Join the Quad Cities Photo Club in welcoming May’s guest speaker and photographer, Dick Cooper, as he shares a presentation on “Photographing the Music Industry in the Shoals.”

From the Civil Rights Movement to the local music scene, Dick Cooper has worked in many capacities during his career as a photographer. To learn more, visit https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/dick-cooper/

This event will be held in the Southall House next door to the KD Art Center, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Quad Cities Photo Club meeting and events are free and open to the public. All are welcome!

The Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House is thrilled to invite you to a special event filled with conversation and refreshments. On Sunday, May 4th, at 4 PM, join us for “Tea on the Terrace,” an afternoon English tea. 

Enjoy the English tea tradition while immersing themselves in the history of Alabama’s only Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. The afternoon will feature guided tours of the Rosenbaum House along with a selection of tea-time refreshments, including finger sandwiches, scones, and small cakes. 

This event continues the tradition established by Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum, who were known for hosting and providing entertainment. The Florence Arts and Museums, along with the Rosenbaum House staff, are proud to uphold this legacy by providing engaging experiences for our guests. 

This program brought to you by Florence Arts and Museums. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased by clicking the link below.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House is located 601 Riverview Dr, Florence, AL, and is open for tours Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-718-5050 for more information.

Our featured poet this month is Alan May visiting us from Knoxville, TN. He will have several poetry books available for purchase. I've attached reviews of his latest book, Derelict Days in That Derelict Town: New and Uncollected Poems.

Additionally, the writing prompt for April is: What One Sees in the Sky

Alan May grew up in Florence, Alabama. He holds a BA from the University of North Alabama and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama. He has published four books of poetry. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Hollins Critic, The Idaho Review, The New York Quarterly, The New Orleans Review, The Hong Kong Review, and others. He has been an editor for The Black Warrior Review and The Chapbook, and he is currently poetry editor for The Tennes-Sierran. He hosts The Beat, a poetry podcast produced by Knox County Public Library.

Derelict Days in That Derelict Town: New and Uncollected Poems is wide-ranging and far-reaching. The book covers the subjects of rural life, romantic love, early death, gun violence, fathers/forefathers, myths, legends, and real and imaginary monsters. Buy this book and experience what Cintia Santana (author of The Disordered Alphabet) calls "a quirky, at times lonely, playful, and wondrous ride of the imagination."

The Jule Museum at Auburn University Presents

Museum in Motion: Sew Their Names

The Jule Museum at Auburn University, in partnership with Project Threadways, Florence Arts and Museums and the Mt. Willing Quilters of Lowndes County Community Life Center, presents Sew Their Names, an exhibition and community art project dedicated to commemorating the names and legacies of enslaved members of antebellum Baptist churches in Alabama.

Sew Their Names Exhibition: April 8-April 26, 2025

Southall at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

209 East Tuscaloosa Street

Florence, Alabama 35630

Open Monday-Friday 9:00-4:00; Sunday 1:00-4:00

Free Admission

The Sew Their Names exhibition features commemorative quilts made by Southern quiltmakers, Wini McQueen, Yvonne Wells, Charlie Lucas and Mercedes Braxton alongside historical information about the antebellum Hopewell Church in Lowndes County. Additionally, the Mt. Willing Quilters will host a free workshop where community members can contribute to the project through continuing to help stitch the names of enslaved people whose names are listed in the archives of Samford University or connected to their own family history.

Sew Their Names Workshop: Friday, April 25, 5:00-6:30pm

Free and Open to the Public

Join the Mt. Willing Quilters of Lowndes County Community Life Center and learn about their commemorative art project and exhibition, Sew Their Names. Through storytelling, song and sewing, quilters from Mt. Willing will share their history and lead participants through a workshop to help stitch the names of enslaved people across Alabama. No experience necessary; free and open to the public.

About Sew Their Names: The history of Sew Their Names stems from Hopewell Church, an antebellum Baptist church that was constructed in the 1840s in Mt. Willing, Alabama and the entwined histories of Black and White descendants. In particular, the exhibition tells the story of a group of Black quilters, who, in the wake of the activism spurred by the death of George Floyd in 2020, began stitching the names of enslaved persons found in the archives of the Alabama Baptist Church at Samford University. This simple act has now turned into a larger exhibition and community art project to commemorate the erased and forgotten lives of enslaved people across the state of Alabama.

About Museum in Motion: As part of Auburn University’s mission as a public land-grant institution to improve the lives of the people of Alabama, Museum in Motion is a community outreach initiative from The Jule Museum that connects and builds community through arts-centered exhibitions, programming and educational engagement.

Museum in Motion partners with communities and organizations across the state of Alabama to elevate the artistry and culture of Alabama, build vital social connections and increase access to the arts. Initially conceived as part of a Tiger Giving Day initiative in 2020, Museum in Motion has

grown to include pop-up engagements at farmers’ markets and festivals, long-term engagements with regional partners and community-focused exhibitions. Find out more here: https://jcsm.auburn.edu/museum-in-motion/

Storytime at the Museum

Pope's Tavern

Florence Arts & Museums continues its “Storytime at the Museum” series on Friday, April 25th, 3:30pm at Pope's Tavern Museum. Join us for a read-along, followed by a hands-on activity. 

Our Museum Educator will share with us Kid Scientist: Archaeologists on a Dig written by Sue Fleiss and illustrated by Mia Powell. Discover the world of archaeology through the story of four children who go an archaeological dig at Angkor Wat. Afterward, we will explore archaeology in our own backyards with a hands-on activity! This event is free and recommended for children ages 5-8, but all are welcome.

Pope's Tavern is located at 203 Hermitage Drive in Florence, AL 35630. Weather permitting, Storytime will take place outside the museum on the porch. In case of rain, Storytime will be moved inside.

Pope's Tavern is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-4. For questions about Florence Arts & Museums events and programming, call our office at 256-760-6379. 

Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern is hosting a blacksmithing demonstration on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, at 10:00am at Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL. This is one of a series of workshops at Pope’s Tavern that will explore history and archaeology.  

Members of the Athens Forge will be on hand to demonstrate different blacksmithing techniques, including the creation of hand forged steel tools and implements. The demonstration will focus on how items recovered through archaeological testing at Pope’s Tavern may have been made. The program will be held in the yard at Pope’s Tavern; please bring a lawn chair if you’d like a seat.

The Athens Forge, a member of the Alabama Forge Council (www.alaforge.org), is a group of both amateur and professional individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting the knowledge and skills of the blacksmithing craft.

The program is free and is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums. Pope’s Tavern Museum is a museum dedicated to the early (1800-1870) history of Florence and Lauderdale County. Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern is a free, public archaeology program that has been documenting the history of the site since 2022. Pope’s Tavern is located at 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL and is open, Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 256-760-6439 for more information.

Cultivate Your Creativity: A Retreat to help your creative side thrive and flourish.

April 4 - 6, 2025

Southall House at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

How do you stay creatively motivated? How do you keep from feeling stale or stuck? This retreat is designed to help you find ways to continue to grow as a creative person. You'll learn tried and true practices...and more importantly how to modify them to work for you. But this is not just theory or lectures, it's a hands-on working retreat. When you leave you'll have a plan and resources to keep you thriving. 

Monica Yother, your guide for the retreat, is an artist and graphic designer who has worked as a full time creative for over 37 years. She has led team building events for businesses as well as taught a variety of art classes in her studio in Huntsville. 

Visit Eventbrite to register.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cultivate-your-creativity-tickets-1134559701609

2025 ARTISTIC RENDERINGS OF YOUTH

Exhibit Dates: March 24 - April 2

Reception: April 2nd, 5:30-8:30pm

Artistic Renderings of Youth - AROY- is a juried exhibit of work by 7th through 12th grade artists from Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties. Founded by Florence art educator, Jerry Foster, Artistic Renderings of Youth provides an opportunity for the community to discover the young artistic talent in our area. The competition is coordinated by middle school and high school art teachers to give students a chance to exhibit their artwork and receive recognition for their talent.

As a juried exhibition, students have the opportunity to receive awards such as the Jerry Foster Avante Garde Award, the Ronnie Riner Memorial Drawing Award, and scholarships from the University of North Alabama’s Visual Arts Department and School of the Arts. Ribbons are awarded in three grade divisions: Division 1, 7th and 8th grades; Division 2, 9th and 10th grades; and Division 3, 11th and 12th grades.

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379

Cherokee Genealogy Seminar

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, the Florence Indian Mound Museum will host a Cherokee Genealogy Seminar. The seminar will be divided into two parts. The first part is a public presentation titled “the Basics of Cherokee Genealogy” from 10:00am to 11:30am. This presentation will examine how Cherokee genealogical research can separate fact from fiction. Participants will learn about getting started, tribal enrollment protocol, and the resources available for documenting a Cherokee ancestor. This presentation is free and open to the public.

               The second part of the seminar is a 30-minute consultation session with a Cherokee genealogist, starting at 12:30.  A consultation is an opportunity to discuss your research with a professional - what you already know, and what you want to know - and hear their advice about the next steps. The sessions are timed and you are required to fill out a Cherokee Genealogy Questionnaire form and a Lineage chart, which will be emailed to each registrant. The consultation costs $25 and registration can be found here: https://www.florencealmuseums.com/cherokee.

This program is free and is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums and the Alabama Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association. The Florence Indian Mound Museum is located at 1028 S. Court St. Florence, AL, and is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-760-6427 for more information. Visit www.florencealmuseums.com for more details.

END

Open Mic Night

John Tyler Young will be the March Poet for open mic night. He is from Florence and has been published by 7 Points Press. He will have books for sale at Open Mic. You don't want to miss his open-eyed, unflinching observations of life in the 21st century.

The writing prompt for Wednesday, March 26 at 6:30 is On Being a Woman or Your Favorite Object. These items are not related for Open Mic, although for many in our world, sadly, they are. Feel free to write one about each prompt. Men, I encourage you men to put yourself in a woman's shoes and write from her perspective.

Thanks to all who attended the soul-connecting February Open Mic.  And thanks to Florence Arts & Museums for allowing us that special viewing of the Underground Railroad: Dark to Light photography exhibit.

Soap Making Workshop, led by Summer McCreless

Plants have been used for many purposes by people living in Alabama, including for use in soap recipes. This workshop will allow participants to learn about historic and homemade soap making and the evolution of that process. Over time, soap has been used medicinally with specific herbal combinations to bring the user to a more centered and healthy state. Today, soaps are used for cleansing the body and enjoying the infusion of native plants through the senses. Participants will get a small bar of soap to take home.

This workshop will be led by Summer McCreless, owner of Mothering Herbs and a second generation herbalist. Summer has been practicing herbalism for over 17 years, teaching herbal education and plant identification and uses in North Alabama. She has over 30 years of experience and education in plant identification in the United States. 

Tickets for this event are available on Eventbrite, here: https://tinyurl.com/253nm3fa

This program is free and hosted by Florence Arts and Museums. This workshop is made possible by support from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Pope’s Tavern Museum open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am until 4pm, and is located at 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL 35630. For questions, call : (256) 760-6379 or email: connect@florencealmuseums.com.

Open Art Workshop with Kayla McKinney

Do you have an art project that you just can’t seem to finish? Do you need motivation? Ideas? Guidance? Then this Open Art Workshop is for you! Don’t miss this opportunity to find inspiration and motivation to help you complete an unfinished art project OR start a brand new one!

Join art educator, Kayla McKinney on Saturday, March 22nd from 10:00-1:00 for an Open Art Workshop at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts. Kayla has 16 years of experience teaching art and knows the key to curing your “artist’s block”! Bring any materials with you that you may want. We will also have a wide variety of other materials available to use, including papers, pencils, rulers, erasers, markers, color pencils, pastels, modge podge, , air dry clay, and more.

Workshop Details:

Saturday, March 22nd

10:00-1:00 with a 30-minute break.

Fee: $15

Minimum age: 16

2025 Spring Equinox Ceremony

Come celebrate and receive the blessings of the

Spring Equinox 2025

With the CORE Center and Friends of the Mound on

Thursday March 20th, 2025 at sunrise 6:54 a.m.

Please be at the Mound no later than 6:30 a.m. come with an Open and Loving Heart and wear white.

For more information call

Dr. Deborah Carter @ 256-386-9804 or the CORE Center 256-314-4542. If the weather is bad the ceremony will be held at the CORE Center.

There has been a change! The 3rd and last installment of Art Adventures 2025 will no longer focus on the life and art of Ansel Adams. Our new topic is The Art of the Trash.

Whether its called “Ready-made”, Recycled Art, Trash Art, or Trashion, they are all created from discarded materials.  Join us Sunday, March 16th from 2-4pm at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts as local Art Educator, Elizabeth Renault leads an exploration in The Art of the Trash and works created by famous trash artists.  

Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern: Soil Analysis Workshop

Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern is hosting a presentation and workshop on Saturday, March 15th, 2025, at 10:00am at Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL. This is one of a series of workshops at Pope’s Tavern that will explore history and archaeology.  

Brett Hughes, soil scientist, will talk about common soil types in the North Alabama region, and the forces and processes that created them. The workshop will be an interactive way to learn more about the ground beneath our feet!

Hughes is a soil scientist that has mapped for the National Forests in Eastern Oregon, the Natural Resources Conservation Service from Alaska to South Carolina, and now privately throughout Middle Tennessee. He studies landforms and the soils beneath them so we understand our ecosystems and know how to properly manage them. This workshop will be a brief overview on how that is accomplished in the field. With LOTS of time for Q&A for all things soil. After the workshop, Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern will continue its excavation of Test Unit 6.

The program is free and is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums, with support from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Pope’s Tavern Museum is a museum dedicated to the early (1800-1870) history of Florence and Lauderdale County. Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern is a free, public archaeology program that has been documenting the history of the site since 2022. Pope’s Tavern is located at 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL and is open, Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 256-760-6439 for more information.

Storytime at the Museum

at the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House

Florence Arts & Museums will celebrate National Reading Month with “Storytime at the Museum” on Friday, March 14th, 3:30pm at the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House. Join us for a read-along, followed by a hands-on activity. National Reading Month is celebrated every March as a time to encourage people of all ages to discover – or rediscover – the joy of reading.

Our Museum Educator will share with us Shape of the World: A Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright, written by K.L Going and illustrated by Lauren Striner. Discover how a young Frank Lloyd Wright drew inspiration from shapes in nature to one day become America’s most famous architect. Afterward, we will explore shapes too with a hands-on building block activity! This event is free and recommended for children ages 5-8, but all are welcome.

The Rosenbaum House is located at 601 Riverview Dr. in Florence, AL 35630. Parking is across the street. Weather permitting, Storytime will take place outside the museum on the Terrace. In case of rain, Storytime will be moved inside.

For tours, the Rosenbaum House is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday from 1-4. For questions about Florence Arts & Museums events and programming, feel free to call our office at 256-760-6379.

RIDE THE COLOR: Cycling the Length of Japan

Presentation and slideshow by photographer Michael Parker

March 11, 2025 @ 6:30pm

at the KD Art Center Southall House

Join the Quad Cities Photography Club as they host photographer, Michael Parker. His topic for this meeting will be “Ride the Color”, featuring photographs of his cycling travels across Japan.

Michael Parker graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 1998 where he began specializing in architectural photography. Over 25 years he’s traveled to more than 45 countries building an archive of iconic images. He lived in Chicago, Toronto, and New York from 2007-2018 where he learned traditional bookbinding at the Center for Book Arts. He cycled entirely across the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Iceland, and Japan letting that mode of transit set the scene. He is a dedicated urbanist and cycling advocate for the Muscle Shoals region and believes that Tuscumbia and Sheffield are the best cycling cities in Alabama. Now in Sheffield he continues work in the book, paper, and photographic arts. He also makes short films for the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

This program is free and open to the public. We hope so see you there!

Using Kudzu, led by Beth Phillips

Kudzu is not a native plant to Alabama, but thrives in the state’s ecosystem. This workshop will familiarize people with examples of the different types of kudzu products and recipes. There will be an in-depth talk about the uses of kudzu, non-toxic methods of control, and ways to process the plant for use in products and recipes. Tickets for this event are available on Eventbrite, here: https://tinyurl.com/58kwf9ad.

This program is free and hosted by Florence Arts and Museums. This workshop is made possible by support from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Pope’s Tavern Museum open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am until 4pm, and is located at 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL 35630. For questions, call : (256) 760-6379 or email: connect@florencealmuseums.com.

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUM

Sunday, March 2nd @ 2:00pm

at Kennedy-Douglass Art Center

Join us Sunday, March 2nd from 2-3pm for a Read-aloud of "A Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom." This book was written by Bettye Stroud and beautifully illustrated by Erin Susanne Bennett! Following the story we will create our own quilt designs using the interactive Quilt Wall in the Learning Room!

This program and activity are recommended for children ages 5-8, but all ages are welcome.

This program is in conjunction with our current exhibit, "Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad," made possible through MidAmerica Arts Alliance and the National Endowments for the Arts.

Get ready for a night of heart warming poetry at our Florence Art and Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on February 26th, 6:00 p.m at the Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. This month’s Open Mic features a special showing of the exhibit Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad in Kennedy Douglas Center for the Arts. For this event, poets are invited to share their original works that explore the Underground Railroad. 

This event will also feature readings by Riel Fuqua. The event will be followed by an open mic for audience participation. Our goal is to promote poetry and create a welcoming space where both published and unpublished poets can share their work while bringing together our diverse communities.

This program is free and is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums.The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located  at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Herbal Medicine Workshop, led by Summer McCreless

Alabama plants have been used in various medicines by Native Americans and later adopted by European and African Americans. This workshop will provide an opportunity for people to engage with the history of some native plants of Alabama, while learning about their medicinal uses in the past and present. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase homemade remedies and receive recipes. Tickets for this event are available on Eventbrite, here: https://tinyurl.com/229wudwt.

This workshop will be led by Summer McCreless, owner of Mothering Herbs and a second generation herbalist. Summer has been practicing herbalism for over 17 years, teaching herbal education and plant identification and uses in North Alabama. She has over 30 years of experience and education in plant identification in the United States. 

This program is free and hosted by Florence Arts and Museums. This workshop is made possible by support from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Pope’s Tavern Museum open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am until 4pm, and is located at 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL 35630. For questions, call : (256) 760-6379 or email: connect@florencealmuseums.com.

Storytime at the Museum: Exploring the Underground Railroad

at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts 

Currently showing at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is a travelling exhibit titled Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad. In conjunction with this exhibit, Florence Arts and Museums brings you two special Storytime at the Museum events Wednesday, February 13 at 10:00 AM and Friday, February 21 at 1:00 PM. This Free Family Event is recommended for children ages 4-8 but all ages are welcome!

Join our Museum Educator, Ana Peeples at the KD Art Center on Wednesday, February 13th as she reads Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. This Caldecott Award winning children’s book is written by Ellen Levine and beautifully illustrated by Kadir Nelson. It explores the life of Henry Brown and his unique journey to freedom.

 Then on Friday, February 21st Ana will be back to share Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford. This book, which received the Caldecott Honor as well as the Coretta Scott King Award, tells the story of Harriet Tubman’s physical and spiritual journey and her mission to lead others to freedom.

Storytime at the Museum will be held in ‘The Learning Room’ at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Design your own quilt square on our magnet wall. Plot a path to Freedom on our interactive map. Come explore all we have to offer and discover more about the Underground Railroad. 

Through Darkness to Light is organized by ExhibitUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowments for the Arts.

“The Removal of the Creek Indians from Alabama and Georgia, 1827-1849”

While most people are familiar with the Cherokee "Trail of Tears," fewer know that approximately twenty-three thousand Creek Indians were also forced from Alabama and Georgia to Indian territory, west of the Mississippi River between 1827 and 1849. This talk will explain how federal officials relocated the Creek people (including removing those who fled to the Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Seminole Nations) and discuss the Creeks' experiences as they traveled over dusty roads and along frozen rivers to present-day Oklahoma.

Christopher D. Haveman is associate professor of history at the University of West Alabama and the author of Rivers of Sand: Creek Indian Emigration, Relocation, and Ethnic Cleansing in the American South and Bending Their Way Onward: Creek Indian Removal in Documents. Haveman earned his Ph.D. from Auburn University in 2009. He grew up in Bellingham, Washington, and graduated from Western Washington University before receiving an MA from Marquette University.

The lecture is a part of the Draughon Seminars in State and Local History sponsored by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. The series is funded by the Kelly Mosley Endowment in honor of Dr. Ralph B. Draughon, president of Auburn University from 1947 to 1965. Draughon was a historian with a deep commitment to both state history and public education.

For more information about Draughon Seminars and the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, please visit auburn.edu/cah.

In this second installment of the 2025 Art Adventure Series, presenter Elizabeth Renault explores the art of people who use they synesthetic condition to paint or play music. Synesthesia is a condition where one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway. Some people paint what they hear; some paint what they see when using their sense of touch or smell. Different sensual overlaps produce a variety of experiences and artworks.

Storytime at the Museum: Exploring the Underground Railroad

at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts 

Currently showing at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is a travelling exhibit titled Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad. In conjunction with this exhibit, Florence Arts and Museums brings you two special Storytime at the Museum events Wednesday, February 13 at 10:00 AM and Friday, February 21 at 1:00 PM. This Free Family Event is recommended for children ages 4-8 but all ages are welcome!

Join our Museum Educator, Ana Peeples at the KD Art Center on Wednesday, February 13th as she reads Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. This Caldecott Award winning children’s book is written by Ellen Levine and beautifully illustrated by Kadir Nelson. It explores the life of Henry Brown and his unique journey to freedom.

 Then on Friday, February 21st Ana will be back to share Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford. This book, which received the Caldecott Honor as well as the Coretta Scott King Award, tells the story of Harriet Tubman’s physical and spiritual journey and her mission to lead others to freedom.

Storytime at the Museum will be held in ‘The Learning Room’ at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Design your own quilt square on our magnet wall. Plot a path to Freedom on our interactive map. Come explore all we have to offer and discover more about the Underground Railroad. 

Through Darkness to Light is organized by ExhibitUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowments for the Arts.

Balms and Infused Oils Workshop, led by Summer McCreless

Alabama plants provide many uses, including as ingredients in balms and oils. This workshop will allow participants an opportunity to learn about historic natural recipes for different balms and oils and how they can still be used today.

This workshop will be led by Summer McCreless, owner of Mothering Herbs and a second generation herbalist. Summer has been practicing herbalism for over 17 years, teaching herbal education and plant identification and uses in North Alabama. She has over 30 years of experience and education in plant identification in the United States.

Tickets for this event are available on Eventbrite, here: http://tiny.cc/5nu6001.

This program is free and hosted by Florence Arts and Museums. This workshop is made possible by support from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Pope’s Tavern Museum open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am until 4pm, and is located at 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL 35630. For questions, call: (256) 760-6379 or email: connect@florencealmuseums.com.

Please join us for a presentation on Saturday, February 8, at 1pm at the Florence Indian Mound Museum. This talk explores Cherokee Removal in Alabama by looking at Wills Valley and the family of George Lowrey, Assistant Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Lowrey rose to leadership after serving in the Creek War of 1813-1814. He and his extended family claimed land in Tennessee before being driven south of the Tennessee River, some of them settling in Wills Valley. Lowrey's leadership strategy reflects a focus on unity and community, sustained through multiple "removals" in the 1820s and 1830s.

Stuart Marshall is a Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Sewanee—The University of the South and Secretary of the Tennessee Trail of Tears Association (TNTOTA). He completed his Ph.D. in 2023 with his dissertation, "The Age of Junaluska: Eastern Cherokee Sovereignty in the Long Civil War Era." Since arriving at Sewanee, he has worked on a database about the Bell Route of the Trail of Tears—"Retracing the Bell Route: An Archive of Cherokee Removal" (cherokee-bell-route.org).

This program is free and is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums and the Alabama Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association. The Florence Indian Mound Museum is located at 1028 S. Court St. Florence, AL, and is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-760-6427 for more information.

Get ready for a night of heart warming poetry at our Florence Art and Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on January 29th, 2025, at 6:30 p.m at the Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. Poets are invited to share their original works that explore The Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water.

This event will feature readings by Melissa DeOrazio of Dirty Revelers Fame and distinguished poet Harry Moore. The event will be followed by an open mic for audience participation. Our goal is to promote poetry and create a welcoming space where both published and unpublished poets can share their work while bringing together our diverse communities.

This program is free and is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located  at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.