Smithsonian exhibit coming to Andy

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Andalusia is one of six Alabama cities that will host The Way We Worked exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution in 2013-14 as part of the Museum on Main Street project.

Alabama Humanities Foundation executive director Armand DeKeyser spoke to the Andalusia Rotary Club about the exhibit and the AHF on Tuesday.

DeKeyser said the AHF will work with the local community to localize the Worked story, and to record oral histories about work in Covington County.

“We hope to talk about the timber industry, and how it impacted the way of life here in Andalusia and Covington County,” DeKeyser said. “We’ll help you promote and produce the exhibit, and provide a scholar or two.

“All we ask out of the community, really, is support,” he said “So far, y’all have done great.”

AHF sponsors a Smithsonian Museums on Main Street in Alabama every other year, he said. The exhibits generally draw 5,000 to 6,000 viewers.

ìThe information is generic in a sense, then we encourage you in your communities to tailor the exhibit and, tell your story about how you work,î he said.

The exhibit also will travel to Red Bay, Ashland, Fairhope, Northport and Wetumpka. It will be on display here from Jan. 2 through Feb. 9 of 2014.