Al Morris Serves as President of the South Carolina Watermedia Society

The past nine months have been unexpectedly busy for Anderson Artists Guild member Al Morris.

Last summer, at a workshop sponsored by the South Carolina Watermedia Society (SCWS), a board member asked Morris if he’d serve as president due to an unanticipated vacancy. His first reaction was that “I didn’t want to do that.” But after further consideration, he finally said yes last December, and his term—spanning from January to December 2023—soon began.

But so did treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a diagnosis that also came in January. He endured three rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a month of radiation, all of which left him very fatigued. “I thought about backing away [from the position] but realized it might be the only chance I’d get,” he said.

The SCWS board meets monthly via Zoom and holds three major events a year: an online digital show in February, a plein air event with the Newberry Arts Center in April, and a national exhibition (held this year in Pickens) that starts in August. Morris participated in the plein air event and helped organized the Pickens show, as well as responding to inquiries throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. In fact, the winner of the show lives in China.

Once his term concludes, Morris will continue in an advisory capacity through the end of 2024. All things considered, he said, “It’s been an interesting year.”

For more information about the SCWS, visit https://scwatermedia.com/.