Established in 1957, Huntsville Art League is a nonprofit artists’ cooperative with a mission to promote understanding, appreciation, participation and general interest in the visual arts. We are supported through the countless volunteer hours of our members, corporate and private sponsorships, and grants.

As told by Jo-Ann (Reeve) Savas

My Father, Keith Reeve, was a Professor of Architecture at Auburn University. He taught me art from the age of five. Later, I worked at his architecture office, doing light rendering. I taught art privately during High School at Auburn. As an art student at Auburn University, I went to Europe for one year, which I spent traveling, painting and visiting Art Museums. Returning to Auburn, I studied and did practice teaching. I gained degrees in Art and Education in August 1956.

My parents had moved to Huntsville, and on graduation I came to live with them. I placed an advertisement in the Huntsville Times offering private Art lessons for adults, teenagers and children and started teaching right away.

Sharon Rhett was one of the people answering the ad. She stated she thought that there had been an Art organization in Huntsville in the 1930’s, but she was not sure. She discussed such an organization that she was familiar with in her hometown. She and Eugenia Smith, Philip Mason, Elvira Glover and others, who called, expressed an interest in forming an Art organization. There was not an active organization in Huntsville at that time for promoting Art.

We had a meeting of people interested in January 1957 at my parents’ home. In April of 1957, I went to work as an Illustrator at Redstone Arsenal. For several months we kept meeting people with interest in an Art organization. We met briefly at the old Carnegie Library trying to get a feel of how much interest there was for such an organization. In October 1957 at the First Presbyterian Church, we had the first meeting with the purpose of developing an art organization.

There were about 30 interested people in attendance. Some of those in attendance were Jo-Ann Reeve, Sharon and Harry Rhett, Eugenia Smith, Philip Mason, Elvira Glover, Felix Newman, Gerd DeBeek, Walt Weismen, Mary Derryberry, Anna Rosborough, Alvin Dreger, Louis Sammon, Dorothy Webb, Eldora Lorenzini, Minerva and Keith Reeve and others. Officers were elected and Louis Sammon was asked to prepare the organizational papers. It was decided to name the organization, “The Huntsville Art League, and Museum Association” ,or “HALMA”. Our objectives were to create more interest in art and to get an art museum erected. There was no art museum. I was elected president.

Other officers elected were: Elvira Glover first vice-president, Harry Rhett, Jr., second vice president, Gerd DeBeek third vice-president, Philip Mason parliamentarian, Mary Derryberry Secretary, Eldora Lorenini treasurer, Dorothy Webb custodian, Carolyn White, advisor, Louis Salmon, attorney, and Louise Smith, agent.

Standing committees were chaired by Maud Hale, Mrs. Ralph Ford, Eugenia Smith, Anna Rosborough, PIez Pollard, Minerva Reeve, Alvin Dreger, Sharon Rhett and Jean Martin.

Many art exhibits followed. Membership in HALMA began to grow. I continued to teach art, paint and exhibit my art. In the absence of an art museum, HAL exhibited in many places. The Lobby and windows of the new Huntsville Utilities Building was used several times. There, one Exhibit featured work by art professors from Auburn University and University of Alabama. Other exhibits were: The Grounds of the old Clinton Street School, the old Farmers Market at Big Spring, Huntsville High School during performances of the Huntsville Symphony, the old Carnegie Library, Dunnavants Mall, and Monte Sano State Park.