Clarksville’s Customs House Museum February 2024 Exhibits, Activities

Clarksville, TN – The Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is located in Historic Downtown Clarksville, Tennessee. Come explore an entire city block featuring large gallery spaces filled with fine art, science, and history.

Some of the events in January at the Museum include Jacob Lawrence: Tonya Fleming: Up Close Far Away, Ayana Ross: The Lessons I Leave You, From Here to There: Presented by Google, African Americans & the Arts: Celebrating Black History Month, Champagne & Chocolate, Sunday Studio: Painting with Sarah Spillers.

Customs House Museum Exhibits

Tonya Fleming: Up Close Far Away    
February 1st – April 28th | Harvill Gallery      

Photographer Tonya Fleming presents a series of scenic landscapes, tying together the physical distance among the images with the emotional distance felt in each work.

Rising Voices 3: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters
February 7th – April 21st | Kimbrough Gallery   

The $50,000 Bennett Prize is awarded biennially to a woman fine art painter whose principal artistic focus is figurative painting in a primarily realistic style. Rising Voices 3 is comprised of paintings by the 2023 Bennett Prize finalists, including Prize winner Shiqing Deng.

Ayana Ross: The Lessons I Leave You
February 7th – April 21st | Jostens Gallery   

Ayana Ross collects stories. For inspiration, she draws from family, current events, history, art, her experiences growing up in the American South, and Biblical stories viewed through a contemporary lens. Touching on universal themes, Ross’ paintings offer an opening for viewers to find themselves and their own experiences. Ross was the recipient of the 2021 Bennett Prize.

From Here to There: Presented by Google
February 8th – April 24th | Orgain & Bruner Galleries   

How do we move things on land, sea and ai? Through 10 hands-on interactive exhibit stations that include a hovercraft chair, a canal lock system, pneumatic air tubes, pulleys, levers and hydraulics, guests can learn more about the science of how we get from here to there.

From Here to There is a traveling exhibit developed by the Rochester Museum & Science Center of Rochester, NY and the Sciencenter of Ithaca, NY and is funded locally by a Google Data Center Community Grant.

Red Grooms: Selected Works from the Caldwell Collection      
Through February 11th | Memory Lane     

Born in Nashville in 1937, Red Grooms stands among Tennessee’s cultural icons. A performance artist, filmmaker, printmaker and cartoonist, he is best known for colorful pop art that captures both the grotesqueness and humor of everyday life.

His art is featured in the collections of more than 35 museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Knoxville Museum of Art.

This exhibit features paintings and paper sculptures, and is produced in partnership with the West Tennessee Regional Art Center with contributions from the Discovery Park of America.     

African Americans & the Arts: Celebrating Black History Month
Through March 17th | Lobby

The Black History Month theme for 2024 highlights the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Experience the works of local artists through a diverse variety of mediums and subjects. 

Anne K. Beyer & Wyatt Severs: Inhabit 
Through March 24th | Crouch Gallery      

Ceramicist Anne Beyer and wood artist Wyatt Severs bring together a new collection of furniture, vessels and more intimate pieces that can be found in the space we inhabit. “We create our home and make it ours with the objects that we choose to live with, and that in turn gives us agency for how we want to inhabit our home.” 

Museum Events     

First Thursday Art Walk     
February 1st | 5:00pm – 8:00pm    
Free to the public    

Mark your calendars for February’s Art Walk! The Museum offers free admission during First Thursday Art Walk from 5:00pm – 8:00pm.   

Champagne & Chocolate 
February 2nd | 6:00pm – 9:00pm 
$75.00 tickets 

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is kicking off our 40^th anniversary with our premier winter fundraiser. Invite your date or a group of friends to this evening soiree and indulge in a selection of savory and sweet bites, and of course, champagne & chocolate!

Place your bids in the silent auction packed with unique art pieces and donated items perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift for your love. Live music, as well as wine and whiskey pull, will add to the fun of the night! Tickets are on sale now at customshousemuseum.org.

Museum Programs    

Sundays at 3:00 

A Conversation with the Director and Cast of Thoughts of a Colored Man
February 4th | 3:00pm | Turner Auditorium 
Free to the public; does not include Museum admission 

The February installment of our Sundays at 3:00 lecture series welcomes the director and cast members of the upcoming Roxy Regional Theatre production of Thoughts of a Colored Man. Through the storytelling style of SLAM narrative, Thoughts of a Colored Man is a daringly universal new play celebrating the hopes, ambitions, joys and triumphs of Black men in a world that often refuses to hear them.
 
Join director Deontè Warren as he leads the conversation through questions with the actors about their characters, as well as their own personal challenges and hopes as Black men and artists. Thoughts of a Colored Man runs at the Roxy Regional Theatre February 8-24.

Storytime & Craft: Celebrating Black History Month
February 1st | 10:30am | All ages, with adult     
Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio 

Join us in celebrating Black History Month and learn about the uplifting story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, a groundbreaking young artist whose creativity knew no bounds. Afterwards, kids will have a blast creating their very own spaceships to take home.

*All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.     

Storytime & Craft: Presidents’ Day
February 16th | 10:30am | All ages, with adult    
Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio 

Immerse your little ones in the world of presidential tales as we read Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell and Go to Bed, Ted! by Shirin Yim Bridges. After storytime, get ready for a hands-on creative experience with a shaving cream art craft activity.

*All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.     

Sunday Studio: Painting with Sarah Spillers 
February 18th | Third Sunday of each month | 2:00pm & 3:30pm 
Free, with registration required; does not include Museum admission 

Introducing a new workshop series for adults in partnership with APSU’s Community School of the Arts! This month, we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a work of art perfect for couples or groups of friends.

Whether you are a beginner or have painting experience, this workshop is designed to help you develop your skills and express your creativity. This workshop is free and all materials are included, but registration is required. For ages 16+. 

Registration opens January 22nd at customshousemuseum.org

Family Art Saturday: Abstract Smush Art
February 24th | 10:00am – 12:00pm & 2:00– 4:00pm | Ages 3+, with adult     
Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio 

Get ready for a Family Art Saturday that promises a messy and marvelous adventure in creativity! Join us for an exciting smush art activity that’s perfect for all ages. Unleash your artistic side as you experiment with colors, textures and shapes through the delightful process of smushing.

*All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.     

Homeschool Fieldtrip Day  
February 6th, March 5th, April 2nd | 10:30am | All ages, with adult
Free for Museum members; $3.00 per student and $5.00 per adult for nonmembers  

Every semester, local homeschool groups are invited to experience an unforgettable day of exploration and learning. For more information on how to register, contact Curator of Education Stephanie Stafford at stephanie@customshousemuseum.org

To register for the Homeschool Art Class click here.

F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains
Exhibit open daily | Trains run Sundays 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Wednesdays 10:00am – 12:00pm, Fridays 10:00am – 12:00pm and the last Saturday of each month 1:00pm – 4:00pm     

Our model train exhibit is open daily, and themes change every season – so stick around, because you never know what they’ll have in store.   

Seasons: The Museum Store     

Jewelry Sale
Offer expires February 30th, 2024 

Treat your loved one (or yourself!) to unique, handcrafted jewelry pieces from Seasons: The Museum Store. All jewelry is 15% off; members receive 25% off.

No other discounts apply.  

Holiday Schedule 

Presidents’ Day 
The Museum will be closed on Presidents’ Day (2/19).

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 interest museum with over 35,000 square feet of exhibit space and houses hands-on activities and special events. Membership and admission information can be found at customshousemuseum.org.  

Regular museum hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sundays. Adult admission is $12.00 (18-64). Senior Citizens (65+), Adult Military, CMCSS Teachers, and College Students are $9.00. Children ages 3 to 17 are $5.00, and children 2 years or younger 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

Cumberland Winds celebrates Black History Month with “Seeking Our Soul” concert at the Roxy Regional Theatre, February 23rd

Clarksville, TN – For the second year, the Cumberland Winds is celebrating Black History Month with a special concert in the intimate setting of the Roxy Regional Theatre on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at 7:00pm.

This year’s theme, “Seeking Our Soul,” takes a journey through musical styles from traditional spirituals to jazz and classical styles, identifying points of connection throughout. 

[Read more]

Fort Defiance to host Black History Month Event

Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department will host a Black History Month event from 1:00pm-2:15pm on Saturday, February 12th, at Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center.

This free, educational event is open to the public and will feature the presentation “Your Story and Lives Won’t Die Twice” from the following guests of the Mt. Olive Cemetery Historical Preservation Society (MOCHPS) and Austin Peay State University:

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Custom House Museum features acclaimed Realist Painter Juliette Aristides, Lineup of Black History Month Exhibits in February

Clarksville, TN – With the new year comes a fresh slate of outstanding exhibitions at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center. Opening in mid-January is the highly-anticipated reveal of award-winning realist painter Juliette Aristides’ A Life’s Work.

In 2020, the Seattle-based painter focused on the quiet moments of her life. A Life’s Work is a collection of those moments of light and shadows that filled her studio and home.

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Cumberland Winds celebrates Black History Month at the Roxy Regional Theatre on February 23rd

Clarksville, TN – The sounds of West Africa will fill the hall of Clarksville’s oldest professional theatre, the Roxy Regional Theatre, for one afternoon this month.

The Cumberland Winds celebrates Black History Month with a special concert in the intimate setting of the Roxy Regional Theatre on Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 at 2:00pm.

Organized by Yvonne Kendall and Mike Ritter, this narrated performance of instruments, song and dance will travel through time from West Africa to the Americas — North America, South America and the Caribbean — celebrating the musical influence of African culture in the New World.

[Read more]

Fort Defiance announces living history events

Clarksville’s Civil War story meshes with Black History Month

Clarksville, TN – A community favorite, Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center, 120 Duncan Street, offers a variety of events.

Festivities are free of charge and diverse, offering something for visitors of all ages looking to have a great time at one of Clarksville’s most treasured historic sites.

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Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library to celebrate African-American History Month

Clarksville, TN – February is African-American History Month, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library is celebrating in a variety of ways! There will be special programs all month, intended to educate participants on African-American History. All of the library’s events are completely free of charge.

Have you ever wondered about your ancestry but aren’t sure where to begin your research? The Beginner Genealogy Class this weekend will focus specifically on studying African-American genealogy. All experience levels are welcome to attend on Saturday, February 10th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. The class will be held in the computer lab on the second floor.

[Read more]

City of Clarksville to host desegregation pioneer

Black History Month features ‘The Alex-Zan Story’

Clarksville, TN – In celebration of Black History Month, Clarksville Parks and Recreation will present “Words of Power: The Alex-Zan Story” at 5:30pm on February 13th, 2018 at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center located at 1190 Cumberland Drive.

The event is free to the public.

[Read more]

City of Clarksville to honor African American Churches Saturday

Saturday event will celebrate local congregations

Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan has proclaimed Saturday as a day to celebrate the African American Church.

“African American Churches have played a vital role in helping to make the City of Clarksville and communities across our Nation stronger by reaching out to others in need,” Clarksville Mayor McMillan says in the proclamation. “The City of Clarksville joins with all its citizens to celebrate the many contributions African American Churches have made to our City and Country.”

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebrated in “The Mountaintop” at the Roxy Regional Theatre, February 24th – February 27th

Clarksville, TN – During his last night on earth, what thoughts and emotions might have passed through the mind and heart of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? During Black History Month, in honor of the civil rights leader, the Roxy Regional Theatre explores this idea in five public performances of “The Mountaintop”, February 24th – February 27th.

On the evening of April 3rd, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, an exhausted Dr. King retired to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. In this gripping re-imagination of events occurring in the hours before his assassination, playwright Katori Hall picks up with a fictional depiction of a mysterious stranger who arrives at the motel room with some surprising news, forcing Dr. King to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people.

[Read more]

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