lock and Key came to life. 

After over a decade as a professional dancer in TV and theater, an injury led Tony to pivot careers. His skills in sewing and costume design opened doors in the New York fashion industry, eventually leading him to Los Angeles and then Nashville, where Lock and Key was born. 

When not weaving on the loom, Tony continues to explore other creative outlets, including graphic and textile design, dance, and yoga—always blending movement, artistry, and passion into his work. 

In this hands-on workshop, students will work with pre-made ceramic ornaments, bringing them to life through a thoughtful process of painting and embellishment. Using acrylic paints and liquid gold leaf, participants will hand-paint intricate leaf and vine designs onto each ornament. Once dry, each piece will be uniquely finished with delicate bronze sculpted flowers, handcrafted in Tony’s studio. To complete the ornament, students will select a length of elegant georgette ribbon for hanging. This class blends creativity and craft, resulting in a one-of-a-kind keepsake perfect for gifting or display.  

About the Instructor 

Tony Perrin, founder of Lock and Key, was raised in Southern California surrounded by creativity—from his mother’s painting and his father’s photography to following his sister to dance class. At ten, he learned bead weaving from family friend and artisan Frank “Frankie” Perez, who later passed his handmade loom down to Tony while he was studying at NYU. Though he initially used the loom for custom orders, it would be years before the vision for Lock and Key came to life. 

After over a decade as a professional dancer in TV and theater, an injury led Tony to pivot careers. His skills in sewing and costume design opened doors in the New York fashion industry, eventually leading him to Los Angeles and then Nashville, where Lock and Key was born. 

When not weaving on the loom, Tony continues to explore other creative outlets, including graphic and textile design, dance, and yoga—always blending movement, artistry, and passion into his work.