Welcome to Shoals
Art - ShoalsArt.com
The
Muscle
Shoals area of Alabama is rich in history, tradition and spirit. Nestled
in the northwest region of the state of Alabama on the beautiful Tennessee River,
"the Shoals" is quite possibly Alabama's
best kept secret. A cultural melting pot of talent; artists, musicians,
and actors abound in the area. Centrally located, it is not far from Huntsville,
Birmingham, Memphis, Tunica, and Nashville. It's
First Fridays
Arts Festival grows in popularity every year.
The
Shoals area consists of the four cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield
and Tuscumbia. All are within minutes driving distance of each other, providing
a unique appeal of shops, galleries, restaurants, colleges, churches and civic
organizations.
Each
unique city attracts local, regional, national and international visitors alike.
Attractions include the W.C.
Handy Festival (Father of the Blues), W.C.
Handy home and museum, the birthplace
of Helen Keller (Ivy Green), the Frank
Lloyd Wright-Rosenbaum house, Pope's Tavern Museum, the Natchez
Trace Parkway, Florence
Indian Mound and Museum, the Belle Mont Mansion, Kennedy-Douglass
Center for the Arts, and the Tennessee
Valley Art Center.
Please visit the City
of Florence, Alabama website to view schedules and events for art galleries
and museums in the Florence-Shoals area.
Mission
The mission
of Shoals Art is to promote the artists and art galleries in the Shoals area,
by specifically providing our visitors with the online tools needed to answer
the what, where, when, who and how questions associated with our cities' art culture
resources. We have recently expanded our arts area coverage to include Huntsville,
Decatur, Athens, and Madison, Alabama.
Shoals
Area Artists and Events Feature Stories...
8.15.08
- Florence,
AL - Harmonie Dance Studio announces a fun full schedule of classes
for all age groups. Classes include Introduction to Belly Dance, Belly Dance for
Kids!, Belly Dance for Beginner's, Intermediate Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion for
Beginner's, Zumba for Fitness! (Salsa fitness) and more. The studio is located
at 106
South Pine Streeet, Florence Alabama. Prices and schedules vary per class.
Contact Bella, Sumire, Illirya, or Kelia at harmoniedancestudio@yahoo.com
for more information.
2.16.08
- Florence,
AL - Award winning author Rosalie Turner will be touring the Shoals
area February 22-23. Lectures and book signings for Freedom Bound, a novel based
on the life of Anna Kingsley, are scheduled for Friday in Tuscumbia and Saturday
in Florence. Bestselling author Debbie Macomber says that "Freedom Bound
enslaves the heart from the very first page. The life of Anna Kingsley, a
woman of courage, grit, and determination, is a beacon to others to rise above
circumstances. Bravo to Rosalie T. Turner, a powerful storyteller.” "Well-researched
and echantingly written" states former MS Governor William Winter of William Winter
Institute for Racial Reconciliation. For more information about the book, visit
www.freedombound.net.
Lecture/Signing Schedule
Friday, Feb 22 - On the air, WZZA Radio,
The Soul of the Shoals
Friday, Feb 22 at 6pm - Coldwater Books, call (256)
381-2525
Saturday, Feb 23 at 11am - Florence Lauderdale Public Library, call
(256) 764-6564 or visit www.flpl.org
11.20.07 -
Florence, AL - The Homemade Jamz
Blues Band will be featured on CBS Sunday Morning Show, Sunday December 2nd. Please
check your area for local programming times. The show was filmed in Florence,
Alabama at the W.C. Handy Music Festival.
9.19.07
- Orange
Beach, AL - Alabama governor Bob Riley announced at a state tourism conference
that the tagline "Sweet Home Alabama" will be used in 2008 as part of
a statewide marketing campaign. The slogan was used in a Lynyrd Skynyrd song in
1974 and as a movie title starring Reese Witherspoon. In 2007 Alabama art was
promoted, for 2008 it will be sports, for 2009 the focus will be on Alabama history
and for 2010 the theme will be the “Year of Small Towns and Downtowns.” To
see the new Sweet Home Alabama logo and learn more about Alabama tourism, click
here...
9.6.07
- Lauderdale County, AL - The Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau was named
the top convention and visitors bureau by the Southeast Tourism Society. Debbie
Wilson, director of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, praised her staff
and the relationships the bureau has developed with local partners such as the
Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and the University of North Alabama. The Florence-Lauderdale
award gives Alabama claim to both the top state and the top local tourism bureau
in the 12-state region. Learn
more about tourism in Alabama here...
8.25.07
- Florence, AL - In An Elephant's Memory, these spectacular prints capture
the essence of one of the greatest collegiate coaches, in a captivating image
of reflection. Football fans in Alabama are ecstatic over the superb attention
to detail in this work; the high quality poster prints feature the quality of
the original, which was painted on a prepared ground containing marble dust. Two
print types are available, fitting the budget of even the cost-conscious sports
art fan. More information is available online at the Alabama artist's website:
www.anelephantsmemory.com.
Prints start at only $29.99 (plus shipping).
8.1.07
- Nashville, TN - Come on down! The Shoals area is featured as a place to
visit in Nashville Lifestyles: The Magazine of Music City. Let's give a
warm welcome with our traditional Southern charm to the fine folks visiting from
the Nashville area. Keep an eye out for those Tennessee car tags, we're seeing
more and more of them every day. Let's not forget to provide the same exposure
of Alabama tags by visiting our friendly music city to the north. In fact, we
have so much in common (both areas rich history of music), we are for all practical
purposes, "related". Please check out the full story online at Nashville
Lifestyles website.
6.28.07
- Birmingham, Alabama - Author Karyn Zweifel to promote her book Alabama
Arts, Friday July 6th and Saturday, July 7th in Florence, Alabama. She will
attend the First Friday arts event July 6th from 5-8pm in historic downtown Florence.
Saturday, July 7th, she will present a brief Book Talk at the Florence-Lauderdale
Public Library at 11am with a book signing to follow, 350 North Wood Avenue. The
book, published in March by The Birmingham News, is 129 full-color pages
filled with lively arts in every corner of our state. It is for sale at $14.95.
"Our state
has a perfect climate for growing all kinds of crops, including artists who lead
us to see the world differently," Zweifel says. "Alabama's art
reflects its 
people
and its culture, painting a picture of changing times and attitudes. It
is found everywhere, from two-lane country roads to the state's industrial heart.
Murals and monuments, galleries, theatres and bookstores all reveal the dreams
of the individual artists, even better, they help each of us bring into sharper
focus our own beliefs and hopes for the future."
For
more infomation, contact:
Karyn Zweifel, karyn@karynzweifel.com
6.15.07
- Florence, Alabama - The
book, Two Days of Doubt:
The Gate to Pusan Was Closed to the North Koreans, 1950, was recently released
by a local Florence resident. It is a true story of Buddy and his life, including
his service in the 70th
Tank Battalion. Hugh Cort, Jr. was honored as a Distinguished Member of the
70th ARMOR Regiment by The Secretary of The Army.
North
Korea is thumbing its nose at the most powerful countries in the world. What would
it be doing now if it had driven the U.S. out of Korea in 1950, 56 years ago?
There were no reserves that 13th of August and it seemed probable the war was
lost. The 70th Tank Battalion, and its WW II tanks without ammunition, should
not have been in Korea. Buddy should have been dead. These were the two that arrived
and made history in America's favor.
To
order the book online, visit the Two
days of doubt website.
Upcoming
book signing events and dates to meet the author are below.
Helen
Keller Festival Week - June 18th and 19th
Tuscumbia Railroad Station, Tuscumbia,
Alabama
4pm to 5pm CST
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library - June
24th
Historic Downtown Florence, Alabama
2pm CST
350 N Wood Ave
(256) 764-6564
Coldwater Books - June 30th
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Corner of 6th and Main Street
(256) 381-2525
6.13.07
- Sheffield, Alabama - The
Shoals continues to
be a magnet for the film industry with the latest production of Birth
of a Legend: Story of the Wawa. Produced
by Sheri Wiggins and directed by
Steve Wiggins, the film was a finalist at the 2007 Apalachian
Film Festival. Support Whippoorwill Hollow Films in Sheffield by purchasing
the film when it is released to DVD. For more information, visit the official
Birth of a Legend
website.
5.25.07
- Florence, Alabama - Music in the Park features bands playing in Historic
Downtown Florence at Wilson Park. Get out of the office and enjoy fresh air, sunshine
and lunch in the park, along with some excellent music.
Wilson Park
- 11am to 1pm through June
This free event is organized by the City and
cosponsored by Q-107.
For more information, call (256) 760-9648 or visit
the Florence Main
Street Program website.
5.23.07 - Florence, Alabama - Have you noticed a picture from the Shoals
on a Jones(tm) Soda drink? Do you have what it takes to be seen on Jones(tm) Soda?
Click
here to see a showing of local photographers who have submitted their works
for Jones(tm) Pure Cane Soda labels. You may pick up a bottle or can at a local
grocery or retail store and at Rivertown
Coffee Company in historic downtown Florence.
5.7.07
- Athens, Alabama - Mark your calendars, the second annual Art on the Square
will he held from 10 am to 4 pm in historic downtown Athens on September 8, 2007.
Local and regional artists will showcase and sell their art in various mediums.
There will also be peforming arts children's area and local food. Admission is
FREE. For more information, contact Trisha at: artonthesquare@hotmail.com.
4.17.07
- Tuscumbia, Alabama - Local photographer/artist featured on WZZA radio
station 1410 AM, the "Soul of the Shoals". David Messer was interviewed
by Tori Bailey today; topics included the arts, music, the use of the Internet
for business promotion, and David's latest book release, New Orleans: A
Post-Katrina Photo Essay.
Click
here to listen to the audio, Copyright
©2007 WZZA Radio.
For
more information, contact WZZA Radio at 1570 Woodmont Drive, Tuscumbia, AL 35674.
Phone: (256) 381-1862.
4.16.07
- Florence, Alabama - Hank Klibanoff, co-author of The
Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation,
will be speaking and signing books at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library on
Saturday, April 21, at 11 am.
| BAMM.com says
that The Race Beat goes "behind the headlines and datelines" of the civil
rights movement to "show how a dedicated cadre of newsmen revealed to a nation
its most shameful shortcomings and propelled its citizens to act." Books will
be on sale at the event. A native of Florence, Alabama, Hank Klibanoff is the
managing editor for news at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is a former
metro reporter, national correspondent based in Chicago, business editor, and
deputy managing editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he worked for
twenty years. He has also reported for The Boston Globe, The Daily Herald,
the South Mississippi Sun (now the Sun Herald), and the Delta
Democrat-Times. | 
Hank Klibanoff acknowledges
civil rights photojournalist Charles
Moore. |
Update:
On 4/17/07 USA Today reported the The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil
Rights Struggle and the Awakening of a Nation, by Gene Roberts and Hank
Klibanoff, won the Pulitzer Prize in the history category.
For
more information, visit www.flpl.org
or call (256) 764-6564.
4.13.07
- Athens, Alabama - Dogwood Festival on the Square, April 28th in
Downtown Athens. The Annual Athens Dogwood Festival will be held on the square
with music, crafters, artisans and food vendors.
Dogwood
trees blooming around the Courthouse Square are a sign of Spring in Athens! Come
celebrate with family and friends. Enjoy great food and musical entertainment
throughout the day; visit with crafters and artists as they show off their wares
and relax. Market Street will be filed with activities for everyone!
For more information visit www.keepathenslimestonebeautiful.com,
e-mail KALB@pclnet.net,
or call (256) 233-8728.
2.20.07
-
MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama – Hackers
still favored entering the final week of “Nashville Star” voting. As the hit country
music reality show “Nashville Star” approaches its season finale, sibling finalists
Angela and Zac Hacker are still on top. This Thursday’s episode of Nashville
Star, during which finalists will perform cover songs, will reveal who
makes it to the season finale.
Last
weekend, the siblings from LaGrange, Ala. returned to the Shoals for the first
time since the premiere of the fifth season’s first episode seven weeks ago. The
Hackers gave a short acoustic performance and meet-and-greet for fans at the Alabama
Music Hall of Fame Saturday evening. Afterward, they performed a full concert
at PJ’s Club in Muscle Shoals. Fans from the Shoals and beyond showed up to cheer
the “Nashville Star” finalists on. “It couldn’t have gone any better,” said Rodney
Hall of Fame Music Group. “I think the community really came out with their support
for Zac and Angela, and they obviously appreciated it greatly.”
A
throng of fans at the Hall of Fame greeted the Hackers wearing “Hacker Backer”
pins and waving signs, welcoming the siblings back to the Shoals. Angela and Zac
performed original music alongside friend and co-writer James LeBlanc of House
of Fame Publishing. According to Hall, both the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and
PJ’s Club were both filled to capacity. USA Network will air footage of the homecoming
performances and festivities this Thursday on the seventh episode of “Nashville
Star.”
The Hackers have
gained the admiration of fans across the nation with their soulful, powerhouse
performances during the first six episodes of the show. Both brother and sister
are professional songwriters; Angela is a staff songwriter for Rick Hall Music,
and Zac writes for House of Fame Publishing. Both companies are located at Muscle
Shoals' renowned Fame Studios, where the siblings have been writing and recording
during recent years.
The
smash-hit USA Network competition offers contestants a chance to become the next
"Nashville Star." The first-place winner will be awarded a new Chevy Silverado,
the chance to perform on the Grand Ole Opry and a professional recording contract
with Warner Bros. Records. The seventh episode of "Nashville Star" will air on
Thurs., Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. EST / 9 p.m. CST on USA Network. For more information
contact Rodney Hall, Fame Recording Studios, online at www.fame2.com.
2.1.07
-
Celebrate
Mardi Gras. A
special performance by the Charlie Rose Trio (Charles Rose, pianist, Bob Wray
on bass, and Marcus Pope on drums) will accompany a New Orleans multi-media photography
exhibit at the Rosetta Stone Gallery, 305 North Court Street, from 5pm to 8pm
Friday, February 2. Photo essay books and photo exhibit prints in 8x10 or 5x7
sizes will be available for purchase. Limited supplies of masks and beads will
be available to make this a truly festive event.
1.31.07
-
Celebrate
Black History Month with a lecture at the W.C. Handy
Museum. Dr.
Roosevelt Newson will speak at the W.C. Handy Museum on Thursday, February 22.
His subject will be the influence of music by African Americans on the Western
world. Dr. Newson’s program is part of the University of North Alabama Speakers
Bureau which is coordinated by the Office of University Relations. The discussion
will be from noon until 1:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Participants
will be able to walk through the W.C. Handy Museum after the presentation and
learn more about the "Father of the Blues." Bring a sack lunch and spend your
lunch hour learning about this important subject.
Dr.
Newson is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at U.N.A. His administrative
career in Higher Education spans a period of nearly two decades. Prior to his
current career, Newson was a full-time concert pianist who was under management
in New York City. After his professional debut at Wigmore Hall in London, he presented
a number of broadcast concerts on radio and television and performed across the
United States and Europe. A graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, the
Louisiana-born pianist also studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the
Juilliard School. A veteran of the Affiliate Artists Program in New York, Newson’s
biography appears in Who’s Who Among Black Americans and the International Who’s
Who in Music.
The
W.C. Handy Museum is located at 620 West College Street. Sponsored by the Florence
Department of Arts and Museums. Call (256) 760-6434 for more information.
12.30.06
-
New
Orleans: A Post-Katrina Photo Essay. A
photography exhibit will be held in Historic Downtown Florence on January 5th,
from 5pm to 8pm at 315 North Court Street. The exhibit features a photo essay
and book release with the authors present for signings. Details
about the exhibit:
The photo essay is a capture of time and space, 15 months after Hurricane
Katrina and the breaking of two New Orleans (NOLA) levees in August of 2005. The
photographer traveled with his New Orleans family the week of Thanksgiving through
these areas and documented the conditions as of November 2006. Although the scarcity
of residents and devastation of places of worship were overwhelmingly disheartening,
encouraging spiritual beacons rose from the ruin. More information is available
at the helping
rebuild New Orleans website.
12.5.06
- Coat of Many
Colors - a tapestry of Alabama Artists With
2007 quickly approaching as the Year
of Alabama
Arts,
what better time than to visit the Alabama Public Television and Alabama
State Council's documentary Website focusing on Alabama's diverse arts world,
past and present. Features 16 Alabama artists. Click
here to explore the fine arts and artists unique to Alabama...
11.14.06
- Share. Admire.
Inspire. - Visit
the Shoals Art blog
and share your art stories in an online community with those who have like interests
in the arts. Feel free to post links to your art works and bios. We're proud to
help promote the Shoals arts community one artist at a time.
10.31.06
- Alabama
artist, Tim Stevenson, releases
Ivory-billed Woodpecker painting. This
artist's rendetion is drawing rave reviews and a growing admirer base of Stevenson's
exceptional attention to detail.
A limited edition of signed prints are available. Act now to purchase your
work of this elusive and elegant bird once thought extinct. Scientists have concluded
that the Ivory-billed woodpecker is now present
in the Big Woods of Arkansas. Recent sightings in Florida have warranted compelling
evidence for a substantial research effort with parties from Auburn University,
Cornell University, Oakwood College, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Arkansas Audubon Society, and other members of the Big
Woods Conservation Partnership.
9.12.06
- City of Florence is a featured community in the EPA's
This is Smart Growth publication. Florence,
Alabama is a community that has turned their values, visions, and aspirations
into reality using smart growth techniques. Read what they are saying about Downtown
Florence and its "smarth growth" development.
Visit
the EPA
Smart Growth Website to download and print the full publication or to order
free copies.
More news... (click
here for archives)
Click
here for a City of Florence and Shoals
Events calendar...
Art Quote
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once
he [she] grows up. - Pablo Picasso
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