The Lower Alabama Arts Coalition will celebrate its grand “re-opening” at its new location at 116 East Three Notch tonight with a reception opening a “Tribute to Woodie Long.”

Long, the house painter-turned-folk-artist whose work gained national acclaim, succumbed to cancer last fall.

LAAC board member Janet Beste said the group has permission from Long’s wife, Dot, to show a number of pieces. There are four large ones from the family’s collection; five pieces, including three Santa’s, from the collection of Ronnie Hendrix; as well as art work from the personal collections of Jo Kelley and Ginny Adams.

The event will feature musical entertainment provided by “Friends of Woodie,” including Walter Moore, Judith Moore and Mike Jones – the former teacher, not the politician by the same name.

Born in Plant City, Fla., Long and his wife, Dot, moved to Andalusia in the early 1980s. He discovered his artistic talent in 1988 while his wife was at an art class, Kathy Kemp wrote in Revelations, Alabama’s Visionary Folk Artists.

The LAAC moved to its new home this spring.

The reception is set from 6:30 until 8 tonight, Fri., July 16.