Heritage Hall Museum has several exhibits on display for the upcoming 175th Anniversary Celebration in Talladega, including one depicting the role Native Americans had in the city being formed and the history of the Battle of Talladega.
Events are planned for both inside and outside Heritage Hall leading up to the celebration March 27.
That’s the day the museum lawn will be filled with artists and their works reflecting the diverse talent of the area.
The Heritage Arts Festival opens to the public at 10 a.m., and more than a dozen painters, potters, carvers and other artists will be on site showing their work and offering hands on arts experiences for all ages.
“We want to focus on the array of talent these artists have and invite people to have the experience of it,” said Tommy Moorehead, artist in residence for Heritage Hall.
Exhibitors include Moorehead’s paintings, and pottery from Joe Williams of Talladega, quilts from Betty Donohue of Talladega, wood carvings from George Hartsfield and Walter Hartsfield of Talladega, paintings by Talladega County artist Art Bacon, folk art displayed by Frank Phillips of Pell City, pottery from Jim Gasser of Jacksonville, photography from Jennifer Alam, soap stone bowls made by Russell Everett, glass art by Jean Lincoln of Pell City, glass art from Lindsey and Marie Moses of Talladega, and paintings from Cathy Thornton of Talladega along with members of the Talladega art class of Sarah’s Girls and from members of the Tuesday night art class held at Heritage Hall Museum.
The festival continues until 6 p.m. on the grounds.
Inside Heritage Hall, there are multiple exhibits that note the city’s history, from the Battle of Talladega and what took place between the Creek and Natchez Indians and the Europeans, an historic collection of photographs and a series of paintings showing the city’s past.
The photographs are part of the museum’s permanent collection, selected from hundreds taken through the years.
One shows a crowd gathered around the downtown square in honor of the city’s Centennial Celebration in 1913, with horse drawn carriages lined up and another, the starting point of the Trail of Tears
The paintings are also part of the museum’s permanent collection, done by the late Frances Upchurch of Talladega.
Moorehead passes along stories with the paintings, pointing out one featuring a flock of geese scattered around a livery stable in town.
“People said the geese flew into town every morning to eat the feed the horses dropped, and every afternoon, they flew back to their farm,” Moorehead said.
Upchurch researched the subjects of her paintings thoroughly, Moorehead said, making sure sites and even the dress of people in the paintings represented the era realistically.
Inside the museum, too, are collections of Native American artifacts that reflect how the people lived.
The indoor exhibits may be viewed the day of the Arts Festival, as well as during regular museum hours, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
