Visual Arts Resources in the Shoals

Shoals Museums and Galleries

View art exhibits

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL. The office of the Florence Department of Arts and Museums is housed here. It offers traveling art exhibitions and permanent exhibitions as well as hosting the Shoals Artist Guild meetings.

The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art

511 N Water St., Tuscumbia, AL. The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art offers rotating exhibitions, juried art competitions, workshops, and educational outreach. Hours are Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM and Sunday 1 - 3 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students. Admission is Free on Sundays.

University of North Alabama Art Gallery

615 N. Pine St., 2nd Floor of the Visual Arts Bldg., University of North Alabama, Florence, AL 35630. The University Art Gallery host exhibits by nationally and regionally known artists and students. The Lights and Shadows juried competition is also exhibited here.

Huntsville Museum of Art

The Huntsville Museum is a little over an hour away from the Shoals.

The Shoals Artisans Showcase

McGraw's Coffeehouse includes The Shoals Artisans Showcase at 108 North Court Street in Downtown Florence adjacent to the Coffeehouse (formerly the High Cotton building). Shoals Artisans Showcase is seeking original handcrafted goods including but not limited to paintings, textiles, pottery, glassware, signed woodworking, etc. for consignment sale. For more information or to make an appointment for jurying, call 256.648.6387.

ARTifacts

1627-B Darby Drive, English Village, Florence, AL. Tommy Mathis opened this gallery in the English Village shops to show his own work and the work of other artists.

The Route of Art Gallery

218-A North Court Street, Florence (above Art Hive). Hours are Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM. This gallery has an eclectic collection of folk art and traditional art for sale.

Shoals Artist Organizations

Shoals Artist Guild

The Shoals Artist Guild is primarily a painters' guild that meets once a month at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts.

Tennessee Valley Art Association

TVAA operates the Tennessee Valley Art Center, furthers expression in and the appreciative understanding of all of the arts, brings together all persons interested in the arts, provides art education opportunities, and conducts programs, demonstrations, exhibitions, etc. on various phases of the arts.

aMuse | Facebook

aMuse is a non-profit organization made up of local artists and art organizations that is affiliated with the Kennedy-Douglass volunteers. Its mission is to provide a social medium for the enjoyment of the arts and culture while raising funds for art education. Classes are offered in a casual, social setting and events allow artists to share their work and network.

Shoals Festivals and Exhibits

Things to do in Northwest Alabama

Alabama Arts Radio Series

The Alabama State Council on the Arts broadcasts interviews with Alabama artisans every week. Past interviews include visual artists, writers, and performing artists. The interviews are available to download on the web site.

Designs by Basket Maker Mary Jane Everett

April 5 - May 4, 2011 at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa Street, Florence. Mary Jane Everett used traditional basketry techniques to create sculptural baskets with unusual shapes. Museum hours are Monday - Friday 9 am - 4 pm. Admission is free.

Shoals Artist Guild Exhibit

Through April 30, 2011 at the Killen Public Library. Exhibit of original art works by Guild members.

First Fridays in Florence

On the first Friday evening of the month, artists display their works and musicians perform in downtown Florence. Participation is free for artists, musicians and visitors. The next First Friday will be in May 6, 2011 with hours from 5 - 8 PM.

10th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibit

Through May 6, 2011 at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water Street, Tuscumbia. Museum hours are Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Admission is free on Sundays 1 - 3 PM.

25th Annual Arts Alive juried fine arts and crafts festival

May 14-15, Wilson Park, Florence. Artists exhibit work in the arts center gallery, outdoors in Wilson Park, or both places. Deadline for entries is March 4, 2011.

Watercolor Society of Alabama's 70th National Exhibition

May 15 - July8, 2011 at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water Street, Tuscumbia. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, May 15 from 1-3 pm. Museum hours are Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Admission is free on Sundays 1 - 3 PM. More details are available at tvaa.net or wsalabama.org.

Shoals Art Classes and Workshops

Learn about art and art techniques

UNA Office of Continuing Studies and Outreach

The University of North Alabama Continuing Education Department offers art classes. Most are classified as "Personal Enrichment". You can download their complete schedule on their website.

Spanish Oaks School of Arts

730 Nellie Avenue, Florence, AL 35630. Jan Roblin or Jan Roblin Originals offers classes for children and adults at the Spanish Oaks School of Art. She also offers personal critiques for adult artists. The art gallery is open on Fridays from 10am to 4pm.

aMuse | Facebook

.aMuse is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts. It provides a social medium for the enjoyment of arts and culture while raising funds for the promotion of art education.

Lucy's Artsy Place

Art classes and events for kids and adults. 710 E. 6th Street, Muscle Shoals. Phone: 256-627-7727 or email lucysartsyplace@yahoo.com.

Digital Single-Lens Reflex Photography Workshop

April 18-19, 2011 at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N Water St, Tuscumbia. Joe Romans will teach the principles of photography for beginner and intermediate photographers. Cost is $50 for members and $60 for non-members. Call 256-383-0533 for more information and registration.

Aqueous Joy, A Watercolor Workshop

May 12, 13, 14, 2011 at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N Water St, Tuscumbia. Instructor Elizabeth Chapman will focus on stimulating creativity and bringing fresh vitality to your paintings. Workshop will be held from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm with a one hour lunch break. Workshop is sponsored by the Watercolor Society of Alabama. Cost of the class is $275 for WSA members and $300 for non-members.

Young Masters Art School

June 13 - 17 and June 20 - 24, 2011 at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa Street, Florence. Two one week sessions. For students entering the first through third grades in the fall, classes meet from 9 to 11 am. Fourth through sixth grade students will meet from noon to 2 pm. Call 256-760-6379.

Artist Blogs and Web Sites

See the work of Shoals Artists

Huntsville Art Blog

A blog to promote local artists and art awareness. The emphasis is on the Huntsville area, of course, but it also covers some events in the Shoals and Shoals artists.

Sydney Harper: Mockingbird Works

My drawing and painting blog

Art Hive

Art Hive is a non-profit artist co-op located in Florence, AL dedicated to promoting the arts in Florence and surrounding communities.

Jan Roblin Originals

Jan Roblin is an artist, illustrator, and writer. She also runs the Spanish Oaks School of Art with art instruction for children and adults.

Jean Schulman

Jean Schulman uses clay as a dye for various fabrics. She then uses drawing and design on these batiks. Her works are part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute.

Martha Marshall: An Artist's Journal

Martha Marshall is a full-time studio artist in Florence, AL. Her blog contains examples of abstract paintings, collage, and other artistic pursuits.

Mary Linville

Mary Linville is primarily a landscape artist but she also does still life, birds, animals, character studies, and abstracts. Mary works in a variety of mediums but her favorite is watercolor.

Mellissa Meeks

Mellissa Meeks works in pencil, acrylics, photography, and other media. She also offers workshops in the Shoals.

Tim Stevenson

Tim Stevenson works primarily in watercolor. His gallery, Stevenson's Fine Art, is located in downtown Florence and is open by appointment. His gallery is also the location of his art classes.

Tommy Thompson

Paints traditional landscapes in oil and also has more than 30 years experience as a illustrator. He also has a blog in additon to his gallery website.

Huntsville Art League

This is the blog for the Huntsville Art League. The HAL has a gallery, classes, studio space and other activities.

Art Supplies

Finding art supplies in the Shoals

Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby is located at 1622 Florence Boulevard in Florence. They also have arts and crafts classes.

Off Campus Book Store

472 N. Court St. in Florence. They don't have a web site so I linked to the Yahoo Map. I haven't been there in a while but they had an okay amount of art supplies the last time I went there.

Michaels Arts and Crafts Store

Located on University Drive in Huntsville.

Alabama Art Supply

Located at 1006 23rd Street South in Birmingham. You can also shop from their web site. I haven't shopped there personally but some local people do.

Other Sources of Information

Web Sites on Art in the Shoals

Shoals Art

Promotes artists and galleries in the Shoals.

Shoals Arts Network

A Yahoo group for discussing the arts and disseminating information about the arts in the Shoals. It's a good place to find out about art events of all kinds, not just the visual arts.

Shoals Culture

A collection web sites concerning the arts in the Shoals.

Huntsville Art Blog

Huntsville Art Blog promotes local artists and art awareness. All local artists are welcome to share their work, stories, and advice. Covers the Huntsville area, including the Shoals.

Southern Festivals

This site list festivals and events in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Virginia, Texas, and other states.