Exhibits:
Slave and Slaveholders of Wessyngton Plantation January 12 – February 27
Orgain Gallery

Wessyngton Plantation, located in Robertson County, Tennessee, was comprised of 13,000 acres with an enslaved labor force of 274 African Americans in 1860. The exhibit, funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, tells the story of one of the largest tobacco plantations in the country and highlights the diversity and complexity of the slaves’ experience.

The Local 5 February 1 – 26
Planters Bank Peg Harvill Gallery

The Harvill Gallery features five local Clarksville artists: Leah Foote, Malcolm Glass, Terri Jordan, Richard Hogan, and Larry Martin.

Utility & Beauty: The Glass of Emmanuel Studio January 12 – March 5
Crouch Gallery

This exhibit showcases projects from the Emmanuel Stained Glass Studio, Inc. in Nashville Tennessee, one of most highly respected studios in the United States for both restoration and new commissions.

The Art of Margaret Evangeline January 26 – March 5
The Leaf Chronicle Lobby

Margaret Evangeline is a contemporary painter, sculptor, and installation artist who lives and works in New York City. See her paintings from the museum collection on display.

“Her Honeybunch Sweetie Pie is Gone” December 6 – March 12
Kimbrough Gallery

This multimedia exhibit is a visualization of the poem by Stellasue Lee, depicting the tale of a cat’s reaction to her owner’s absence. Stellasue Lee received her Ph.D. from Honolulu University. Now Editor Emeritus at RATTLE, a literary journal, she previously served on the editorial board at Curbstone Press. She lives in East Nashville, TN with her husband artist Eric L Hansen and their two cats, Caylie and Tennyson.

A Fine Note February 1 – May 28
Jostens Gallery

Items from the Customs House Museum’s permanent collection highlight the world of music with instruments, sheet music, photographs, and other artifacts.

Activities:

February in the Family Art Studio: The Stories of Uncle Remus
Through the fictional character of Uncle Remus, Joel Chandler Harris brought to life the stories of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, Brer Fox and their many woodland friends and neighbors that were told by enslaved Africans.
Having spent four years working on a plantation as a young man, Harris himself grew up amongst the stories and the storytellers. His keen ear, combined with great wit, meticulous research, and a fortuitous position at the Atlanta Constitution, allowed the stories to flourish around the globe.

February’s Art Lesson: Drawing Action Lines
Check out the Family Art Studio for tips for drawing action lines. While you are there, enjoy the Uncle Remus-related activities & crafts.

Free Saturday Family Day
February 11, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission to the museum and listen to some Uncle Remus stories in the auditorium:
10:15 – 10:45 a.m.
11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Stained Glass Inspired Art
Saturday, February 25, 10:00 ‐11:00 AM
Get inspired by the beauty of stained glass in our exhibit Utility and Beauty: The Glass of Emmanuel Studio. Then drop by the Family Art Studio between 10:00 ‐11:00 AM to make your own mini stained glass-style art with tissue paper. This activity is appropriate for ages 2 and up.

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.

Reading by Carr Johnson and John F. Baker, Jr.
Sunday, February 26, 2:00 p.m.

Program is free with paid museum admission. In conjunction with the exhibition Slaves and Slaveholders of Wessyngton Plantation.

The groundbreaking exhibit Slaves and Slaveholders of Wessyngton Plantation delves into the lives of slaves and slaveholders who worked and resided at the Wessyngton Plantation in Ceder Hill, Tennessee. The records found in the exhibit were researched by a descendant of the slaves, John F. Baker, Jr. of Springfield, TN. His years of research culminated in his book “The Washingtons of Wessyngton Planation”.

Throughout the book, Mr. Baker mentions Horace Carr, a slave preacher and the great, great, great grandfather of Carr Johnson, a Clarksville resident. Mr. Johnson will be at Customs House to read from a book of his own family’s history in Tennessee, “Pioneer Colored Christian”. He will then introduce the featured speaker of the day, John F. Baker, Jr. who will be giving a power point presentation and book signing.

Closings:
The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center will be closed Monday, February 20 for Presidents’ Day.