Art Day at the South Carolina State Museum

The South Carolina State Museum will celebrate art in South Carolina during Art Day on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and a special College Art Day for high school students on Friday, March 4, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Art Day will feature demonstrations and discussions by South Carolina artists, guided behind-the-scenes tours of the museum’s art storage areas, live music, hands-on activities and art exhibits. College Art Day is an opportunity for high school students considering a degree in art and design to meet current college students, graduates and professors from schools across our state.

Art Day offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into South Carolina art and artists with live, unique and interactive opportunities throughout the day.  Guests will be able to immerse themselves in the world of art with hands-on activities inspired by artwork from the museum’s collection like silhouette cutting from the Rice family, architectural collage inspired by the work of Robert Courtright, and even a chance to create their own painting inspired by folk art in the museum collection. 

Throughout the day there will be special guided behind-the-scenes tours of the museum’s art storage areas, which include more than 4,000 works of art dating between 1590 to present, and a variety of live demonstrations in which guests get an up close and personal look at how artists make their visions come to life. Sculptor Herman Thompson will showcase his one-of-a-kind folk art made from coat hangers. Print maker Gene Speer will be on hand to illustrate the intricate printmaking process. Painters Brian Rego, Alicia Leeke, Rick Wells and Allan Anderson will delight guests with their work on the canvas. Ceramist Virginia Scotchie and her students from the University of South Carolina will offer demonstrations of ceramic art. 

The day will also feature live musical entertainment by the Fine Arts Ramblers, from Greenville, SC, whose lineup includes maker of musical instruments, Jim Campbell, an artist featured in the current Carolina Makers exhibit located in the Lipscomb Art Gallery.

In conjunction with Art Day, the museum will open its doors the day before to aspiring art students at the fourth annual College Art Day on Friday, March 4 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Aspiring art students will meet current students and faculty from colleges around the state and hear from alumni applying art degrees in their professions. Guests will also be given a personal tour of the Carolina Makers exhibit led by the museum’s curator of art, Paul Matheny.  Advance reservation is required for high schools wishing to participate. Parents of high school children whose schools are unable to participate in College Art Day may call the Group Visits Office to register directly. To sign up, call (803) 898-4999 or email group_visits@scmuseum.org.

Art Day is included with museum general admission or membership. Visit scmuseum.org to learn more.