Old Jail to reopen July 1

By Lynsi Musselman

The Old Jail Art Center  will reopen to members by appointment only beginning Tuesday, June 16 through Tuesday, June 30, and then open to the general public on July 1.

For the rest of this month, members can schedule a visit by calling the museum from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

New and renewing memberships are available through theojac.org or by calling 325-762-2269.

OJAC will open to all visitors beginning Wednesday, July 1. Visitor hours will be 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The museum will remain closed on Saturdays until July 11.

 In the meantime, OJAC social media programs are still going strong, and there are a few new activities to look forward to.

OJAC summer student camps for first through sixth grades will take place in August via a new virtual experience.

“The camp will be a unique new experience of daily videos and mailed craft supply boxes exclusive for student registrants,” said Erin Whitmore, OJAC education director.

Whitmore added that as always, the camps remain free of charge, and registration information will be coming soon.

She also said OJAC 2020 teacher in-services have been postponed until a time they can take place safely on-site. 

The OJAC encourages patrons to keep visiting the museum’s social media pages and website for weekly virtual activities and programs.

Visit the OJAC Facebook page Thursday at 3:30 p.m. for a five minute “tiny-tour” of Fandangle fashion.

OJAC archivist and librarian Molly Sauder said  the tour will be a video of a couple of costume design sketches that Reilly Nail did back in the 1950s that are part of the archives’ collection and on display in one of the exhibit cases.

“The video will be brief, but I’ll be talking about Nail and the history of Fandangle in general,” Sauder said. “I will also talk about the costume designs and mention the seamstress who worked on making them a reality.”

Sauder added that the video will include supplemental photographs of Nail and his uncle Robert “Bob” Nail, as well as some additional costume sketches and Fandangle photos that are not on display. 

This weekend would have been the start of the 82nd annual performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle, written by Robert Nail.

COVID-19 Safety

Following guideline consistent with the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Texas Department of State Health Services, the OJAC will require staff and visitors to wear masks and practice social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19. 

Additional guidelines will be relayed upon arrival at the museum.