When the Sisters of the Order of St. Helena moved into their new convent in 2015, they noticed something was missing.

“We had a lot of blank walls,” said Sister Miriam Elizabeth of the convent at 414 Savannah Barony Drive in North Augusta. “So we thought ‘let’s have an art gallery.’ ”

They reached out to the North Augusta Artists Guild, whose members were more than happy to accommodate.

“Artists are always looking for space to hang their works,” said Kay Lovingood, the guild’s past president.

The guild’s most recent exhibit opened at the convent with a reception on Jan. 31. About 20 artists have works on display, adding dashes of color to white walls. There are paintings and photographs in the exhibition as well as sculpture.

Sister Miriam Elizabeth estimates the show is the fourth in a series of shows at the convent. The exhibit will be on display through May 4. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Beautifying their blank spaces wasn’t the only reason for the collaboration, Sister Miriam Elizabeth said.

Many of the sisters have their own artistic gifts and enjoy meeting other creative people. Sister Ellen Francis plays the guitar; another sister creates greeting cards, and others have written books.

While the 13 women lead a monastic life of prayer, spending many hours in the on-site chapel, they do have a mission to create ties with the outside community. The chapel is open 24 hours a day, with services daily.

The mission of the Episcopalian group is to follow Christ through a life of “monastic prayer, hospitality and service,” Sister Miriam Elizabeth said.

The sisters often have vocations within the community. One of the sisters is a hospital chaplain. Sister Miriam Elizabeth and Sister Carol Andrew are both ordained priests and fill in when small congregations are lacking pastoral care. Sister Miriam Elizabeth travels two Sundays a month to fill in at Christ Church in Denmark, S.C. Some have taught school.

The convent is one of the few of its kind in the Southeast with the nearest one at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. The sisters have had a presence in the Augusta community since the 1960s. The order was once in south Augusta before moving to North Augusta. Despite having been in the area for more than 50 years, she said many people still do not know they exist.

Guests are welcomed at the convent. Many people use the site for spiritual retreats. There’s a house with eight guest rooms on the property where people can stay for a suggested donation of $60 per night, which includes meals. Groups may also make reservations.

The sisters are also available to provide “spiritual direction,” said Sister Miriam Elizabeth, who declined to call it “counseling.”

The women are there to pray with people or to help them hear God’s direction for their life, she said. Usually those asking for spiritual direction are of Christian faiths, but not always from the Episcopal church. Some are from other denominations, and while it’s not common, there have been people from other faiths altogether who’ve come to ask of the women.

Information about spiritual retreats can be found at the website www.osh.org.