Abstract artist Vickie Jourdan is the longest-standing member of the Pluff Mudd Gallery, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the beginning of Bluffton’s Spring Fling Art Celebration April 8-10. GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS

When Lowcountry locals talk about pluff mud, they usually mean the soil found in the marshes and along the May River – dark, soft and so rich in nutrients from decomposed spartina grasses that farmers once literally plowed it into their fields.

These days, Pluff Mudd also refers to a gallery on Calhoun Street that houses a rich and eclectic collection of art on display and for sale.

When the Pluff Mudd Gallery first opened its doors, Bluffton was still one square mile with an infamous “State of Mind.” Now the community is a hub of artists, and the gallery with the piano on the porch is celebrating its 20th anniversary April 8, at the beginning of the Spring Fling Art Celebration.

Vickie Jourdan, who has been the gallery’s general manager for most of her membership, is its longest remaining member and knows the background.

“This was not an artistic community 20 years ago, but there was a group of artists (who) decided to find a venue to show artwork,” Jourdan said.

The artists approached Stephen Loper, the owner of the Old Mercantile Building on Calhoun Street. He and his family lived upstairs but he wanted to rent the downstairs.

“The group looked for a few other artists to get involved and start the gallery, because there were only about six or seven of us,” she said.

A few years later, the gallery was able to take possession of its current location at 27 Calhoun St. and was able to expand the number and types of artists they were able to include.

“The Mercantile was conducive to a certain number of two-dimensional artists because with the wall space, we always have hung salon style, which means floor to ceiling. We also had room for a few 3-D artists, but when we moved over here, we were able to accommodate more artists,” said Jourdan.

The gallery now shows the works of 15 partners and five consignment artists; nine create two-dimensional art and the rest are 3-D artists. The artist partners have specific responsibilities, and not every artist who applies for a rare opening gets accepted.

“We get a lot of inquiries about wanting to be here,” Jourdan said. “Artists are judged in, they have to be voted in by the 15 partners, so it’s not like we accept just any artist. They have to have something a little different.”