In October 1992, a small group of visual artists, teachers and professional friends, who had studied and painted together in Europe and America, gathered on the shores of Alabama's Lake Martin for a week of shared experiences in painting and instruction removed from the interruptions of every day life.

Arranged as an 80th birthday present to Sarah Carlisle Towery by her children, the gathering became an annual event each October; it was granted non-profit status in 1995.
In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Colony, this historical, biographical and informational film will be a testament to the legacy and contributions of Sarah Carlisle Towery and the Colony.

The tenth of twelve children, Sarah Carlisle was born in 1911 in Alexander City Alabama. Defying the conventions of her place and time, she pursued art, creative expression and art education her entire life. Her kindergarten school she held in her home instilled the love of art in several generations of Alexander City residents. She studied and painted with renowned artists such as Josef Albers at Black Mountain College, Viktor Lowenfeld at Penn State and Hans Hofman at Provincetown.

The background images on this site are random selections from the Art Colony's permanent collection. A different image displays every time a page loads. See the gallery links below for more artwork from the Colony and Sarah Carlisle Towery.