7 artsy events + exhibits around Auburn, including free exhibit at the Jule Collins Smith Museum

Painting At The Jule Collins Smith Museum Of Art
Art Gallery In Auburn
Art Museum In Auburn
There’s so many ways to enjoy the arts in Aubur-Opelika, like the new exhibit at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art. (Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art / Facebook)

Get your creative juices flowing and enjoy these relaxing, inspiring things to do around Auburn! Whether you love books or art, you’ll fit right in at these events and exhibits.

1. Third Thursday Poetry Series

Everyone is invited to the Third Thursday Poetry readings at Pebble Hill. (Third Thursday Poetry Series / website) (Elizabeth Hobbs / The Bama Buzz)

Feel inspired by the Third Thursday Poetry Series at Pebble Hill sponsored by multiple departments at Auburn University and theĀ Alabama State Council on the Arts. Each month, a different featured author gives a reading of their work following a brief open mic. Enjoy refreshments and the opportunity to buy the author’s work before leaving.

2. Author Talks at Well Red

Don’t miss the chance to meet authors like Lydia Wilkes and Rachel Yoder at Well Red’s author talks. (Elizabeth Hobbs / The Bama Buzz) (Well Red / website)

Calling all bookwormsā€”don’t miss the chance to meet several accomplished authors visiting Well Red this spring. Enjoy wine, coffee or desserts during an exclusive reading and talk from various authors. Well Red is a bookstore, after all, so be sure to buy and read the featured book before attending the events.

3. Sip and Paint at Visions of Colors Paint and Pour Studio

Enjoy a relaxing paint party at the Visions of Colors Paint and Pour Studio (Visions of Colors Paint and Pour Studio / website)

Bring some wine and your inner artist to unwind with other creatives with beginner-friendly “Sip and Paint” classes at the Visions of Colors Paint and Pour Studio. They offer all sorts of classes including painting and pouring classes for kids, adults or couples. Check out their packed calendar for different painting options and classes.

4. New Exhibit at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art

Here’s a sneak peak of the new exhibits at the Jule. (Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art / Facebook)

Looking for a relaxing day trip and some art to appreciate? I have great newsā€”the new exhibits at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art are now officially here until May 7, 2023. The staff at the Jule have been painting, unpacking and prepping to get these latest exhibitions ready for viewing, so make sure to plan a visit this spring.

On view now are the “Invisible Thread” and ā€œMasaomi Yasunaga: In Holding Closeā€ exhibitions. “Invisible Thread” is a collection of almost 40 contemporary artworks of various mediums with themes of introspection and identity. Two pottery exhibits are making an appearanceā€”view the ā€œClay Body – Southern Potteryā€ collection made by artists in the southern U.S. and the ā€œMasaomi Yasunaga: In Holding Closeā€ dynamic pottery exhibit (this exhibit is visiting from London and making its first appearance in the US!).

To get the full museum experience, I suggest you stroll the galleries, buy a small art piece from the Art-O-Mat machine or get a unique item from the museum store (20% off museum store items this week!), grab a coffee and pastry from the grazer go. goffee and then enjoy the outdoor trail and sculptures.

5. Artist Talks at the Jule

Artist Talk At The Jule
Artist Manon Bellet spoke about her “Radical Naturalism” exhibit series in the Jule last fall. (Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art / Facebook)

Ask your burning questions and hear from featured artists during the Jule’s artist talks. This is a unique chance to immerse yourself in the art and meet the talented artists behind it.

Unable to attend the artist talks but still want to learn more? Check out the Jule’s podcast to heart artists and other professionals talk about art and the Jule’s past exhibits.

6. The Art Haus

The Art Haus is a space for creatives, whether you’re an artist looking for a studio or a gallery space. (Art Haus / website)

If you’re interested in the arts, you need to know about the Art Haus in Opelika. The Art Haus is a non-profit arts space devoted to nurturing the creative community in Auburn-Opelika through showing local and national artists’ works, providing studio space to local artists and hosting community events, art shows and classes.

The Art Haus is furthering their mission with the recent opening of the Art Haus Complex: The Art Haus Studios, an old house turned renovated home of six artist studios. Local artists have working studios in this modern eclectic space in addition to a whole gallery showroom available to rent.

“We believe that the new space will help to engage the community even more by providing a space for new events, thus bringing new artistic life to the downtown Opelika area.”

Lauren Howard, Opelika Art Haus Studios Studio ManagerĀ 

If you know any artists looking for space to show their work or host creative events, the Art Haus is the space for them! Conveniently located near downtown Opelika, the Art Haus is hoping to help cultivate to the artsy, hip community in Opelika.

The Art Haus encourages the community to reach out to learn more about the space, whether you’re an art maker or art appreciator.

7. The locAL Market

Local Market
Shop locally-made art, jewelry, decor and more at The locAL Market. (The locAL Market / Facebook)

The locAL Market features multiple local makers’ works and goods available for purchase. Located in downtown Auburn in J&M Bookstore, it’s the perfect spot to shop for unique, handmade goods for gifts or yourself (who doesn’t love a little artsy pick-me-up?).

To stay up to date on events and news in Alabama, follow the Bama Buzz on FacebookInstagramTikTok + LinkedIn. Let us know what your favorite artsy events in town are!

Elizabeth Hobbs
Elizabeth Hobbs
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