CLARKSVILLE, TN – Listed below are all the events happening at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in March.

Exhibitions

Waiting Room: A Print Series by Belgin Yucelen, March 3 – May 30 | 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, March 3 – 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.

The Poetry Around Us: Women Painting the Outdoors, March 4 – 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.

Extracurriculars: Activities at Burt High School, through February 26 | Harvill Gallery.  Burt High School operated from 1923 to 1970 and was the only all-Black high school in Montgomery County, serving as a bedrock in the community. Take a look back at these school days, and share some school memories of your own, in this Collections Spotlight.

Maria D’Souza: From Dreams, through March 26 | Orgain & Bruner Galleries. Using the world’s most iconic animals as the raw form, Maria D’Souza combines design, color and dimension to create beaded skull works that stylistically range from western to contemporary.

Art of the Horse, through April 9 | Kimbrough Gallery. This invitational show features a variety of 2D, and 3D works of art inspired by the equine. Artists include Jill Soukup, Mary Ross Bushholz, Sandy McDaniel, Rox Corbett, Anni Crouter and more.

A Woman’s Room, through April 16 | Lobby. From hairpins to high heels and anything in-between, check out this selection of artifacts from the Museum collections pertaining to women’s fashion.

Events

First Thursday Art Walk, March 2 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Free to the public. The Museum offers free admission during First Thursday Art Walk from 5 p.m. – 8 pm. Philly King food truck will be serving up delicious eats in the Courtyard.

The SS Clarksville Victory and Her Seagoing Cowboys: Healing the Wounds of War, March 16 | 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.  Free to the public; does not include Museum admission | Turner Auditorium.  The SS Clarksville Victory, named after the city of Clarksville, Tennessee, made seven trips to Europe after World War II delivering livestock to Poland and Greece for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). In an illustrated talk, Peggy Reiff Miller will bring to life the story of the men, dubbed “seagoing cowboys,” who tended the animals on these voyages. Some of the first civilians to enter Europe after the war, their service helped to rebuild a broken world.

Mission: Nutrition, A Children’s Health Fair, April 1 | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | All ages; free with membership or paid admission | Museum’s Lower Level. In partnership with students of Public Health at Austin Peay State University, the 2023 Children’s Health Fair features a variety of programming related to nutrition and healthy eating. Learn about everything from local crops to cuisines around the world, adding color and variety to your plate and much more with hands-on activities throughout the Museum.

Programs

Storytime & Craft, March 2 & 16 | 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 themed crafts! *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Spring Break at the Museum. We’re hosting a series of creative skill-building programs for kids at the Museum from Tuesday, March 7 to
Thursday March 9. Space is limited – registration opens soon at customshousemuseum.org!

Recycled Robots, March 7 | 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Ages 5+; free with membership or paid admission; registration required | Coca-Cola Café.  Learn about recycling everyday items and giving them new purpose by making your own recycled robot! What does your robot look like and what does it do? This creative activity uses imagination, concentration and problem-solving skills.

Watercolor for Kids, March 8 | 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Ages 5-7) & 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Ages 8-12); free with membership or paid admission; registration required | Coca-Cola Café. From broad backgrounds to fine details, practicing painting improves hand-eye coordination and boosts motor skills. Get creative and experiment with watercolors!

Make Your Own Seed Paper, March 9 | 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Ages 5+; free with membership or paid admission; registration required | Coca-Cola Café.  Seed paper is a fun way to save your seeds for planting. We will use a selection of annual and perennial wildflower seeds that will invite honeybees, ladybugs, hummingbirds, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators to your yard.

Family Art Saturday: Sparkling Spring Paintings, March 25 | 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.  We’re welcoming the spring season with works of art. Create a magical swirling work of art with paint and Epsom salt! This activity is open-minded, self-motivated, and based on experimenting – each one will be unique and beautiful. *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.