CLARKSVILLE, TN – Here is everything happening at Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in December.

Exhibitions

Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints, through December 31 | Crouch Gallery. From his first published print in 1963, Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) produced a body of work that is both highly dramatic and intensely personal, making him one of the most prominent and lauded artists of the Harlem Renaissance. From depictions of civil rights confrontations to scenes of daily life, these images present a vision of a common struggle toward unity and equality, a universal struggle deeply seated in the depths of the human consciousness. This exhibition features 31 graphic works created by Lawrence between 1983 and 1997. Included are his Hiroshima series of eight prints, the Genesis series of eight prints, the Toussaint L’Ouverture series of ten prints and five other significant works.

American Watercolor Society 156th Traveling Exhibition, through January 2 | Kimbrough Gallery. Since 1866, the American Watercolor Society has worked to advance education and foster the appreciation of watercolor painting in America. Their annual exhibition is open to all artists working in water soluble media: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache and egg tempera on paper.

Vintage Holiday: From the Collection, through January 3 | Lobby. Step back in time this holiday season and enjoy a selection of vintage toys, Christmas ornaments and more from the Museum’s permanent collection.

Customs House Museum Christmas Village, through January 14 | Jostens Gallery. This large collection of porcelain pieces was assembled by Jimmy and Sue Drye of Clarksville and donated to the Museum by their children in their honor. Follow the Christmas locomotive and make your way through the lights and moving parts of the village.

Juliette Aristides & Alan LeQuire: The Figure in Charcoal & Terra Cotta, through January 28 | Orgain & Bruner Galleries. Celebrate the lines, curves and complexities of the human form with new drawings by Juliette Aristedes and incredible terra cotta sculptures by Alan LeQuire. LeQuire, the creator of the monumental Athena Parthenos for the Parthenon in Nashville, is one of Tennessee’s most iconic sculptors. Aristides is an accomplished Seattle-based artist who seeks to understand and convey the human spirit through her work.

Red Grooms: Selected Works from the Caldwell Collection, through February 11| 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.

Brenda Stein: A New View, through February 24| Harvill Gallery. Nashville artist Brenda Stein is recognized for her graceful and uplifting turned wood art. She fosters timeless connections by creating commissioned pieces from trees that have special meaning to their owners. Her ever-expanding scope of material includes wood, ceramics and mixed media.

Events

Noel Night, December 7, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., Free to the public. Get your holiday shopping started at Seasons: The Museum Store! Join us for a festive evening of fun and special discounts. Find unique and thoughtful gifts from small businesses and local artists. Shop for handmade pottery, jewelry, art, books, home décor and much more at the Museum. Enjoy free Museum admission, holiday treats, a craft for kids – maybe even see a special guest from the North Pole! Enjoy 15% off your entire purchase – Museum Members enjoy 25% off.

First Thursday Art Walk, December 7, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., free to the public. Mark your calendars for December Art Walk! The Museum offers free admission during First Thursday Art Walk from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Fifth Saturday Donation Day, December 30, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fifth Saturday is Donation Day! During any month with five Saturdays, on the fifth Saturday any monetary donation to the Museum is your admission.

Programs

Sundays at 3:00, Jacob Lawrence: Storyteller of Courage, Resistance and Freedom, December 3 | 3 pm., Free to the public. This first installment of our Sundays at 3:00 lecture series brings Dr. Leslie King Hammond to the Customs House Museum for a unique opportunity you won’t want to miss! Dr. King Hammond is an American artist, curator and art historian who is the Founding Director of the Center for Race and Culture at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she is also Graduate Dean Emeritus. She will guide us through the remarkable work and life of artist Jacob Lawrence, shedding light on the stories, struggles and influences that shaped his iconic works.

Storytime & Craft: Almost Time to Hibernate, December 7, 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult, Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. Join us as we explore the enchanting world of bears getting ready for hibernation. We’re reading the cozy winter-themed stories Bears Don’t Share by Lorna Scobie and Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead. Afterwards, children will craft their very own holiday wreath. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

The Snowflake Special Experience, Dec 16, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. | Ages 3-12, with adult $8 ticket, $5 for members; tickets are for children only, adults do not need a ticket. All aboard the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center’s Snowflake Special Experience! Put on your pajamas for a magical day of watching the model trains run, reading holiday stories, working with others to build a train city and making a craft to take home. Each ticket holder will receive a keepsake sleigh bell, and the train conductor says to expect a visit from Santa for photo opportunities! Parents and other family members are invited, but only children with tickets will receive the keepsake. Tickets must be purchased in advance and space is limited. Tickets can be purchased online, in-store or by phone. To purchase tickets by phone, please call Seasons: The Museum Store at (931) 648-5780 ext. 2039. Tickets are non-refundable. Museum admission is not included in the program price.

Storytime & Craft: It’s Winter! December 21, 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult, Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. Come celebrate the magic of winter as we dive into two enchanting stories, First Snow in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick and Little Deer Lost by Janet Bingham. Following these wonderful winter stories, join us to make your very own snowflakes. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Family Art Saturday: Winter Wonderland, December 30 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Ages 3+, with adult, Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. Embrace the magic of the winter season with our special “Winter Wonderland” edition of Family Art Saturday! Celebrate all things winter and engage in a fun craft activity that will spark your imagination. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains, exhibit open daily | Trains run Sundays 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and the last Saturday of each month 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate the upcoming Christmas season with our model train exhibit as it takes you on a magical adventure through the holiday! Our model train exhibit is open daily, and themes change every season – so stick around, because you never know what they’ll have in store.