Nashville Artist Brings the Outdoors In at the Customs House Museum

Clarksville, TN – Through the end of November, guests of the Customs House Museum can enjoy the forests of Elizabeth Sanford within the Planters Bank Peg Harvill Gallery. Bright colored leaves and creatures roam the space in layers of watercolors.

Many of the pieces in the show are reminiscent of pop-up books and shadow boxes.

Elizabeth Sanford says of her work “I grew up exploring the neighborhood woods, and I’ve never really stopped. I still get that buzz of anticipation as I cross the boundary and step in under the trees. You never know what you might find if you slow down and take the time to look.”

“I get a similar thrill of discovery working with fluid paint on paper. I’m drawn to the luminosity of layered colors and the surprises that result when water, paper and paint collaborate. A healthy forest has several layers; each has its own inhabitants, with a complex mix of interspecies connections. The understory is one of these layers; like the one in an actual forest, mine is full of separate pieces that link together to form a whole. Each one tells a visual story full of layers, layers of color, layers of paper, and layers of connections for the viewer to explore,” said Sanford.

Elizabeth Sanford received a BA in art from the University of Virginia and an MFA in painting and drawing from East Carolina University. She has been teaching art for more than twenty years and is currently an adjunct instructor at Watkins College of Art, Design and Film in Nashville. Her work is in many collections including the Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, the Tennessee State Museum, John Hopkins University and the Savannah College of Art and Design

Inside the Understory will be on exhibit through November 29th.

For more information on above events contact Terri Jordan, Exhibits Curator, at 931.648.5780 or terri@customshousemuseum.org

About the Customs House Museum

Located in the heart of historic downtown Clarksville, Tennessee, the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is the State’s second largest general museum.

With over 35,000 square feet of the region’s best hands-on activities and special events…people of all ages agree – the Customs House Museum is well worth the stop!

The Explorer’s Gallery is packed with fun, learning and fantasy in Aunt Alice’s Attic, McGregor’s Market and kitchen, and of course – the Bubble Cave! Finally, get “all aboard” to see our fantastic model trains. Our volunteer engineers “ride the rails” every Sunday afternoon from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

Regular museum hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sundays. Adult admission is $7.00, Senior Citizens and College ID $5.00, Ages 6 to 18 $3.00, and under six years and Museum members are free.

The Customs House Museum is located at 200 South Second Street. For more information, call 931.648.5780 or visit their website at www.customshousemuseum.org