Tennessee Valley Museum of Art

The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, formerly known as the Tennessee Valley Art Center,[1] is an art museum located at 511 N Water St in Tuscumbia, Alabama.[2] It is also the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Art Association.[3]

History

Coordinated planning to establish the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art (TVMA) began in 1963 when the Art Clubs of Tri-Cities began spearheading meetings with other partners to formally discuss the matter.[4] The Tennessee Valley Art Association (TVAA) was organized in 1963 to pursue this goal[5] under the leadership of Dr. L. E. Fraser.[6] While meeting of the TVAA began in 1963,[5] it was not formally incorporated until 1964.[1] In 1970, under the leadership of Mrs. J. A. Knight, the TVAA signed an agreement with Tuscumbia's mayor, William Gardiner, to build an art mussuem on the North Common in Tuscumbia with a 99-year lease and perpetual renewal rights. A campaign to raise funds to build the museum was launched at the same time.[7]

Architect Howard A. Griffith Jr. designed the museum, and the ground breaking for construction of the TVMA began on July 6, 1972.[8] Local artist Ethel Davis is credited as providing an instrumental leadership role in establishing the TVMA. She died on November 1, 1968, before the museum was completed in 1973.[6] An opening ceremony was held in March 1973 with the museum opening as the Tennessee Valley Art Center.[8] It was later renamed the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in 2009.[1] Artist Dupree Fuller painted a portrait of Davis which was unveiled at the TVMA in 1974.[6] In 2019 the TVMA had a special exhibition dedicated to Davis and her artwork.[1]

The museum's permanent collection includes the Martin Petroglyph which was carved by Native Americans between 600-1,000 years ago. It was donated to the museum in 1990.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Corey, Russ (January 28, 2019). "Alabama museum exhibit honors artist Ethel Davis". TimesDaily of Florence.
  2. ^ Littman, Margaret (2021). Moon Nashville to New Orleans Road Trip: Hit the Road for the Best Southern Food and Music Along the Natchez Trace. Avalon Publishing. ISBN 9781640499256.
  3. ^ "Tennessee Valley Museum of Art". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  4. ^ "Tri-Cities Art Clubs to Meet Thursadays". Daily Northwest Alabamian. February 21, 1963. p. 5.
  5. ^ a b "An Art Museum". The Florence Herald. June 20, 1963. p. 2.
  6. ^ a b c Norman, Joyce (February 26, 1974). "Ethel Davis Portrait Unveiled in Tuscumbia". The Birmingham News. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Tuscumbia Museum Drive On". The Birmingham News. Nov 24, 1970. p. 1.
  8. ^ a b Norman, Joyce (March 28, 1973). "New Art Center Is Completed in Tuscumbia". The Birmingham News. p. 5.
  9. ^ "Martin Petroglyph". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
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