Southern Works Of Art
We're a small town with savvy. Galleries of cutting edge art collections-new ways of seeing the world in metal, stone, glass, watercolors, scorching colors. Or folk art paintings mixed from mud and wild turnip greens, storytellers, handmade quilts-generations stitched in swirls. You'll hear strains of Tchaikovsky and the twang of dulcimers. New York fashion designers gone Southern-hand-tailored suits, high fashion on Alabama runways.
Over 135 festivals in a friendly downtown, boutiques and antiques, stomp dancers, cotton basket weavers, hand-thrown pottery of Alabama clay. Over 50 celebrated artists-a little quirky and sassy, downhome and
folksy, sleek and visionary-right here in the Shoals in the Year of Alabama Arts. It's an art movement where you don't expect it; come for the inspiration, the wow, the surprise.
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts
A cultural center with ever-changing exhibits. Housed in two historic homes on the National Register of historic Places, the center features year-round workshops, juried shows, conferences, themed exhibits for all ages. On premise gift shop. Free admission.
Located: 217 E. Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL
256-760-6379. Hours Monday-Friday 9 AM-4 PM.
http://www.florenceal.org/Community_Arts/Art_Museums/index.html
Tennessee Valley Art Center
A visual and theater arts center with rotating exhibits, juried art competitions, workshops for all ages. Includes the Helen Keller Festival of the Arts, a competition of works by Alabama visually impaired, blind,
and/or deaf children, a permanent installation of a 3,000-pound petroglyph found in Colbert Country with the images carved by northwest natives 800 to 1500 years ago, plus numerous other fine arts competitions throughout the year.
Located: 511 N. Water Street, Tuscumbia, AL.
Phone 256-383-0533 or visit. Hours Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM, Sunday 2-4 PM.
Admission Charged.
www.tvaa.net
First Fridays
Stroll through historic downtown Florence the first Friday evening of each month February through December 5 to 8 PM. Artists and live musicians line the streets in sidewalk exhibits and performances. Restaurants, cafes, and gift shops stay open late for leisurely dinners and browsing. Photography, paintings, ceramics, artisans, folklife art. And did we mention live music?
Located: Court Street - Historic Downtown Florence
Contact:
Alison Stanfield
Florence/Lauderdale Tourism
256-740-4141 or 888-356-8687
alisons@flo-tour.org
www.flo-tour.org