CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – See a list of events and exhibits happening in April at the Customs House Museum:

Exhibits:
Peggy Kretchmar Leland: Abstracted Surroundings April 4 – May 30
Planters Bank Peg Harvill Gallery
Knoxville artist Peggy Kretchmar Leland uses hot wax to create abstract encaustic paintings, often incorporating elements of nature and architecture. Leland holds two masters degrees: one in educational administration and one in art education. She recently retired from a twenty year career teaching high school art.

Marilyn Murphy: Short Stories March 1 – April 30
Orgain & Bruner Galleries
Marilyn Murphy is an artist whose drawings and oil paintings create curious situations implying a larger story that often explores dualities both formally and conceptually (safety and danger, peace and turmoil, fire and water). A Professor of Art at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, her work has been shown in more than 300 exhibitions nationally and abroad.

Chris Hornsby: Fracture March 8 – May 4
Crouch Gallery
Knoxville artist Chris Hornsby’s latest “Fracture” painting series is a haunting exploration into the fractured human nature and the fight within. It’s a combination of stark black, white, and gray “shard” imagery that includes multiple individual paintings that make up large scale presentations. The overall impressions given are the feeling of powerful struggles between strong opposing forces.

Forward March March 7 – July 30
Kimbrough Gallery
This exhibit showcases maps, documents, dioramas, flags, and photos from several wars, featuring objects from the collection of Dr. John Olson.

Hunt Slonem: From the Collection March 9 – May 2
The Leaf Chronicle Lobby
A Neo-Expressionist, Hunt Slonem combines Abstract Expressionist techniques with mysticism and animal subjects of Islam and Mexico and is best known for his paintings of tropical birds, based on a personal aviary in which he keeps about 100 live birds of various species. See his work from the Customs House Museum’s collection in The Leaf Chronicle Lobby.

Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children’s Literature March 23 – August 20
Memory Lane
This groundbreaking exhibition of Appalachian children’s literature examines seminal titles published since the 1800s. Come explore our region’s literary heritage and see how children’s literature tells the story of Appalachia. This is a traveling exhibit from East Tennessee Historical Society and Knox County Public Library.

A Fine Note February 1 – May 28
Jostens Gallery
This exhibit gives a brief look at the importance of music in Clarksville. Items from the Customs House Museum’s permanent collection highlight the world of music, including instruments, sheet music, photographs, and other artifacts ranging from the 1820s until the 1970s. A majority of the objects featured have a close connection to Clarksville and span from an Aeolian harp to a Jimi Hendrix tape.

Activities:
Art & Lunch: Marilyn Murphy and Paul Polycarpou
Thursday, April 6, 12:15 p.m.
Join us for a gallery talk with artist Marilyn Murphy and special guest Paul Polycarpou, Editor & CEO of Nashville Arts Magazine. This program is in conjunction with the exhibit Marilyn Murphy: Short Stories. Admission to the event is free; guests are welcome to bring their lunch.

Go Green for Spring in the Family Art Studio!
Help the Customs House Museum Go Green for Spring by recycling trash into unique works of art. Throughout the month of April we’ll have a variety of recyclable cardboard and paper materials ready to be used in your artistic endeavors. See if you can find a way to turn cardboard boxes into sculptures or turn paper bags into blooming spring trees.

Family Fun Day: Creating Clarksville
Saturday, April 8, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For the month of April we’re turning one of the art studio walls into a collaborative art piece representing Clarksville. Stop by on April 8th from 10:00 – 5:00 to decorate a square with your vision of home. Each square will be displayed on our Creating Clarksville wall showing what home and community means to Clarksville. Admission is free as a part of our Second Saturday Free Admission Day.

All activities are free with your museum membership. Non-members pay regular admission fees. For more information contact Ms. Sue at sue@customshousemuseum.org or 931.648.5780.

Closings:
The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center will be open regular hours in April.

Customs House Museum
200 S. Second Street
Clarksville, TN
931-648-5780
www.customshousemuseum.org