By Meghan E. Gattignolo When you do get a chance to walk through Dunbar Cave again, one thing the guides will ask is some variation of the question: What in your life do you consider sacred? A church is a sacred place to many, but some people find their grandmother’s kitchen equally so. A stadium…
?>
News
The Tennessee Watercolor Society: Making Magic with Watermedia
By Meghan E. Gattignolo It’s hard to argue against the beauty of a watercolor painting. Flower petals appear so delicate, and the atmosphere often feels more whimsical than with other forms of painting. The lighter hues and fine edges lend a dream-like air to any scene. As beautiful as they are, watercolors are also one of…
Meet Matthew Sarnelli: Curator of Collections
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a museum? At the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, three curators cultivate artwork, programming and ideas: a Curator of Exhibits, a Curator of Education and a Curator of Collections. All three curators interact with the collection in different ways. From…
Flying High Artists: Signature Pieces with a Statement
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Flying High has been one of Clarksville’s premier events for 40 years. The Museum’s main fundraising function, Flying High always proves to be an exciting party. Local celebrities, dinner, music and good vibes create the perfect atmosphere for an amazing night. Everyone remembers their first Flying High. A major part of…
“Like a Thunderbolt from the Skies”: The 101st Airborne Division’s Role in D-Day
By Meghan E. Gattignolo On June 6, 1944, some 156,000 troops from the UK, Canada, and the US landed on the shores of enemy-occupied France to bravely face Nazi Germany head on. The strategy was to take out Germany first, before focusing all military strength on Japan. First, though, Allied troops had to do the…
Celebrate 40 Years with a Week of Giving at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Hopefully, there comes a time in every museum’s life when it can reflect back on four decades of serving a community. In June, the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center will reach such a milestone. For 40 years, the Museum has had a hand in shaping the current Clarksville community. Long-time…
Celebrating 40 Years: The Vehicles of Memory Lane
By Meghan E. Gattignolo When I visited the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center as a kid, one of my favorite areas of the Museum to wander through was Memory Lane. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Memory Lane gallery was the full-time home to most of the Museum’s collection of antique vehicles, as well…
Artivists Among Us: Artists Who Turn Trash into Treasure
By Meghan E. Gattignolo If you’ve ever felt a pang of guilt while throwing away a piece of trash, then you have something in common with Nashville artist Bill Henig. Henig may not call himself an “artivist,” but his art does send a message: one person’s trash is another’s treasure. The designated recycler of his…
Public Art in Clarksville: 4 Outstanding Statues
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Recently, we discussed some of the awesome murals that can be found in downtown Clarksville. Now it’s time to talk statues! City statues serve as monuments to the people who have shaped the cultural and historical landscape of a place. Clarksville has many people to salute who have brought our city to…
3 Captivating Reasons to Explore Dunbar Cave this Summer
By Meghan E. Gattignolo It’s almost that time of year again! Time to submerge yourself underground into the real hard-rock history of Clarksville, Tennessee with a tour through Dunbar Cave! Nowhere else in Montgomery County will give you a wider survey of the area’s history. From 10,000-year-old stoke marks to Civil War portraits and remnants of…