August Events 2026

Draw, Paint & Connect with the About Face Drawing Group at Stormwater Studios

Join About Face Drawing Group for an inspiring evening of creativity on Monday, August 3 & 17, from 6:30–9:00 p.m. at Stormwater Studios!

Each session features two live models—one for figure drawing and one for portrait work—offering a rare opportunity to sharpen your skills, explore new techniques, and work from life in a supportive, creative environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just getting started, everyone is welcome. Bring your favorite materials—sketchbooks, paints, brushes, or easels—and settle in for a relaxed, energizing night of making art alongside fellow creatives.

Admission is $15, and first-time participants attend for free!

Stay connected or learn more by reaching out to Jordan Johnson at [email protected] or following @about_face_drawinggroup on Instagram.

Draw, paint, and connect—your next creative spark might be waiting in the room.

Participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census at Stormwater Studios

Stormwater Studios is proud to participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a community science project that helps researchers better understand pollinator activity throughout the Southeast.

Join Karen Murphy Rhu, Stormwater Studios Gardener, on August 22, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. to observe and count pollinators. No scientific background is required. Participants simply identify insects using broad categories such as bumble bees, carpenter bees, honey bees, small bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, and other insects.

At Stormwater Studios, participants can explore our pollinator garden and select a flowering plant that is attracting insect activity. During a 15-minute observation period, participants will count each insect visit to the flowers and record their findings. These observations contribute valuable data that helps scientists monitor pollinator populations and ecosystem health across the region.

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is designed to be accessible, educational, and fun for all ages. Resources, identification guides, and instructional videos are available to help participants feel confident before they begin counting. To learn more, visit the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

Our pollinator garden features a variety of pollinator-friendly plants that provide food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. By participating in the census, visitors can learn more about the important role pollinators play in supporting healthy ecosystems, food production, and biodiversity.

Join us as we celebrate our pollinator garden, contribute to meaningful scientific research, and spend time observing the fascinating insects that help our environment thrive.

No experience necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to count!

Stormwater Studios is located at 413 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29201

For questions, please contact Karen Murphy Rhu at [email protected].

University of South Carolina Post-MFA Resident Artist Exhibition

SUMMER STORIES: An Exhibition by Amy Chalmers

Stormwater Studios is pleased to present Summer Stories, a solo exhibition by Amy Chalmers, the 2026 University of South Carolina Post-MFA Resident Artist at Stormwater Studios. On view August 26–30, 2026, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience how Chalmers’ practice has evolved beyond her graduate thesis research.

Summer Stories is a collection of narrative work, recorded over the course of a summer. Through drawing and writing, Chalmers documents her daily experiences of life and motherhood.

She states an experience that can feel both universal and deeply personal, joyful and challenging, ordinary and profound. Her work explores the anxieties, wonder, and imagination that accompany raising young children. Themes of awe and fear connect her experiences as a parent to broader concerns about the future and the natural world.

Chalmers is an instructor of Graphic Design + Illustration at the University of South Carolina. She earned her MFA in Studio Art from USC in 2025 and holds additional degrees from Falmouth University and Wofford College. Her professional experience includes positions at the South Carolina State Museum, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, and the Columbus College of Art and Design.

Exhibition Information

Dates: July 8–18, 2026
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Sunday | 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Reception: Thursday, July 16 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.