Hed Hi Studio: Where surf and street art converge
Charleston, South Carolina – Hed Hi Studio, a prominent cultural hub in downtown Charleston, offers a unique convergence of surf and street art. The studio, located on Upper King Street, features an array of vibrant murals that command attention from passersby. Owner Tim McManus boasts that the murals represent some of the ‘brightest walls in the city’.
Having started his journey with this location in 2012 and launched Hed Hi Media in 2014, McManus has seen the space evolve from housing the Charleston Center for Photography to it now being the epicenter of vibrant art exhibitions. His video production team has also rented the space to production teams, photographers, and video crews. Today, the studio pulls double duty as both a production hub and a canvas for budding and established artists.
Surf, Street Art, and Beyond
A love for surfing is at the heart of McManus’ venture. He says Hed Hi is a surfing reference. To surfers, head-high waves are a mark of good surfing conditions, symbolizing the ideally soaring aspirations of the artists featured in the studio. The studio’s logo, designed to echo HD or ‘high def’, pays homage to video production.
The first group of exhibitions, held in fall 2021, showcased works by surfer-artists who call Charleston home, including Kate Barattini and Taylor Faulkner. They presented their creations in the one-night-only installation “Water Show” and the follow-up group surf show titled “Animal Shred”.
Hed Hi Studio: A Testament to Survival
Despite the 2020 pandemic shutdown impacting his operations, McManus was determined to keep the space alive. He leveraged the under-utilization of the studio during the pandemic to reimagine the space, which now also operates as an art exhibition venue.
Over time, the studio has successfully hosted a range of art, comedy shows, and even a play, cultivating a diverse artistic atmosphere. Future exhibitions include the “Color Feast”, featuring artists Julia Deckman and JULU scheduled for August 17, and “Beach Creeps” on October 11, with creations by Band of Horses drummer Creighton Barrett.
Building a Charleston Street Art Corridor
The evolution of Hed Hi extends beyond its interior walls. McManus has been instrumental in turning the area around 652 and 654 King Street into a Charleston street art corridor. Charleston-born street artist Shephard Fairey painted two murals on the exterior walls of Hed Hi in 2014. Those murals were later joined by other street art pieces by artists including Jason Woodside, Apexer and Jonathan Rypkema, helping to transform an ordinary street into a lively art corridor.
While the studio may not be a state-of-art facility, for McManus, the vibes are just right. Hed Hi Studio is a testament to survival and adaptation, building a space for artists to come together and create. McManus has plans for more exhibits in the future, eager to continue riding the wave and making waves where he can.
