CLARKSVILLE, TN – Here is everything that the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center has to offer in the month of July!

Exhibitions

Women. Artists. Masters. The Big & the Small of It, July 8 – September 24 | Kimbrough Gallery.  Women. Artists. Masters. (WAM for short), is a group comprised of three artists sharing common goals. In this traveling exhibition, Debra Keirce, Maria Bennett Hock and Carrie Waller render representational paintings that highlight the ways the big and the small work together. Debra has palm sized oil miniatures, some of which are hidden in boxes. Maria paints on large canvases that draw viewers in. Carrie paints everyday objects, elevating them to their most beautiful, larger-than-life presentation.

Red Grooms: Selected Works from the Caldwell Collection, July 19 – January 7 | Memory Lane. Born in Nashville in 1937, Red Grooms stands among Tennessee’s cultural icons. A performance artist, filmmaker, printmaker and cartoonist, he is best known for colorful pop art that captures both the grotesqueness and humor of everyday life. His art is featured in the collections of more than 35 museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Knoxville Museum of Art. This exhibit features paintings and paper sculptures, and is produced in partnership with the West Tennessee Regional Art Center with contributions from the Discovery Park of America.

Annual Staff Art Show, July 26 – October 22 | Lobby.  The annual staff art exhibit showcases the creative work of those who work behind-the-scenes at the Museum. Each piece reveals the unique personalities and skills of the artists, special moments in their lives and their inspirations.

Mapping Wars, through July 6 | Kimbrough Gallery. This exhibit features artifacts from the Civil War to the Vietnam War, giving insight to the strategies and plans of those engaged in battle. Take a closer look at hand-drawn maps, government documents, battle flags and more.

Jammie Williams: Stories, Dreams and Visions, through July 6 | Kimbrough Gallery. Jammie Williams is a professional painter and sculptor who lives and works in Middle Tennessee. His art is representational and often uses symbolic imagery. “My works are inspired by my personal memories, feelings and emotions. I work towards conveying moods, the expression of dreams, wonder and renewal by creating personal myths and narratives. This series of works shows an exploration of these ideas.” 

Pearl of the Orient: Celebrating the Early Cultures of the Philippines, through July 23 | Lobby.  Curated with members of our local AAPI community, this exhibit explores the various Indigenous cultures of the Philippines through languages, photographs, maps, clothing, and other artifacts.

Between Tone & Texture: The Art of Edie Maney, through August 21 | Crouch Gallery. Labeling herself an abstract expressionist, Edie Maney paints in a chaotic manner with layer after layer of color and strokes, finding a balance between intensity and motion. “For me, it is color that stimulates a conversation between tone and texture, between motion and shape. Four, five, six layers emerge – and a focal point is revealed.”

Kitty Harvill: New to the Collection, through August 27 | Jostens Gallery. Kitty Harvill is an award-winning wildlife artist and illustrator. This exhibit features nine original watercolors of endangered animals, created during her time in Brazil. Since 2016, Harvill has led a group of like-minded artists through ABUN – Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature. Her work is included in collections throughout the United States, Brazil, Germany and Singapore.

David Smith: Tennessee Waterfalls, through August 29 | Harvill Gallery. Local photographer David Smith captures the movement, spectacle and allure of waterfalls across the state of Tennessee in this collection of photographs.

At Rest: A Still Life Invitational, through August 30 | Orgain & Bruner Galleries. Even the simplest, everyday objects have the power to spark inspiration in an artist’s brush. This invitational exhibition features fourteen national, award-winning artists showcasing a variety of styles that celebrate the still life genre.

Events

First Thursday Art Walk, July 6, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Free to the public. The Museum offers free admission during the First Thursday Art Walk Clarksville from 5 – 8 pm. Bondi Bowls food truck will be serving up some delicious food.

Red Cross Blood Drive, July 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. By Appointment Only. Save lives by giving blood! The Museum and local Red Cross chapter are hosting a blood drive that is open to the public. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter ‘CustomsHouse’ to schedule an appointment.

History on the Rocks @ Skyline 500: A Listen & Learn Happy Hour, July 27| 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Join us Downtown at Skyline 500 rooftop bar inside of Shelby’s Trio for a special history happy hour with Second & Commerce magazine. Check out the newest issue, chat with contributing writers, enjoy drink specials, trivia and more!

Programs

Storytime & Craft, July 6 & 20, 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult. Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio.  Join us in the Family Art Studio to read our favorite children’s books and create fun summer-themed crafts! *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Family Art Saturday, July 29 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Ages 3+, with adult. Free with admission | Family Art Studio. Dig deep into your imagination by creating your own flower out of recycled materials! Turn old postcards, magazine paper, and boxes into a beautiful blooming flower. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Closures

Tuesday, July 4. The Museum will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 for the Fourth of July holiday.