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News

Annual Museum Staff Art Show Arrives August 1!

By Meghan E. Gattignolo  The legend that is The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center’s Annual Staff Art Exhibit is coming back! This exhibit is a unique addition to Clarksville’s local museum, a special chance to see what the creative staff that works behind the scenes can do.  This exhibit has been going for more than…

Dunbar Cave: Clarksville’s Oldest Sacred Space Featured in the Museum’s Sundays @ 3

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…

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…