By Jeff Devine, Editor-in-Chief, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK—The Smithsonian comes to Dale County! Residents are invited to a special treat as the Dowling Museum prepares to host the opening reception for the collaborative Smithsonian exhibition “Many Voices, One Nation: Voices of Dale County in the Wiregrass”
The exhibit is the Art Center’s chosen manner in which to celebrate both local history and the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
The reception will be held Sunday, June 28, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dowling Museum | Ann Rudd Art Center, located at 144 East Broad Street in Ozark.
Presented by the Dale County Council of the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), the exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program and the National Museum of American History. The exhibit was made possible through support from the Ford Foundation and local humanities and arts organizations.
In addition to the Smithsonian exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to view a special display in the gallery featuring watercolor prints by Helen Taylor Andrews and photographs by Carol Luckfield from their book, Spirit of Dale County: Celebrating Two Hundred Years.
Andrews and Luckfield will be on hand during the reception to autograph copies of the book, which will be available for purchase.
Frank Thompson, president of DCCAH, encouraged community members to attend the event and take part in the celebration.
“Come join us as we celebrate 250 years as a nation,” Thompson said.
The exhibition highlights the stories, experiences, and voices that have shaped both local communities and the broader American story. Organizers hope the event will bring together residents from across the Wiregrass to reflect on Dale County’s history while recognizing its place within the nation’s ongoing journey.
Admission to the reception is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact the Dale County Council of the Arts and Humanities or the Rudd Art Center at (334) 445-6526, email them at [email protected], or stop by in person during business hours.
