CLARKSVILLE, TENN.- The Customs House Museum’s Kimbrough Gallery is the temporary home to Black-faced Tamarins, Sumatran Tigers, and Cherry-throated Tanagers through October 4th. The artwork in the exhibit, Nature as Art, Art as Awareness, was created by members of the 52-Week-Challenge, a social media group.

Begun in January of 2014, Kitty Harvill, founder of the group, states “The idea was to challenge myself and like minded artists to paint from a nature photo presented each Monday, and to complete it within a week’s time. I had challenged myself to daily painting in 2009 and reaped the rewards of such a strict discipline, but wanted to be a little more generous and not as constricting with a commitment every day for 365 days.”

Currently the group’s membership boasts almost 400 members spanning four continents, and range from beginners and hobby artists, children and adults to seasoned professionals. The group has formed many partnerships with endangered species organizations. The work also appeared in an article of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) website, followed by one from the biologist working with the threatened Giant armadillo in Brazil’s Pantanal and funded by the Royal Zoological Society, also resulting in images used in educational slideshow presentations. They have partnered with the Rainforest Trust in painting the Lemurs of Madagascar and the Sumatran Tiger, and with SAVE Brasil (Brazilian affiliate of BirdLife International).

The Customs House will be theming its Children’s Room with “Art in Nature” during the month of September. The classroom is open during regular museum hours and provides families a hands-on learning experience with arts and crafts.