Local artist Jim Rocco is honoring Folly, one star at a time
by Hanalei Potempa | Contributing Writer
A flag sculpture standing on Folly Beach is more than a patriotic display. Built from reclaimed pieces of the island’s history, local artist Jim Rocco’s latest creation honors the people, places, and events that shaped Folly into the community it is today.
“The Spirit of Folly really is honoring the people, the events, the places, that make Folly what it is today,” Rocco says.
Constructed from metal and reclaimed materials, the sculpture is designed to stand for generations while preserving pieces of Folly’s past. Each element carries its own story, transforming the American flag into a tribute to the island’s history and the community members who helped protect it.
Rocco has called Charleston home since moving here in 1978 and purchased a house on the east end of Folly Beach in 1983.
His commitment to preserving the island extends well beyond art. In 2008 when Rocco saw commercial development plans for seven lots at Center Street and East Indian Avenue, he feared the proposed residential parking lots and retail stores would change the character of Folly Beach. He and his brother ultimately bought everyone out to preserve the property, which is now known as Folly River Park. A plaque at the park honors “the people who love the Spirit of Folly.”
That same philosophy inspired the flag sculpture.
To symbolize the people, places, and events that shaped Folly’s character, Rocco used reclaimed materials representing different chapters of the island’s history to create each of the flag’s 16 stars.
One star is made with Civil War bullets representing the 54th Regiment of Massachu-setts, the first all-volunteer African American fighting infantry. Another incorporates a makeup kit honoring Marlene Estridge, considered the “face of Folly” since becoming the city’s clerk in 1961. Another is made from bricks sourced from the Morris Island Lighthouse.
“Each star tells a story of a particular part of Folly history,” Rocco says.
Rocco wanted to use as many materials as possible that came directly from Folly Beach. The wooden planks forming the flag’s stripes were crafted from lumber that washed onto his property after Hurricane Hugo, possibly from the old Folly Marina.
Beyond preserving history, Rocco said the sculpture represents unity.
Rocco emphasized that creating a flag was a way to demonstrate unity and community in Folly and across the nation, symbolizing the “common ground” that brings people together.
“We’ve never been as divisive as a country as we are now over the last couple of years, and what’s the one thing to bring us together? – Our love for the flag,” he says.
Not only do the reclaimed materials preserve memories of Folly’s past, but they are durable enough to ensure the sculpture stands for generations to come. Rocco hopes future generations will remember where they came from and appreciate the community spirit that built the island.
“Everybody loves Folly, but who do we thank?,” Rocco says. “The hardworking people who made this place special.”
Among those people, Rocco believes former Mayor Richard Beck deserves special recognition for his dedication to protecting Folly Beach from overdevelopment before his recent passing.
“We all got to chip in, like, like Richard Beck, we all got to chip in a little bit, maybe take a little less to keep the island special,” Rocco says.
The Folly flag is not Rocco’s first public sculpture, and he says it won’t be his last. He previously created another flag honoring Jimmy’s Crew, recognizing Folly Beach Public Works employees, and hopes to create similar flag sculptures for other communities in the future, possibly even Myrtle Beach.
With America marking its 250th anniversary this year, Rocco hopes the sculpture will stand as both a celebration of the nation and a tribute to Folly Beach. Built from pieces of the island’s past, the flag serves as a reminder that the country’s history is made up of countless local stories—and that preserving those stories is just as important as celebrating them.
