The Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center in Troy presented books about the life and times of internationally acclaimed Alabama folk artist Charlie Lucas to the principals of Pike County schools on Tuesday.

The books, titled “Charlie Lucas” will be placed in the school libraries as a resource book for the students.

Lucas will conduct workshops at city, county and private schools in Pike County on Thursday and Friday along with Tara Sartorius, retired education curator at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

Lucas will talk with students about his art – the process and the product – and students will have an opportunity to complete an art project using the materials and methods of the artist.

Lucas’ exhibition, “The Art of Charlie Lucas,” is featured at the Johnson Center for the Arts through Nov. 15. The exhibition includes 85 paintings and sculptures and is exhibited in all eight Center galleries.

Morgan Drinkard, Johnson Center for the Arts executive director, presented the books to the principals and said the “Charlie Lucas” books will be valuable follow-ups to the summer teacher workshops that were conducted by Lucas and Sartorius.

“The workshops and books were made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and we appreciate the support of the state arts council. These grant funds allow us to provide workshops for the teachers and follow-up classes for the students,” Drinkard said.

Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, expressed appreciation to the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center for the “Charlie Lucas” books.

“The Pike County School System has made significant investments in the arts,” he said. “Every elementary school now has an arts education teacher. The school system has invested a million dollars in an arts complex at Pike County High School. When the new gymnasium is completed at Goshen High School, the old gym will be converted to an art complex. We have made a strong commitment to the arts.”

Bazzell said the school system can build the facilities for the arts and staff, but it is up to the community to support the arts programs and the students involved.