Save the Light sat down with local artist Jazzy Jordan to talk about the special design she created for the Morris Island Lighthouse’s 150th anniversary, her connection to the Lowcountry, and using art to support preservation.
Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, Jazzy grew up spending weekends on Morris Island. Charleston’s landmarks have become familiar subjects in her work, and the Morris Island Lighthouse was the very first sticker she designed when she started her sticker business six years ago.
For this anniversary design, Jazzy revisited that subject with a nighttime scene featuring the illuminated lighthouse and a crescent moon. Below, she shares the inspiration behind her artwork, a favorite lighthouse memory, and why Save the Light’s mission feels like a natural fit for her work.
Walk us through how Save the Light and your studio first connected.
I’ve always loved creating artwork that celebrates Charleston, and when I started my sticker business 6 years ago, the first sticker I made was of the Morris Island lighthouse. My childhood best friend’s dad, Denis Blyth, is on the board of directors at STL, so I reached out to him to show him my designs and asked him if they’d ever have a need for any of my current or custom sticker options. The lighthouse is such a beautiful part of our coastline, and knowing that my artwork would be part of celebrating such a huge milestone made the project even more special.
Do you have a personal connection to Folly Beach, the Morris Island Lighthouse, or the Lowcountry that inspired you to get involved?
Absolutely! I was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, so the Lowcountry has always been home. Growing up surrounded by the beaches, waterways, historic buildings, and landmarks here has had a huge influence on my artwork. Plus, growing up next door to the Blyths meant spending a lot of time on the water. Weekends at Morris Island were a recurring staple of my childhood thanks to them.
My dad, Steven Jordan, owned an art gallery when I was growing up, so art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. He has done several paintings of South Carolina lighthouses. I have one of his originals of the Morris Island Lighthouse that he painted in the 80s hanging in my kitchen! Now, getting to create my own interpretations of the places I’ve grown up around feels like a full-circle moment.
The Morris Island Lighthouse is one of those landmarks that instantly feels like home. A literal beacon that draws me back to Charleston in more ways than one. It’s so iconic, and I love being able to celebrate it through my artwork while supporting efforts to preserve it.
What is your favorite memory tied to the Morris Island Lighthouse or Folly Beach?
My favorite memory has to be from 2019, when I was given the rare opportunity to climb the Morris Island Lighthouse, which is closed to the public! At the time, I believe they had to periodically replace the batteries that powered the light, and I was lucky enough to tag along on one of those trips. Getting to climb all the way to the top of South Carolina’s tallest lighthouse and look out over Charleston and the harbor was truly magical. I’ve grown up seeing that lighthouse from the beach, but getting to experience it from the inside and see the Lowcountry from that perspective was something I’ll never forget. It’s not every day you get to climb a piece of Charleston history, and it’s a memory I’ll always treasure!
As for Folly Beach, it has just managed to hold on to so much of its character. Charleston and Mount Pleasant have changed so much over the years, losing a lot of their charm in my opinion, but there’s something about heading out toward the lighthouse and seeing that familiar silhouette that feels timeless. I also love visiting lighthouses when I travel, so having one this iconic right here in my hometown is pretty special.
Take us inside the process of designing this logo. Where did you start, and how many directions did you explore before the final design?
I decided to present the sticker to them earlier this year, originally without the 150th mention. I had changed it from the original daytime version of the lighthouse to a special night version, where the lighthouse could be illuminated. When they expressed interest in it, they mentioned the anniversary, so getting to design something for the Morris Island Lighthouse’s 150th anniversary was right up my alley!
My artwork tends to fall somewhere between realism and pop art. I love taking recognizable landmarks and giving them a colorful, slightly playful twist while keeping the details that make them instantly recognizable. I also don’t want my stickers to feel like just another souvenir. I want them to be tiny pieces of art.
Is there a detail in the design that most people will miss on first look but that you hope someone notices?
Not exactly. I think it’s the overall feeling of the design. I wanted to capture more than just the lighthouse. The nighttime setting and crescent moon help create that feeling of being out on the coast after the sun goes down. I love working with color and creating artwork that feels a little different from a traditional illustration. My hope is that people notice those smaller artistic choices and details and appreciate that it’s not just a picture of a lighthouse, but my interpretation of a place that means so much to Charleston.
Walk us through a normal working day. Where do you paint, what is your ideal environment, and when do you do your best work?
There really isn’t a normal working day for me, and I think that’s one of my favorite things about being an artist! The most consistent thing is the lack of consistency and the never-ending 12-hour workdays.
One day I might be 20 feet up on a lift painting a huge logo or mural on the side of a building, or flying across the country to do a logo installation, and the next I’m melted into my couch working on tiny details for a sticker design. I do everything from murals, window painting, and hand-painted signage to digital illustrations, merchandise (stickers/magnets/koozies), pet portraits, and fine art.
A lot of my design work happens digitally, but I also spend plenty of time physically painting on location. And when I’m not creating, I’m usually packing orders, restocking local shops, setting up for an art market, or working one of my 3 part-time food and beverage jobs! I love the variety. I get bored doing the same thing every day, so being able to constantly switch between projects and mediums keeps things interesting.
You have painted a lot of Charleston landmarks and architecture. What draws you back to local subjects again and again?
Charleston is just such an incredible place to be an artist. Between the architecture, history, beaches, wildlife, and all the little quirks that make the Lowcountry unique, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of things to draw. I’ve traveled all over the world, and each time I visit somewhere new, it makes me appreciate Charleston that much more.
I especially love creating artwork of places that people have a personal connection to. Someone might buy a sticker because it reminds them of their childhood, their favorite beach, a family vacation, or somewhere they used to live. That’s one of my favorite things about what I do. Something as simple as a sticker can bring back an entire collection of memories for someone.
Because I grew up here, a lot of those places mean something to me, too. My goal is to be able to capture the feeling of each well-known city across the country. I get tired of seeing the same copy-and-paste boring stickers in souvenir and gift shops. So I started a business that creates the stickers that I would buy if I were a customer.
I have done stickers of all 6 of the South Carolina lighthouses, and of all 7 of North Carolina’s. I am currently working on Georgia’s 5 and Florida’s 20+. Eventually, I’d like to have a collectible set of all the lighthouses in the country.
What made Save the Light’s mission feel like a natural fit for your work?
So much of my artwork is centered around celebrating the places that make Charleston special, so helping preserve one of our most iconic landmarks felt like a natural extension of that. I think sometimes we take for granted that these beautiful historic places will always be here, and also we forget just how long they HAVE been here. But preserving them takes real work, funding, and people who care enough to make it happen.
I’m donating proceeds from every one of these stickers that I sell on my own back to the foundation. I love the idea that my artwork can do more than just look pretty. It can help raise awareness, start conversations, and even contribute to preserving a little piece of Charleston history.
This design marks a major milestone for the Morris Island Lighthouse. What do you hope people feel when they see it ten or twenty years from now?
I hope it brings back memories. Maybe someone admired the lighthouse from the beach all summer, bought a souvenir while visiting Charleston, or picked it up because they grew up seeing the lighthouse.
I love the idea of someone seeing my art twenty years from now and remembering what Charleston was like in 2026, when the lighthouse turned 150. And hopefully, twenty years from now, that lighthouse will still be standing strong, and they’ll be able to look at the design and know they played a small part in helping preserve it.
The 150th is just the start of a big stretch for Save the Light, with the Oyster Roast at Bowens Island coming in January. Will we see you out there, and is there anything you are cooking up with us next?
Yes, I will absolutely be at the Oyster Roast! I love any excuse to get out to Bowens Island, especially where there is good food, and it’s also when it’s supporting a great cause!
I’ve really enjoyed being part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration, and I’d love to continue finding creative ways to support Save the Light and to work with the foundation. I already love turning my artwork into things people can collect, wear, and enjoy, so there are plenty of possibilities for future collaborations!
Where can people find your work, and what’s next on the horizon for Jazzy Jordan?
You can find my work through Jazzy Jordan Art! I sell my stickers, magnets, koozies, and other gifts online, at local shops around Charleston, including REI, Local Love, and Folly Sol, and more. You can also find me at art markets throughout the area.
I also specialize in murals, window painting, custom signage, and commissioned artwork, so my projects are always changing.
Lately, I’ve been focusing on expanding my collection of locally inspired artwork as well as designs celebrating destinations all across the United States, including national parks and lighthouses. And I’m working on growing my mural and signage company!
Ultimately, I just want to keep creating artwork that makes people happy, reminds them of places they love, and maybe adds a little extra color to their lives. From transforming an entire wall to creating a tiny piece of art you can take with you, I love making work that feels bright, memorable, and full of personality. After all, life’s a little more fun when you jazz it up.
Thank you,
Jazzy
Jazzy’s artwork celebrates the places people carry with them, whether they grew up here or first discovered the Lowcountry on vacation. Her anniversary design gives lighthouse lovers a small piece of that connection to take home while supporting its preservation. Explore her collection through her website (which she’s still building) or through Jazzy Jordan Art on Etsy, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram to see her latest designs, murals, and local projects.
Collaborations like this bring more people into the work of preserving the Morris Island Lighthouse. As we celebrate its 150th anniversary, we’re grateful for the artists, businesses, volunteers, and supporters who help make that work possible. There are plenty of ways to join them.
Help Preserve the Morris Island Lighthouse
- Support Jazzy’s anniversary artwork. Look for her special lighthouse sticker and help spread the word about the collaboration. Proceeds from anniversary stickers she sells herself support Save the Light.
- Shop Save the Light merchandise. Pick up a hat, t-shirt, tote bag, or another item from our online shop to support our mission.
- Make a donation. Help fund the ongoing work of restoring and preserving the lighthouse.
- Become a member. Join a community of supporters who care about protecting this piece of Lowcountry history.
- Come to an event. From the Annual Oyster Roast at Bowens Island to the Save the Light Half Marathon & 5K, there are fun ways to get involved and support the cause.
After 150 years, the Morris Island Lighthouse is still inspiring memories, artwork, and a community determined to keep it standing. Help us carry that story forward.