Dixie Art Colony Foundation

All About John Kelly Fitzpatrick

–by Mark Andrew Harris, Founder & Director Due to the outstanding feedback we received from our January 18, 2024, Lunch & Learn program, "All About John Kelly Fitzpatrick: The Story of a Humble Life Well Lived" I thought it appropriate to share some of the information included in the presentation with

Continue reading

A Weekend on Alabama’s Gulf Coast: Part One

–by Mark Andrew Harris, Founder & Director What a wonderful weekend—it isn't easy to know where to begin in summarizing our weekend on Alabama's Gulf Coast. So I will start by thanking Barbara Teare with the Dauphin Island Gallery, LLC, and Kathryn Carver with the Dauphin Island Heritage & Arts

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

The Story Behind the Founding of the DAC Foundation: Part Two

With growing frequency, we are asked what sparked the founding of the DAC Foundation. The answer is a rather lengthy story with numerous twists and turns that we will share in a series of blog posts. Through these posts—we will also share information about individuals and experiences that were key

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

Barbara B. Davis Paintings Added to DAC Foundation Collection

Two oil portraits by River Region artist Barbara Binford Davis have been added to the DAC Foundation "New Generation Collection." The "New Generation Project" began in 2016 at the Fitzpatrick-Mehearg Farm located in Elmore, Alabama, where the DAC Foundation held a program about the history of the property once owned by Governor Benjamin Fitzpatrick

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Kelly Fitzpatrick

–by Mark Harris, Founder & Director, DAC Foundation Growing up, I never thought much about the lives of those that preceded me. But as my body, mind, and soul grow older, I find that my desire to gather knowledge about the past seems to soar in concert with my age.

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

A Tribute to Veterans: Veterans Day 2020

On this day, we want to thank all veterans for their service and recognize some of the Dixie Art Colony artists that served in the United States military. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we canceled our 2020 Annual Veterans Day Exhibition. This year would have been our fourth annual exhibition held

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

Wetumpka Artist Commissioned by DAC Foundation Founder

Wetumpka artist STEVE GARST was commissioned by Dixie Art Colony Foundation founder and director Mark Harris to create his interpretation of a historical photograph from the DAC Foundation Archives onto canvas. Shown is Wetumpka artist Steve Garst in his studio working on the large and detailed commission. Garst is a 1969

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

DID YOU KNOW Kelly Fitzpatrick was an Aspiring Writer?

Most are not aware that KELLY FITZPATRICK was an ASPIRING WRITER that studied journalism at the UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA before beginning his art education. Barbara Binford Davis, Kelly Fitzpatrick, 2018, oil on paper The DAC Foundation is fortunate to have numerous examples of Fitzpatrick's musing and writings in the DAC Foundation

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” John Kelly Fitzpatrick

On this day, we celebrate the birthday of DIXIE ART COLONY co-founder JOHN KELLY FITZPATRICK. Fitzpatrick was born on August 15, 1888. Although there have been questions surrounding the actual birthplace of John Kelly Fitzpatrick, we have uncovered documents that prove he was born at the Cantelou home located at 207

Continue reading
Dixie Art Colony Foundation

Our Most Prized Donations are Unsolicited Donations

—by Mark Harris, Founder & Director of the DAC FoundationFrom day one a large part of the vision for the Dixie Art Colony Foundation was to produce ONGOING, QUALITY, FRESH, and ORIGINAL CONTENT that would inspire our followers to want to invest in our future and yearn for more. Someone recently asked me,

Continue reading