Alabama's Art Colony

Sarah Carlisle Towery
LIVES FOR THE ARTS
Resident began painting at an early age, still going strong

By Patrick McCreless

For Alexander City resident Sarah Carlisle Towery, art is not just something to do; it is a way of life.  "I feel like it's (art) just needed ...as eating," Towery said.

At 94 years old and going on 95, Towery has seen a lot of history, from wars, to natural disasters to civil rights.  And she has painted several works dedicated to those moments in time.  One particularly poignant piece, which she recently discovered in her basement, depicted the Birmingham race riots of the 1960s ..."when they were hosing them down," she said.

Like millions of other Americans, she watched the travesty unfold, but unlike them, she felt the need to put the images down on paper and drew a quick sketch in ink, "just because it was a quick feeling," Towery said.

And a "feeling" probably could best describe the way she creates her art.  "I don't paint things anymore," Towery said.  Instead of looking at an object or person and then painting them, she starts with a blank canvas and just splatters it with a couple of colors.  "Then I let it tell me what it wants to be," Towery said.  "Usually now it's a feeling."

Another such example is a painting she did after she saw the destruction wrought by a Florida hurricane.  At first glance, the painting appears to be nothing more than a loose collection of colors.  Upon further inspection, however, the images of broken staircases and partially destroyed buildings appear.

Her painting of Hurricane Katrina is equally intriguing.  What first looks like an assembly of blobs is, in fact, the many sad faces of the displaced victims.

"She has such beautiful abstract paintings," said Jamie Dark, who ha become a lifelong friend of Towery's since being taught by her in kindergarten.  "She was a wonderful kindergarten teacher ...very interested in the arts and teaching...just a really kind and great person."  Dark currently has three portraits that Towery made of her when she was a child.

The 10th of 12 children, Towery was born and raised in Alexander City.  A well-known artist in the southeast, she has studied and painted with renowned artists such as Josef Albers at Black Mountain College, Viktor Lowenfeld at Penn State and Hans Hofman at Provincetown.  Towery has painted and exhibited on the islands of Samos and Paros, Greece; in Majorca, Spain; and in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

She has taught at the Demonstration School at the University of Montevallo, Southern Union Community College, various public schools and also private classes, which she still does today.  "I have a group that I paint with," Towery said.  One member of that group, and another good friend of Towery's, is Virginia Bradshaw.

When she was 14 years old, Bradshaw and a few other children took art classes with Towery a few days a week during the same period that she was teaching kindergarten in Alexander City.  "She was quite an inspiration to me at that time and still today," Bradshaw said.  "Now I paint with her weekly."

Described by Towery as a relaxed atmosphere, the once-a-week paint sessions are a time when the group can get together and critique each other's work.  "She's still quite a good critique," Bradshaw said.  "She can instantly tell you what might be wrong.  She's been a mentor to me."

The painting sessions are held in Towery's basement, which she has turned into a studio.  Although a little haphazard, Towery could not have her studio any other way.  "I can't imagine having a clean studio," she said.  The studio and her art sessions are just a glimpse of her artistic life style.

Just by walking into her home, one can get an appreciation for that way of life.  Designed by Towery and her son, who is an architect, the entire home is a testament to art.  Created with space in mind, her  home is filled with art, art books and painting equipment.  "It's an accumulation...how can you throw anything away when it means something," Towery said.

Every wall is filled to the brim with paintings done by Towery, her students and her friends.  "That's what a house is for to me.  Just to have pictures everywhere," she said.

Besides teaching, Towery has helped create two separate art events.  She was a charter member of the World Art Workshop, which provided artists with the opportunity to travel, study, and paint in unusual and unfamiliar places.  She traveled with other artists and painted in countries like Greece, France, Ireland and Mexico.

The second art event, the Sarah Carlisle Art Colony, actually began as an 80th birthday present from her children.  "They got a bunch of friends together to paint for a week," said Lynn Spraggins, who has helped organize several of the art colonies.  "It's the most wonderful gift that I could have," Towery said.

Now an annual event, the art colony is held each fall at Children's Harbor on Lake Martin.  Every year, Spraggins said, two well-known artists come and instruct.  Spraggins got involved with the colony from knowing several of Towery's friends who were already involved and because of his children. "I like to expose my children to different things," he said.

Although he has not known Towery for very long, she has already made an impression on him.  "She's a sweet lady," Spraggins said.  "She's got a lot of good paintings...she can tell you a lot about art."

And art is what she lives for and what she says has given her many wonderful years. "Painting helps you to be healthy," Towery said.  "It's the real cause of my long life."