The Fusion of Light, Glass, & Time: Handcrafted Glass Design from Ancient Times to Today

By Karen Hovis

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present the fused glass artworks of Brasstown, North Carolina artisan, Karen Hovis, beginning September 6 and continuing through October 29, 2026. Her stunning glass sculptures showcase her mastery of various techniques, creating unique pieces that captivate with their interplay of light and glass.

Please join us for a “Meet & Greet” opportunity with the artist that will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 2-4 pm at the KDAC. This event is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome.

Karen is a fused glass artist who creates kiln formed glass pieces using techniques of fusing, draping, dropping, slumping, and pulling of glass in its various forms of powder, frit, and sheet. Glass, and the beautiful dance that is created when light touches it, has always mesmerized Karen. She began her journey with fusing in 2005 in Martin County, Florida. Numerous courses and years of study, along with trial and error, have taken Karen from Florida, to Georgia, and finally to North Carolina. She has had the pleasure of learning personally from many well-established glass artists.

In 2017 she retired from the insurance world and now has more time to follow her passion. Karen is a student at heart and thrives on trying new techniques and methods. As a former teacher, she loves to explain to others how each piece is created.

Karen is a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild that includes artisans from over nine states: https://southernhighlandguild.org/about/. She was recently honored to have one of her pieces chosen for viewing in Washington D.C. at the Appalachian Regional Commission Office. Karen’s studio is located in Brasstown, North Carolina. To learn more about Karen, visit her website: https://timetofuse.com/

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 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

Pendulum Machines & Copper Engravings:
Metal Works by Royal Miree

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present the dynamic metal works of Birmingham artist, Royal Miree, beginning August 30 and continuing through October 8, 2026.

Royal has been sculpting for over thirty years—an art form he began exploring in junior high school under the instruction of Edward Lee Hendricks—Royal has only ever met two other people who work with metal in the way that he does, which is why his works are so unique. Royal explains that he makes “hand-fabricated metal works. The sculptures are interactive pieces based on pendulum movement.” The works are interactive in that they must be touched in order for the movement to occur: They are entirely kinetic, requiring no electronic technology to keep the movement going. The sculptures are based on balance, and Royal creates all the parts and pieces by hand with newly purchased raw materials. Most of them are his own ideas, and many are inspired by events throughout history—certain pieces can be seen as clues that add up to create a bigger picture or event. 

The displayed sculptures at the KDAC are about 4-6 feet in width and each can weigh about 40 pounds or more. It may seem that the larger objects would take longer to create, however, according to Royal, the intricacy of the design determines the amount of time it will take to make the piece from beginning to end. “If there are a lot of parts and pieces, you have to engineer all those pieces. It could be a small piece of jewelry and still take a long time because of all the components,” Royal says.

Royal’s exhibit will include some of his “Pendulum Machines,” elaborate copper engravings, and a number of metal wall quilts—with each work exhibiting his unique style. For more information and videos about Royal’s work, visit his website: www.royalmiree.com

FAM Gathering: Collaborative Art Making

Join us Saturday, August 29th from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Southall at KD to make something beautiful together! This event marks the first installment of our FAM Gatherings. FAM Gatherings is a series that seeks to bring together communities across Florence to have critical conversations, establish a sense of belonging, and create and examine art. In this workshop, Florence Arts & Museums will be partnering with Nadene Mairesse from Idyllwilde and Liza Jane Richey from Studio 114 at Lowe Mill for a collaborative art making experience. Over wine and refreshments, participants will have the opportunity to engage in warm up activities, community-based painting exercises, and use a variety of materials to make a huge collage as a group.

This event is free to the public. However, registration will be limited to fifteen participants. This event will also be limited to ages 21+. You can register below.

This event will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL. 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 or visiting our website.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, August 25th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry by Mike Turner. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to recite their poems. The optional writing prompt for August is: Fashion.

Mike Turner retired to the Alabama Gulf Coast after a 27-year career as a Federal law enforcement executive. On a lark he took a beginner’s ukulele course, which led him into the world of songwriting and poetry. Mike was named 2017 Male Gospel Entertainer of the Year by the North America Country Music Associations International; was featured performing his original songs about life on the Gulf Coast a the 2020 Monroeville Literary Festival; was named 2025 Poet of the Year by the Alabama State Poetry Society; and is ASPS’s president elect for a term to run 2026-2028. Mike’s goal is for his poems and songs to inspire connection, community and commitment, bringing people together to achieve a caring, peaceful, prosperous and just world for us all. His debut poetry collection, Visions and Memories, is available on Amazon.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & 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 Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Join us Friday, August 21st from 1:30-2:30pm at Southall at KD for a watercolor workshop with Pam Burns!
Admission fee: $40 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Register below to reserve your spot!

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

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 or visiting our website.

Join us Sunday, August 16th from 1:30-2:30pm at Southall at KD for a watercolor workshop with Pam Burns!
Admission fee: $40 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Register below to reserve your spot.

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

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 or visiting our website.

Join us Sunday August 9th from 1:30-3pm at Southall at KD for an Acrylic Painting workshop with Bonnie Davis!
Admission fee: $25 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Register below to reserve your spot.

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

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 or visiting our website.

Ceramics Hand-building Workshop with Aaron Benson at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present another opportunity to participate in a ceramics hand-building workshop with Aaron Benson, UNA Chair of Visual Arts and Design, Associate Professor and Director of Ceramic and Sculpture. Join us 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1st and learn more about clay by building and glazing your own work in this one-day class! Registration is limited, so sign up soon!

Aaron Tennessee Benson has a combined twenty-years of experience working in clay. He received his MFA in Ceramics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has been an intern at Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado and a long-term resident and MJD Fellow at Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. Benson’s work has been published, collected, and exhibited both nationally and internationally. His current body of work uses traditional ceramic hand-building methods to create large scale public works.

Register online:https://www.florencealmuseums.com/calendar Or, to register in person visit the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL (Note: payments at Art Center can only be made with cash or check; deadline to register is July 26).

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
9 am-Noon: Introduction, design, and hand-build
Noon-1:00 pm: Lunch Break (while clay dries)
1:00- 3:00 pm: Glaze and place in kiln.
Art pick-up: August 9th, between 1-4 pm.

WORKSHOP FEE: $95 (includes instruction & materials)

If you need any special accommodations, please reach out to KD Art Center Staff at 256-760-6379.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, July 28th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry by Auburn Shukla. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to recite their poems. The optional writing prompt for July is: Being American.

Shukla is a poet based in Alabama. Her debut poetry collection explores the journey out of dogmatic religion and politics and into a life focused on human connection, reason, and healing. Auburn enjoys spending time with her family, working with animals, especially dogs and horses, skiing in Montana, and listening to alternative hip hop. She describes Uncovered as the universal part of the human experience.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & 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 Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Calling all Alabama Educators! Have you been interested in incorporating more Native American culture and history into your Social Studies curriculum, but are unsure of how to begin or how to stretch it across the curriculum? Join us at the UNA Regional Inservice Center and at the Florence Mound and Museum for an interactive teacher’s in-service with special guest teacher, artist, and storyteller, Anita Flannagan of the Eastern Band Cherokee Nation, Vice President of The Trail of Tears Association, former Cultural Chair Member of the Oka-Kapassa Planning Committee, and current Advisory Board Member of the Florence Mound and Museum. The workshop will be held on Monday, July 20th, 2026 from 9 am to 11 am, register online at http://bit.ly/3Qp0C5D, and receive professional development hours.

Xing Yi Quan Workshop with Gary Padgett

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will host a Xing Yi Quan workshop led by Gary Padgett on Saturday, July 18, from 10:00am–11:00am. This workshop is designed for individuals and families interested in exploring one of the oldest and most direct traditional Chinese martial arts.

Participants will be introduced to training practices that develop mindfulness, mobility, and practical martial arts skills in a supportive and accessible environment. Participants should wear loose clothing or athletic wear and flat-bottom tennis shoes. No prior martial arts experience is required.
This workshop will take place outdoors at KD Art Center. No registration required. 

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 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

STEAM CAMP

Florence Arts and Museums is thrilled to partner with the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library to continue a STEAM Camp for students ages 11-18 from Monday, July 13th through Friday, July 17th, 2026. The camp will take place at KD Art Center and FLPL from 8:45 am to 12 pm each day.

STEAM Camp 2026 will provide opportunities for students to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through FOUR exciting projects! 

Using puppets, claymation, and more, students will learn about visual storytelling through character design, script writing, and filming. They will create their own books from scratch in a papermaking and bookbinding class. Through printmaking, students will learn about creating textures using alternative and found materials to design their own masterpieces while also learning about the history and variety of the art form. In the artifact making class, students will identify and research artifacts from museum collections and learn how to create replicas through 3D printing. On Friday, July 17 students will present their work at a showcase exhibit open to friends and family. 

Registration will open Monday April 20th. Applications will be available through the Florence Arts & Museums website www.florencealmuseums.com/steam or come by KDAC and pick one up! Enrollment fee of $25 will be due upon registration and payable by cash or check only. Submit applications with tuition by mail or in person to Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. in downtown Florence.

This program is sponsored by the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library and Florence Arts and Museums. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library (FLPL) strives to be indispensable to community success by providing every citizen with a reason to use the library. FLPL is a gathering place for new ideas, a technology hub, and a center of learning, creation, and diversity. FLPL office is located at 350 N. Wood Avenue Florence, AL, 35630 and can be reached at (256) 764-6564. Check out their website at www.flpl.com .

Florence Arts & Museums encompasses the KD Art Center, the FLW Rosenbaum House, Pope’s Tavern Museum, and the Florence Indian Mound and Museum. FAM seeks to connect our community through art, history, people, and place. Offices are located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL 35630. Check out our website at: www.florencealmuseums.com, email us at connect@florencealmuseums.com, or call at (256) 760-6379. 

Mostly Blues 2026 Invitational Exhibition
at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present Mostly Blues, an annual soulful exhibition of paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media works by regional artists that visually interpret and pay homage to the power of music. While invited artists from Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties have diverse interpretations—whether depicting a scene from the W.C. Handy Music Festival or literally painting in ‘blues’—all works have a common musical theme that celebrate this area’s ties to the music world. A reception is planned for Sunday, July 19, 1-4 p.m., with an awards presentation that is to be held at 1:30 p.m.

The Mostly Blues exhibit was started in 1994 to honor Florence native W.C. Handy, “Father of the Blues”. Since then, the music-themed display has become a popular summer highlight! The KDAC again looks forward to this opportunity to exhibit the soulful collection of art by not only well-known and established area artists—but also by new, up-and-coming artists as well. This visual homage to the power of music will open on July 12 and remain on display through August 27, 2026.

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 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

Art Camp for Adults

Florence Arts & Museums is happy to host Monica Yother of Studio 127 on Saturday, July 11th from 10am - 4pm at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts. Join us for a full day of creative fun! The event will take place in Southall at KD, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. in Florence. Here is a brief description of what to expect: 

Tickets are $85 or or save when you buy two. Tickets will be available on eventbrite. All art materials are supplied, including lunch. Plus bring a bag of supplies if you would like to participate in a supply swap.

10:00am: Tape, Tags & Gelli Rolls. During the morning part of camp you'll have 3 stations to choose from. You can do all three or hang out at just one..your choice! The 3 stations are:

Tape: Using tape to make a grid on watercolor paper, you'll use paints and different mark making tools to create a full page of colors-and when you remove the tape you're left with 9 individual paintings!

Tags: make creative gift tags for Christmas (or another occassion) or just decorate them to use in a mixed media project or an art journal.

Gelli Rolls: I'll have gel print supplies out as well, so you can print up some papers for your art stash.

12:00: Break for lunch. We'll order from Lost Pizza Co. your choice of Chef Salad or a personal size pizza.

1:00pm: We'll head over to a thrift store close by to find one item to use in a project. (You'll purchase this)

2:00pm: Meet back at the studio and spend the rest of the afternoon using your found treasure in a project. We'll spend the first few minutes sharing what we found and coming up with a plan for it. Coffee & tea provided.

4:00pm: All good things must come to an end, and we'll end our camp at 4pm.

You can register for this event at: https://tinyurl.com/kdarts.

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 Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

“Breath of Life” watercolor exhibition by Laura Walker

at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present a watercolor exhibition, “Breath of Life” by Cullman, Alabama artist Laura Walker beginning July 5, 2026, and continuing through August 20, 2026. A reception will be held on Sun., July 19, 2-4 p.m. in conjunction with the “Mostly Blues” Invitational exhibit. This series of watercolor paintings explore the symbolism of animals and their meanings to the people who see them. Please join us that afternoon for a ‘Meet & Greet’ opportunity with Laura Walker and learn more about her artwork and her creative process!

Of her background, Walker shares, "I have always been visually creative.  When my children were little, I taught art classes and managed an art studio in Cullman, AL.  Realizing I enjoyed making my own art more than I enjoyed teaching, I phased out of teaching by doing custom portraits of people, pets, and homes. Eventually I started doing art festivals and gallery shows throughout the Southeast, which I did for a decade. Now that my children are grown, I am traveling farther to get my art into top national art fairs. I do art with emotion, art with meaning, and art with a soul."

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 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

All of our Florence Arts and Museums sites will be closed on Saturday July 4th.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, June 30th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. Featured guest, Alison Caddell, will be sharing original poetry. This month, poets have the option to share original works that relate to the prompt: Pets and Animals.

Alison M. Caddell is a poet, writer, and educator from Tuskegee, Alabama, whose work lives at the intersection of voice, reflection, and transformation. She is the author of Writing for Healing and Rinda, and she believes that writing is more than expression—it is a way of becoming. In the classroom and on the page, she challenges others to claim their voice, sharpen their language, and tell the stories only they can tell.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & 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 Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Summer will be here soon, and we are preparing for Camp KD 2026! We are offering three 5-day sessions this year and providing a place where children can make art, make friends, learn, and have fun! 

Week 1: June 1-5 

       Students in grades 2-3 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and students in grades 4-6 will meet from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Week 2: June 8-12

       Students in grades 2-3 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and students in grades 4-6 will meet from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Week 3: June 22-26

       Students in grades 7-8 will meet from 9am to 12pm. 

Each class is limited to 18 students. 

The Deadline to apply is May 18th, 2026. 

Applications are available on our website www.florencealmuseums.com/camp-kd 

Or just stop by the art center! We would love to see you. 

Please fill out the application and submit with $50 tuition by mail or in person to:

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

217 E. Tuscaloosa St. 

Florence, AL 35630

We are looking forward to another fun summer of creativity!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email 

connect@florencealmuseums.com

rclarke@florenceal.org

or call 256-760-6379

All of our Florence Arts and Museums sites will be closed this Friday, June 19th, in celebration of Juneteenth.

ARCHAEOLOGY DAY at Pope’s Tavern

Pope’s Tavern Museum will host its fourth annual ARCHAEOLOGY DAY on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 9am until 2pm.

Archaeology Day will give anyone interested an opportunity to learn more about archaeology at an active archaeological site. Everyone is welcome to participate in excavating, sifting, and processing artifacts. Several supporting organizations will be present, including the Alabama Archaeological Society and TVA Cultural Resources. In addition, we will be hosting the following activities alongside the archaeological stations:

Flintknapping with Van King. Learn how projectile points, arrowheads and tools are made from chert.
Plant Identification 101 with Summer McCreless. Learn how to identify, harvest respectfully, and use plants. Learn how plants were used in the past for medicine and in foods.
Blacksmith Demonstration with the Athens Forge, Alabama Forge Council. Watch a demonstration about how blacksmiths create metal tools.
Children’s Art Activity with Erin Dailey. Create a make and take art activity based around archaeology.
Basket Making with Glenn Rikard.

This will be a FREE and FUN event for the entire family! Florence Arts and Museums will be facilitating this event along with volunteers from the Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern project. 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 256-760-6379 for more information.

Pope’s Tavern Museum, in conjunction with Project Archaeology, will host a JUNIOR ARCHAEOLOGY CAMP for students ages 10-18 during the first two weeks of June, 2026. The two-week camp will run from Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 5, and Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 2026. The camp will be divided into two groups based on age:

Group 1: ages 10-12, 9 am- 11:30 am

Group 2: ages 13-18, 9 am - 11:30 am

The camp will introduce students to the concepts of archaeology through hands-on investigation and research. Students will learn how to research, plan, excavate, and process artifacts at Pope’s Tavern Museum. Archaeology can help students grasp concepts relating to mathematics, history, geology, chemistry, social science, and more; this camp will use archaeological processes for teaching the methods of archaeology and the history of the Pope’s Tavern site. Hands-on activities that relate to these subjects, including mapping, excavation, sketching, interpretation, and artifact processing, will make up the majority of the camp.

Applications are available at Pope’s Tavern Museum, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, and online at www.florencealmuseums.com starting April 14, 2026.

This program is free, and sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums, in collaboration with Project Archaeology, and supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 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 256-760-6379 for more information.

Summer will be here soon, and we are preparing for Camp KD 2026! We are offering three 5-day sessions this year and providing a place where children can make art, make friends, learn, and have fun! 

Week 1: June 1-5 

       Students in grades 2-3 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and students in grades 4-6 will meet from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Week 2: June 8-12

       Students in grades 2-3 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and students in grades 4-6 will meet from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Week 3: June 22-26

       Students in grades 7-8 will meet from 9am to 12pm. 

Each class is limited to 18 students. 

The Deadline to apply is May 18th, 2026. 

Applications are available on our website www.florencealmuseums.com/camp-kd 

Or just stop by the art center! We would love to see you. 

Please fill out the application and submit with $50 tuition by mail or in person to:

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

217 E. Tuscaloosa St. 

Florence, AL 35630

We are looking forward to another fun summer of creativity!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email 

connect@florencealmuseums.com

rclarke@florenceal.org

or call 256-760-6379

Pope’s Tavern Museum, in conjunction with Project Archaeology, will host a JUNIOR ARCHAEOLOGY CAMP for students ages 10-18 during the first two weeks of June, 2026. The two-week camp will run from Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 5, and Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 2026. The camp will be divided into two groups based on age:

Group 1: ages 10-12, 9 am- 11:30 am

Group 2: ages 13-18, 9 am - 11:30 am

The camp will introduce students to the concepts of archaeology through hands-on investigation and research. Students will learn how to research, plan, excavate, and process artifacts at Pope’s Tavern Museum. Archaeology can help students grasp concepts relating to mathematics, history, geology, chemistry, social science, and more; this camp will use archaeological processes for teaching the methods of archaeology and the history of the Pope’s Tavern site. Hands-on activities that relate to these subjects, including mapping, excavation, sketching, interpretation, and artifact processing, will make up the majority of the camp.

Applications are available at Pope’s Tavern Museum, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, and online at www.florencealmuseums.com starting April 14, 2026.

This program is free, and sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums, in collaboration with Project Archaeology, and supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 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 256-760-6379 for more information.

Summer will be here soon, and we are preparing for Camp KD 2026! We are offering three 5-day sessions this year and providing a place where children can make art, make friends, learn, and have fun! 

Week 1: June 1-5 

       Students in grades 2-3 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and students in grades 4-6 will meet from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Week 2: June 8-12

       Students in grades 2-3 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and students in grades 4-6 will meet from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Week 3: June 22-26

       Students in grades 7-8 will meet from 9am to 12pm. 

Each class is limited to 18 students. 

The Deadline to apply is May 18th, 2026. 

Applications are available on our website www.florencealmuseums.com/camp-kd 

Or just stop by the art center! We would love to see you. 

Please fill out the application and submit with $50 tuition by mail or in person to:

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

217 E. Tuscaloosa St. 

Florence, AL 35630

We are looking forward to another fun summer of creativity!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email 

connect@florencealmuseums.com

rclarke@florenceal.org

or call 256-760-6379

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, May 26th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. Featured guest, Bonnie Roberts, will be sharing original poetry. This month, poets are invited to share their original works that relate to the prompt: Skyline. 

Roberts is a widely published poet and retired creative writing and English teacher. She has had the pleasure of teaching students of all ages and education levels. Roberts has three traditionally published collections of poetry Her non-fiction book, Every Speck: The Mythology of a Southern Poet, memoirs in both poetry and prose, was released in September 2025.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & 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 Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Arts Alive 2026

Arts Alive 2026 will take place in Wilson Park in downtown Florence, Alabama the weekend of May 16th & 17th. The festival hours will be Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Local, regional, and national artists will sell original works in the park. Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will showcase a gallery exhibit in conjunction with the festival from May 16th through June 26th.

Arts Alive is fun for the whole family! Browse the park for your next artwork purchase. Bring the kids by the Children’s Tent for a creative, hands-on activity. Have lunch at one of the specialty food trucks. Then visit the KD Art Center where, in addition to the Arts Alive Gallery Exhibition, artwork from Lauderdale and Colbert County elementary students will be on display in the breezeway.

The evening of Saturday, May 16th the 2026 Arts Alive Artist Reception will be held in the garden at the KD Art Center from 5:15 to 6:30pm. Join us for a casual gathering of artists and patrons catered by Jill’s Sweet Memories, followed by a brief awards ceremony. Purchase tickets at www.florencealmuseums.com/artsalive .

The Arts Alive Festival is an annual fundraising event for the Kennedy-Douglass Volunteers. Funds raised during the festival and gallery exhibit help to support arts in our community through Art Education endowments. This event is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Bank Independent, and many other local businesses and supporters.

Located at 217 East Tuscaloosa Street in Florence, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is open, free of charge, from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday, and Sundays from 1 to 4pm.

Arts Alive 2026

Arts Alive 2026 will take place in Wilson Park in downtown Florence, Alabama the weekend of May 16th & 17th. The festival hours will be Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Local, regional, and national artists will sell original works in the park. Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will showcase a gallery exhibit in conjunction with the festival from May 16th through June 26th.

Arts Alive is fun for the whole family! Browse the park for your next artwork purchase. Bring the kids by the Children’s Tent for a creative, hands-on activity. Have lunch at one of the specialty food trucks. Then visit the KD Art Center where, in addition to the Arts Alive Gallery Exhibition, artwork from Lauderdale and Colbert County elementary students will be on display in the breezeway.

The evening of Saturday, May 16th the 2026 Arts Alive Artist Reception will be held in the garden at the KD Art Center from 5:15 to 6:30pm. Join us for a casual gathering of artists and patrons catered by Jill’s Sweet Memories, followed by a brief awards ceremony. Purchase tickets at www.florencealmuseums.com/artsalive .

The Arts Alive Festival is an annual fundraising event for the Kennedy-Douglass Volunteers. Funds raised during the festival and gallery exhibit help to support arts in our community through Art Education endowments. This event is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Bank Independent, and many other local businesses and supporters.

Located at 217 East Tuscaloosa Street in Florence, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is open, free of charge, from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday, and Sundays from 1 to 4pm.

For the May 2026 meeting of the Quad Cities Photography Club, we will be welcoming Ken Boyd from Hoover, Alabama. His topic will be "Historic Watermills as Fine Art Photography". Ken has been an enthusiastic and award-winning photographer and writer for over four decades. He taught photography courses at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Samford University for more than 23 years on subjects ranging from traditional darkroom methods and vintage 19th century photographic processes to creative digital techniques. In 2011, the Shades Valley Camera Club recognized Ken with the “Master of Photography” distinction. He is fascinated with history, especially mechanical history. Since the late 1970s, he has researched, visited, and photographed locomotives, watermills, and other historical subjects from across the United States, Canada, and Europe. For more information about Ken and to see some of his photography, visit https://www.kenboydphotography.com/ .

The meeting will take place at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 12, at the Southall-Moore House of the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts.

The Quad Cities Photography Club meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm in Southall House at the KD Art Center. This regular meeting is free for anyone to attend. This group was created in January 2022. Their mission is to provide an informal, friendly, and supportive environment for local photographers at all levels of experience and with interests in all types of photographic imagery. They share ideas and knowledge with one another through participation in meetings, guest lectures, and club excursions. The club has no fees, relying on voluntary contributions. If you are interested in joining the Quad Cities Photo Club, visit their facebook page.

KD Art Center will be open late for First Friday in May! On Friday, May 1st, Florence Arts & Museums staff will be here from 5pm-7:30pm to share about upcoming events & summer camps. We are also planning some fun community projects as part of our KD at 50 Anniversary celebration! Help us create stepping stones for a path in front of our temporary mural and garden, visit inside the gallery for a hands-on activity with our Museum Educator, and explore the updated exhibit space dedicated to the history of Hiram Kennedy Douglass and the Art Center. We hope you’ll stop by and see us.

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9am-4pm and on Sundays from 1-4pm. We will be open until 7:30pm on Friday, May 1, 2026. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.