One of the things that I’ve noticed about living in South Carolina is that indoor activities just don’t seem that fun. When I lived in Seattle, rainy days made shuffling around a windowless museum seem like a great way to pass the time; but here it’s sometimes hard to shun that southern sun, even for a magnificent concert, rollicking play or a modern masterpiece.

That’s what makes an event like The Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head Island so special: the chance to feel a salty breeze on your face, soak in the sun rays, appreciate nature and get to see some amazing artistic creations at the same time.

The Public Art Exhibition features sculptures by renowned artists from around the world who were invited to submit pieces for the event. A jury will review the pieces and help to choose one of them for permanent display on Hilton Head.

The sculptures range from figures like Mark Chatterley’s Wood Nymphs, to abstract, almost industrial pieces like Barton Rubenstein’s Vortex. Stephen Kishel’s Reaching for Sunshine transforms aluminum into fiery, orange rays that evoke a South Carolina sunset. Against a blue sky, Jorge Blanco’s Zephyrus looks like a Miro painting done by a giant.

Every piece is different, but the one thing that they have in common is that the beautiful, natural environment that they are in makes each work of art come alive. The Coastal Discovery Museum is home to the exhibit and the 68 acres of salt marshes, cedar trees and live oaks surrounds the art. Somehow the exquisite surprise of finding an abstract sculpture nestled among the trees makes the artwork even more stunning.

The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated.

For more information on The Public Art Exhibition at Hilton Head, click here. The exhibition runs now through Dec. 31.