Only on Hilton Head: Island family plays -- and creates -- together

When people meet on Hilton Head Island, the first question is often, "So... Where are you from?"

That's because for a long time, very few of today's islanders were actually from Hilton Head.

In many towns, parents and grandparents can claim to have been born and reared in the same place.

It's different here.

Here, parents and grandparents are from somewhere else. It's the kids who are from here.

One local clan -- the Wicklunds -- embodies the Hilton Head family paradigm. It also offers a unique blend of artistic and naturalist sensibilities that come from having embraced the island as closely as another sibling.

The life's work of mother/wife, Nancy Mitchell, can be seen everywhere, from public cafes to private homes to art galleries to craft shows. Her paintings and sculptures are on display from 10 a.m. to noon each Tuesday at the Sea Pines Center at the sidewalk market sponsored by Lowcountry Produce. It makes sense that she is a devoted plein air artist, setting up her easel daily outdoors in Palmetto Bay, where she paints to the background music of birds chirping, leaves rustling, and her dogs playing in the yard.

The other background noise inspiring her paintbrush is daughter Hannah Wicklund's band, The Steppin Stones.

The band also works outside all over the island, and now in other venues around the country. A classic rock band that recently released its third CD (this one self-titled), they can be heard up close and from miles away.

Hannah, a recent graduate of Hilton Head High, is one of the new generation of islanders who can claim to be from here. It's a distinction that can also be claimed by brother Luke, a singer/songwriter many know from nightly gigs in Harbour Town. He now leads the Charleston band High Divers.

The glue that holds this family of artists and musicians together is father/husband Matthew Wicklund, a professional house painter. He's from Michigan but has lived on the island since 1982. Matt made his first mark here as the drummer for Hilton Head's first real, rock-party band -- the Bonzo Brothers -- when he was twenty-one.

For Matt, those were heady days. Then, the family came along, and he transferred his talents to Hannah, teaching her drums and guitar as well as how to walk and ride a bike.

Apparently, he's a good teacher.

Hannah's first paid gig came when she was 7 at a fundraiser for Hilton Head's Italian-American Club.

Many islanders watched Hannah and Luke grow up in front of their eyes as they played area spots and events year after year.

After a while, it's easy to spot someone from here.

Carmen Hawkins De Cecco lives on Hilton Head Island. She blogs at hiltonheadblogangel.me.

This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Only on Hilton Head: Island family plays -- and creates -- together."