Charleston and Savannah: So Close and Yet So Far

Charleston, South Carolina was established by the English Lords Proprietors in 1670. Savannah, Georgia was established by the English reformer James Oglethorpe in 1733. It is easy to assume that with only 63 years difference in age and little more than 100 miles between them, the cities would have much in common. However, Savannah and Charleston present completely different streetscapes and reveal surprisingly distinct tastes in architecture and design.

This lecture is an illustrated comparison of the two cities that explores five themes highlighting their differences and exploring their similarities. These are: The Great Survivors; Georgian Grandeur versus 19th Century Eclecticism; Genteel Decay; Modern Style; and Eccentricity Unleashed.

This lecture is informed by the research I conducted as the author of Charleston Style: Past and Present (Rizzoli: 1999) and Savannah Style: Mystery and Manners (Rizzoli: 2001). It is illustrated with exquisite photographs taken by architectural photographers, John Blais and Steven Brooke.

* includes Susan Sully signing her copies of her books Charleston Style and Savannah Style.

Biography:

Susan Sully is the author of several books including Charleston Style: Past and Present (1999; photos by John Blais) and Savannah Style: Mystery and Manners (2001; photos by Steven Brooke) both from Rizzoli International publications and The New Moroccan Style: The Art of Sensual Living (forthcoming from Clarkson Potter in fall 2003).

A graduate of Yale University with a degree in art history, Sully lectures frequently on the subject of regional design at art and architectural institutions including Sotheby's, the Smithsonian's National Building Museum, and the Los Angeles County Art Museum. Sully's books have been featured in House Beautiful, World of Interiors, Southern Accents, Ladies Home Journal, on The Christopher Lowell Show (Fall 2000) and South Carolina Educational Television.

She writes regularly about the decorative arts, architecture, and life styles for publications including Southern Accents, Coastal Living, and The New York Times. She is currently writing a book about the Spanish influence on the architecture of Florida (forthcoming from Rizzoli in 2005). She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, painter Thomas Sully, and her Welsh Terrier, Pinckney.