Kentuck’s February 2nd Art Night, 5-9 p.m., continues The Music Lives On: Folk Song Traditions Told by Alabama Artists, showing through March 29, and opens “The Art of the Stitch” by Antzee Magruder showing through February 25.

Georgine Clarke Building: The Music Lives On: Folk Song Traditions Told by Alabama Artists. In continuing celebration of the Year of Alabama Music, Kentuck is presenting The Music Lives On: Folk Song Traditions Told by Alabama Artists, an exhibition of works depicting the region’s great musical traditions created by the state’s most celebrated folk artists. Those represented in this colorful exhibition include such acclaimed artists as Lonnie Holley, Joe Minter, Charlie Lucas, and Thornton Dial. This traveling exhibition started at the Vulcan Museum in Birmingham and can be experienced at Kentuck through March 29. The exhibit hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11am to 2pm.

Kentuck’s showing of The Music Lives On includes a special live performance by Bobby Horton at 7pm on Friday, February 10, of music related to the works on exhibit. Horton is a founding member of Three on a String and has contributed to the soundtracks of the Ken Burns films Baseball and The Civil War, among many other accomplishments. $10 plus tax general admission; free for Kentuck Members. Seating is limited, so call 758-1257 now to reserve your place.

Museum Gallery: “The Art of the Stitch” by Antzee Magruder. Magruder’s artistic experience includes classes and workshops from the University of Memphis in drawing and painting and fabric art and mixed media art from the Ozark Folk School, and Memphis College. Her work is featured in galleries in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.

“Art quilting combines tradition with modern design; the fabric gives me an opportunity to experiment using fabric in the same way that paint is used. An art quilt is a demonstration of handwork, color and composition. It is an abstract in form, but an expression of workmanship and skill. Layers of fabric are used as in traditional quilting; each is stitched by hand or by a sewing machine in a unique way to create the design.”

“The technique involves selecting fabrics to express the idea. It poses a challenge to use the preprinted fabric into a meaningful composition. I start by selecting fabric that interests me in terms of color, pattern and texture; it is cut and assembled into my design. The inspiration for each piece comes from colors and shapes in nature. The materials I use most often are cotton batiks and silks. I embellish the art quilts with found objects, watercolor and acrylic vignettes. Each piece is hand stitched with various colors of embroidery floss.”
“The fabrics make the quilts personal and exciting. And like a painter, there are times when pattern and movement are needed to bring the idea together. The texture is inviting and creates visual interest, it also creates pattern by playing visually with line, shape and color. The fabric works its magic to transform the flat surface by adding dimension and depth. The result is a balance between old and new, exploring endless possibilities.”

Kentuck Courtyard: live music by Bible Study, open studios, and cob oven goodies.

The Music Lives On: Folk Song Traditions Told by Alabama Artists is presented in part by the Alabama Tourism Department and the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Art Night is the first Thursday of each month and celebrates the opening of all exhibits in downtown Northport galleries. Kentuck studio artists also host their monthly Open Studios for visitors to see works in progress, meet the artists, and see the actual workspaces where the artists apply materials, design, technique and equipment to the creative process.