Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will be showing an exhibition of works by artist KJ Schumacher from July 8th through August 19th. The artist will be available for a “Meet and Greet” opportunity on Sunday, July 10th from 2 p.m-3 p.m. 

KJ Schumacher is a multidisciplinary artist recently moved to Florence, AL where he currently teaches art at the University of North Alabama.  His work is included in prominent collections throughout the Southeast and has been exhibited in group and solo shows in Nashville, Los Angeles, London, New York, Berlin, and Miami.  This exhibit features recent and newly created work by Schumacher spanning from 2020 to 2022--a time period encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic and the artist’s personal transition from his longtime home and studio in Nashville to the Shoals area. 

 Schumacher’s praxis consists of making and collecting marks and objects, and representing them in made and found situations—inside and outside the studio. These works elaborate on the studio process and build upon a belief that the physical mark holds an intrinsic importance in human experience.  Through the emotive nature of reusing past marks, the artist explores why marks are so important:  they record moments, chapters, and themes in life—and in shared lives.  Accident and intention often compete in the work.  Schumacher collects source material from studio remnants and by way of generative methodology of chance-based selections.