Moments That Matter, Spaces That Last

March brings fresh colors of the season from our newest Make Your Mark on Mentone mural. This spring’s featured artist is Jacqui Cooper Morgan of Oxford, Alabama, an ER nurse and artist known for expressive florals, whimsical animals, and vibrant abstracts. Her mural, inspired by Lookout Mountain wildlife, will be on display March through May at the corner of AL Hwy 117 and CR 89 on the grounds of the Mentone Inn.

Make Your Mark has now featured 11 artists, most working in chalk for the very first time. The project invites artists to create on a literal stage, knowing the work is temporary. It’s about courage, experimentation, and stepping beyond comfort zones. It’s about embracing the beauty of something that won’t last forever. And every now and then, it might even boop your bop. Make Your Mark on Mentone was made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and generous support from local businesses and individuals.

Save the Dates for a Year of Art & Music

It’s shaping up to be a full year for the arts in Mentone. Be sure to mark your calendars!

•Summer Music Series

6-9 p.m. on the grounds of Mentone Inn. Bring a lawn chair. Bring a friend (even four-legged) and enjoy music under the stars in the heart of Mentone.

• Friday, May 15 – Will Dooley & Co.
• Saturday, June 6 – Black Sedan Band (Food: St. Joseph’s)
• Saturday, July 11 – Dennis Parker & Friends: James Taylor Tribute (Food: St. Joseph’s)
• Saturday, August 15 – NACC Mustang String Band & NACC Theatre Department (Food: Boy Scouts)

•Big Art Pop-Up

Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Mentone Inn. A one-day gathering of artists and makers.

•Creative Spirit Market

November 14 & 15 – DeSoto State Park. Regional artists, handcrafted goods, and holiday spirit.

Moon Lake Arts Collective: Building Something That Lasts

While murals are temporary, some creative dreams are meant to take root. Moon Lake Arts Collective will be Mentone’s first public-access pottery and arts studio — a welcoming hub where artists, students, and visitors gather to learn, create, and connect.

Planned for a new building on the historic Moon Lake Campus, the collective will include:

• A flexible arts studio for classes and workshops
• The Little River Art Gallery, featuring 2-D and 3-D work
• A clay studio operating in a guild model with affordable memberships
• “Make Your Own” pottery classes where visitors create a Mentone memory with family and friends

Why does it matter?

• Because hands-on art builds confidence in children.
• Because shared creative space strengthens connection across generations.
• Because working artists deserve access to tools and exhibition space.
• Because visitors who create something meaningful here invest in our local economy.

The collective aims to have a significant community impact by providing a welcoming space for all ages, supporting local artists, and strengthening tourism. Through scholarships and volunteer exchange programs, the Moon Lake Arts Collective will ensure that art is truly for everyone. This project is funded by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Lyndhurst Foundation, Tillotson-Menlo Charitable Foundation, Alabama Arts Tag, and generous individual donors, including Soc & Barbara Sennett, Lesa & David Cummings, Pudden McArthur, Sandra & Ken Perry, Ken Shigley, Diana Ogletree, Cynthia Stinson, Adelaide Drennen, and Ginger Beshears. Fundraising continues as we work toward opening doors that will serve this community for generations.

To learn more or to support the project, visit: www.littleriverartscouncil.org/moonlakeartscollective

Little River Art Gallery Featured Artist

Little River Art Gallery’s featured artist is deJoly LaBrier, a familiar voice to many as a regular contributor to “The Groundhog.”

deJoly works in acrylics, using color and movement to express emotion beyond words. As she shares, “Never underestimate the power of your presence. Being present while being creative results in amazing power emanating from your work.”

By profession, she is a life and writing coach, and she is also an artist, author, animal lover, and good friend. Around town, she is known for wearing a tiara — a quiet reminder to honor herself and, in turn, honor others.

Stop by the gallery and experience her work in person.