Lexington, SC 04/24/2023 - Students at River Bluff High School (RBHS) are using their artistic abilities to bring beauty to their campus and awareness to stormwater runoff through the Storm Drain Mural Project.
In conjunction with the Lexington County Stormwater Consortium and the Congaree Riverkeeper, River Bluff High School students had the opportunity to paint murals onto their storm drains around their school’s campus. These murals are meant to remind students to keep our storm drains clean and help protect our local waterways from pollution.
Students held a contest where they created drafts of the murals and three were chosen to be painted. These ideas for these murals came from a collaborative effort between environmental science classes and art students. The paint and supplies were provided by City Art in Columbia. The murals were painted by Art Club students as well as students in the National Art Honor Society during the course of the 2022-2023 school year.
Alex Lyons, a senior at River Bluff and a member of the Art Honor Society, said it was an honor to be able to bring these murals to life.
“They are a sense of expression for students and encourages students not to litter, which helps to protect oceans and wildlife and keep them safe,” Lyons said.
“The storm drain painting project has been a true example of the power of collaboration, with students, faculty, and community members coming together to work towards a common goal,” RBHS Principal Jacob Smith said. “Our efforts have not only helped protect the Saluda River and its surrounding ecosystem but also served as a reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship.”
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those involved in this project, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished together. As we move forward, let us continue to prioritize sustainability and conservation in all our endeavors.”
Taylor Brewer, environmental coordinator for Lexington County, said she hopes this Storm Drain Mural Project is just the beginning, with the ultimate goal of having storm drain murals painted all across Lexington County.
“This project is hopefully one of many,” Brewer said. “I am working on expanding the program to other schools and maybe one day, it will be countywide.”
