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Forward Movement: Selections from the Collection of Johnny and Allison Howze

Morris T. Howard, Dreamers, oil on canvas. From the Collection of Johnny and Allison Howze. Image courtesy Johnny Howze and used with permission of the artist.

The Paul R. Jones Museum is proud to present the exhibition, Forward Movement: Selections from the Collection of Johnny and Allison Howze, from October 1 to December 3, 2021. There will be a closing reception on First Friday, December 3, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Face coverings are required in the gallery.

Forward Movement brings a selection of works from the collection of Johnny and Allison Howze to Tuscaloosa, showcasing modern and contemporary works that both beautify their home and illuminate their interest in artists addressing social justice issues. The selections that make up the exhibition include abstract and figurative works, paintings, collages and sculptures. Many of these works draw heavily on themes of protest and progress, featuring scenes rooted in both the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the current Black Lives Matter movement. Other selections are more abstract, using shape, color and composition to convey movement and emotion.

“A longtime friend of the Paul R. Jones Museum, and an alumnus of The University of Alabama, Johnny Howze, along with his wife Allison, has been collecting artwork since 1997,” explained Paul R. Jones Collection Curator Emily Bibb. “The Howzes were inspired in part to begin their collection by the example of Paul R. Jones,” said Bibb. “Like Jones, the Howzes’ collection features artists from their Atlanta community, including Kevin Cole and Larry Walker, as well as nationally and internationally renowned artists like Chakaia Booker and David Driskell. The Jones Museum is pleased to welcome and share these selections from the Collection of Johnny and Allison Howze with our community in Tuscaloosa.”

Forward Movement | Paul R. Jones Museum from UA College of Arts & Sciences on Vimeo.

The Paul R. Jones Museum is an essential part of the education and development of UA students and our community. Admission to the gallery is free. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and on the First Friday of the month, 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Call the museum at (205) 345-3038 or email the director for more information. The Paul R. Jones Museum is located at 2308 Sixth Street, in downtown Tuscaloosa, one block from the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. 

For more information about The University of Alabama’s programs in studio art and art history, visit our Degree Programs page.