CLARKSVILLE, TN – Here are all the events happening in May at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in the month of May.

Museum Exhibitions

Pearl of the Orient: Celebrating the Early Cultures of the Philippines, May 15 – 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.

Kitty Harvill: New to the Collection, May 23 – 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.

Waiting Room: A Print Series by Belgin Yucelen, through May 20 | Harvill Gallery. Created by the artist during the 2020 shutdown, Waiting Room is a print series depicting people in isolation and their windows to the outside, beyond reach. Originally from Turkey and now based in Colorado, Belgin Yucelen’s art remains true to the desire to create meaning and beauty in subtle simplicity.

Elena Burykina: Brushed Expressions, through May 21 | Jostens Gallery. Elena Burykina is a figurative artist based in Chattanooga. As a child in Ukraine, she received a classical art education which she used for over a decade as an architect. Now as a full-time artist, her focus is portraiture, where she seeks a connection with the model to explore their personalities, moods and thoughts.

Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design, through May 25 | Orgain & Bruner Galleries.  The forms, patterns and processes found in the natural world can inspire our design of everything from clothing to skyscrapers. This exhibit brings together art and design with environmental science using artifacts, artworks and photography, as well as interactive learning stations.

The Poetry Around Us: Women Painting the Outdoors, through May 28 | Crouch Gallery.  Capturing the beauty of the outdoors across painting mediums and geographical locations, this invitational exhibit features works of art from more than a dozen award-winning, nationally recognized women artists.

Month of the Military Child Art Show, through May 31 | Memory Lane.  April is Month of the Military Child, a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices and the challenges they overcome. In partnership with the USO, this special exhibit features selected artwork by local children with an active-duty parent or guardian.

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.”

Museum Events

First Thursday Art Walk, May 4 | 5 p.m.–8 p.m. Free to the public.  The Museum offers free admission during First Thursday Art Walk Clarksville from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. At 6 p.m., photographer Nathan Collie will be doing a presentation on his book, Moments with Birds, in the Turner Auditorium, followed by a book signing in the lobby. A food truck will be set up in the Courtyard serving up some delicious eats.

I ❤ My Museum Give-A-Thon, May 4 – May 11; Courtyard Jam | May 11 | 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Join us for a special week of giving as we work towards our fundraising goal, culminating in a block party in the Museum Courtyard. Tell us how much you love YOUR Museum, and enjoy live music, food trucks and tons of fun at our Courtyard Jam.

Jazz in June: An Evening with Kat Anderson, June 3 | 6 p.m.– 9 p.m. Tickets $75 | 21+. The Museum welcomes Kat Anderson for a night of soulful jazz, food, drinks and dancing. Kat has toured with American funk band The Bar-Kays and is currently the lead female vocalist for the B.B. King All Star band at B.B. King’s Blues Club in downtown Memphis. She was recently featured on a single by The Justus Brothers that debuted on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Most Added list.  All proceeds for this event go towards the Museum’s mission. With your support, the Museum can continue to provide creative program opportunities for children, share artists’ work in new exhibits and preserve the history of our community by expanding our collection. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, April 25 at customshousemuseum.org.

Museum Programs

Storytime & Craft, May 4 & 18 | 10:30 a.m | All ages, with adult. Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. Join us in the Family Art Studio as we read our favorite children’s books and create fun themed crafts! *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Making with Mom, May 13 | 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | All ages, with adult, $5 admission for children, FREE for moms/guardians | Executive Dining Room.  Join us for a special Mother’s Day art activity where families can work together to create a beautiful watercolor masterpiece. Muffins and juice will be provided. Registration opens May 1 at customshousemuseum.org. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Family Art Saturday, May 27 | 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. Come create a beautiful work of art for May’s Family Art Saturday! *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. Enjoy one of the largest model railroad layouts in the region boasting a miniature castle, UFO and scenic landscape. Interact with the miniature world by making automobiles move and helicopters fly. The model train exhibit is open daily, and themes change every season.

Seasons: The Museum Store

Clarksville Merch Sale, offer expires May 31, 2023.  Stop by Seasons: The Museum Store and check out our Clarksville merchandise. From t-shirts to coffee mugs
and everything in between, all Clarksville-branded items are 25% off.