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.

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 is expanding to include The Shoals Artisans Showcase at 108 North Court Street in Downtown Florence adjacent to McGraw's 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.

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.

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.

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.

Shoals Artist Guild Exhibit

April 1 - December 29, 2009 at the Killen, Alabama Public Library. Members of the Shoals Artist Guild will be exhibiting original paintings.

A Collection by Derek Cracco

November 5 through December 3, 2009. A collection of work by Derek Cracco is on display at the UNA Art Gallery on the 2nd floor of the Visual Arts building. Cracco is recognized for his innovative combination of traditional printmaking and computer graphics. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM. A reception is planned for December 3 at 2:30 PM. Call 256-765-4384 for more information.

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 event will be on December 4, 2009 from 5pm until 8pm.

Landscapes: Selections from the Corporate Collection of Wells Fargo Advisors Corporate Art Collection

November 6-December 13, 2009 at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts. The exhibit includes lithographs, silver gelatin prints, serigraphs and aquatints by 20th century artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

Solo exhibition by Megan Pinch

A solo exhibition of photography by Megan Pinch is on display through November 30, 2009 at Rivertown Coffee Co,, 117 N. Seminary St., Florence. Megan Pinch is an artist and educator living in Florence, AL.

Shoals Piecemakers Quilt Challenge '09

November 12 - December 17, 2009 at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts. The Shoals Piecemakers Quilt Guild issues a challenge to its member each year to create an innovative quilt using a new set of rules each year. The rules include a theme, size requirements, and inclusion of special fabric.

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.

smART Club

The smART Club is a Saturday morning art club for ages 7-12 at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art. Classes are held from 10 AM - 12 Noon on Saturday. Cost of each class is $20 or $15 if paid a week in advance. For TVAA members the cost is $15 or $10 if paid one week in advance.

Upcoming classes include: Let's Build Something Big, instructor - Brad Bernard, architect, Saturday, Nov. 7; What a Christmas Stocking, Saturday, Nov. 14; Paint a Star for the Museum with Lori Curtis, Nov. 21; and Personal 2010 Calendar with Megan Pinch, Dec. 5.

Contact Lori Curtis at 383-0533 or visit tvaa.net for more information.

Jonathan Cain Watercolor Workshop

Tuesdays, Nov. 3 - 24 from 6-8 PM at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia. Cost is $60 or $50 for TVAA members. Class is a beginner's basic introduction to watercolor for ages 15 and older. Call Lori Curtis at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art for details and required supplies. 383-0533

One-Day Drawing Class with Jonathan Cain

Class will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, November 7, at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. Cost is $40 and due by November 2. Class size is limited. Class is a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals, supplies, and techniques of drawing in charcoal. Supply list is available at the Kennedy-Douglass Center. Call 760-6379 for more details.

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.

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.