Dressing Downton at Cheekwood

I love clothing exhibits and this is a fun one, especially if you’re a fan of Downton Abbey (but even if you’re not). The TV show takes place in Britain between 1912 and 1925, and the Cheekwood mansion makes a great background for the period costumes. There's still time to see the exhibition - through September 17th. (Get into the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens free with many art museum or botanical garden memberships.) 

The exhibit is spread throughout the mansion and is juxtaposed with Cheek family belongings and photos showing their similar lifestyle (such as Huldah Warfield Cheek’s presentation to Her Majesty Queen Mary of England at the Court of St. James).

All of the costumes were made by the London costume house of Cosprop Ltd. Some of them include pieces, such as beaded panels, from antique garments.

You can see two antique cars on display in the Cheek family’s garage.

Costumes worn by Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine

A historic restoration of the mansion has just been completed with the return of much of the family's original furnishings.

You can use bell pulls on the other side of this board to ring the bells for the servants.

I loved seeing Mrs. Hughes’s household keys up-close!

  

Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment

“The Hudson Element,” a stained glass window at Lowe Mill by Julie Gill 

There are so many things I love about Lowe Mill: the building itself, the history, the murals, the art exhibits, the artists’ studios (148 of them), artists at work (over 200), and chocolate! There are also concerts, comedy shows, gourmet popsicles, a weekly artist market at The Flying Monkey Arts Center, a farmers market, poetry slams, restaurants, and a whiskey distillery.  My kids have enjoyed art classes, swing dancing, the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and even a prom at Lowe Mill. 

Selling at the Artists Market

Pizzelle's chocolates - almost too pretty to eat...almost.

Lowe Mill opened as a cotton textile mill in 1901. It became a shoe factory after WWII. In the late 70’s it was a warehouse for heating systems. (Historic photos from the Madison County Public Library)

Initial construction c 1901

Courtyard c 1945

Interior c 1945

c 1945

In 2001, Jim Hudson bought it and has developed it into the largest privately owned arts facility in the U.S. Typical for the Rocket City, Jim Hudson loves science (he has master's degrees in physics and biology; he founded Research Genetics, Inc., and he co-founded the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology) and, although not an artist himself, he is a supporter of the arts. 

“The Hudson Element,” Huntsville's “geekiest stained glass window” (shown at the top of the post), was installed in the north wing to honor Hudson. I love stained glass and this window is fabulous! It includes the molecular representation of cotton, periodic table elements spelling out LOWE MILL, and an atomic energy type representation of the elements that spell out HUDSON. Other permanent art includes indoor and outdoor sculpture and this large hanging stained glass window:

 There are several stained glass artist studios:

There are three floors of artist studios:

There are six gallery spaces hosting changing exhibits. It’s like a new, free, art museum appears every two months at Lowe Mill. I especially enjoy the casual atmosphere for browsing these galleries – no museum guard hovering or salesperson bothering you. The large art installations are often my favorites.

Huntsville is a city of engineers and artists, and sometimes they are one and the same. Laurie is a former engineer; we worked together in New Mexico.

More fun stuff includes the cool signs on the studios, a dog comfort station, the stairwells, and a swing. 

Lowe Mill is dog friendly and the artists can bring their pets to work with them.

Lowe Mill “is not liable for accident or injury from you doing something stupid” – love it!

The Alchemy Lounge

More indoor and outdoor murals:

More, more, more:

Swing dancing

View from the Happy Tummy Restaurant

It seems like they are always opening up more space at Lowe Mill. The latest was the opening of 5,800 square feet on the first floor of the North Wing. Huntsville STEAM Works occupies the area where they provide an “engineering playground” with fab lab equipment for use by the general public. Anyone can work on their own projects, take classes and attend seminars, do research, or just hang out there.